Dundurn Castle - Canada's Own Downton Abbey

You don’t need to go across the pond to feel like you’ve walked straight into Downton Abbey. In fact, Dundurn Castle may just be the closest thing Canada has to its own Downton Abbey. Visiting Dundurn Castle in Hamilton gives period-drama-loving hearts exactly what they need to get their Victorian-era experience.

Now, checking out the grounds, I’ve done before. You see the vast lawns rolling toward Hamilton Harbour, and the grand pillars flanking the entrance of the estate, and you begin to wonder, what is the story of this place? For the first time ever, I actually decided to take a tour. That’s when Dundurn Castle stopped being a pretty landmark to me and became a story worth knowing.

Built in the 1830s, Dundurn Castle was once home to Sir Allan MacNab, a man of ambition, influence, and unapologetic taste. He was one of the most powerful political figures before Canadian Confederation, serving as Joint Premier of the Province of Canada, which at the time included what we now know as Ontario and Quebec. So yes, long before Canada officially became a country, MacNab was already in charge of quite a bit of it.

But he didn’t just leave his mark on political history, he left a legacy that still reaches into royalty. Here's the twist I didn’t see coming: Sir Allan MacNab’s daughter, Sophia, is a direct ancestor of Queen Camilla, which means Dundurn Castle has a real-life connection to the current British royal family.

Meaning Canada, and specifically Hamilton, has a quiet thread woven into the tapestry of the modern British monarchy. Suddenly, Dundurn Castle wasn’t just historic, it was royal.

And believe it or not, the story goes even deeper. Long before MacNab built his grand estate, this land held military importance. The property stands on Burlington Heights, which served as a strategic British post during the War of 1812.

Beneath the house, hidden in the stone foundation, is a military munitions storage room used during the war, still intact today. MacNab didn’t remove it; he simply built his 18,000-square-foot mansion right on top of it. So while you walk through the elegant main floors, you’re literally standing on a war relic.

Inside, Dundurn Castle is a Victorian dream come to life.

The drawing room is the showstopper. The heart of the home where guests would gather for music, visiting, and refined social gatherings. It glows with soft pink walls, crystal chandeliers, and gold accents that feel straight out of a period drama. The delicate floral details and silk upholstery made it easy to imagine a room full of ladies in sweeping gowns, teacups in hand.

Across the hall, the study feels completely different—moody, masculine, and deeply Scottish. It nods to MacNab’s ancestry with rich wood, leather chairs, and Scottish tartan fabric draped with pride. It’s the kind of room that smells like pipe tobacco and secrets.

Then there’s the dining room. Stately, dramatic, and dressed in deep green velvet-style drapes and gilded frames. The massive table seats 24 guests, and you can picture it lit by gaslight, filled with political debates and extravagant Victorian feasts. It’s history you can almost hear.

But the real Downton Abbey moment happens when you go downstairs.

The servants’ quarters are a world of their own. Simple and stark, with bell call systems still hanging on the wall. The contrast between the glamour upstairs and the hard-working life below is striking. This isn’t just a mansion; it’s an entire social system frozen in time.

By the time I stepped back outside, Dundurn Castle didn’t feel distant or dusty, it felt alive. Real people loved, worked, schemed, laughed, and dreamed here. It’s one the closest things to time travel I’ve felt in Ontario.

And here’s the best part:

If you’re a Hamilton resident, you can tour Dundurn Castle for free with your Hamilton Public Library card. If you’ve ever wanted a glimpse of Victorian grandeur or your own mini Downton Abbey experience, it’s possible with no plane ticket, no passport, just a short visit on York Boulevard.

History isn’t far away. Sometimes, it’s right in your own city waiting to be explored. ||