Groups must make reservations a minimum 48 hours in advance by calling 613-991-4422 or 1-866-842-4422 (toll-free). You can also reach us by fax at 613-993-1656 or by e-mail at guide@gg.ca.

Residence Tour Schedule

• September to June: guided tours available daily, from
  10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by reservation only
• July to September: self-guided tours available daily, from
  10 a.m. to 1 p.m., no reservation required

Tours are offered on statutory holidays from May to October. Tours are not offered on Remembrance Day, throughout the Holiday Season or over the Easter long-weekend.

Art Tour Schedule

Art tours are available year-round, by reservation only.

Grounds Tour Schedule

The grounds are open daily from 8 a.m. until one hour before sunset. We have two ways for you to discover the grounds of Rideau Hall:

• Take a guided tour with one of our tour guides, from June to September, daily, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Pick up a self-guided tour brochure at either entrance (the Thomas Gate off Sussex Drive, or the Mackay Gate, off Mackay Street), and explore the grounds at your leisure, following the interpretive panels along the paths.

Facilities

• Washrooms are available at the Visitor Centre, located on Thomas Street
• Bus drop-off located on Princess Avenue (see map below for more details)
• Picnic tables and play structure for children
• Wheelchairs available on-site (please let us know in advance if your group has any special needs)

Bus Lay-by

Tour buses can drop off visitors in the lay-by area adjacent to the site on Princess Avenue, next to the main gate on Sussex Drive. Drivers must remain with their buses in this area during the tours.

Please see the map for more information about the location of the lay-by. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Rideau Hall Visitor Services' Office at 613-991-4422 or 1-866-842-4422 (toll-free) .

How to Get to Rideau Hall

Rideau Hall is a 3.5-kilometre walk or drive from Parliament Hill along scenic Sussex Drive, or a short bus ride (www.octranspo.com or call 613-741-4390 for information on bus schedules).

Parking

• Cars: street parking is available in the surrounding neighbourhood
• Buses: bus lay-by located on Princess Avenue

Rideau Hall is a working residence and official events may require unforeseen changes to your visit.

Educational Tour

Visit Rideau Hall for an educational tour of the historic residence and breath of fresh air on its beautiful grounds. Guides outline the role and responsibilities of the governor general within our parliamentary system and society. Civics and history lessons gain a sense of place with a visit to where our governors general have lived and worked since Confederation.

You can reserve a tour either by calling 613-991-4422 or 1-866-842-4422 (toll-free); by fax at 613-993-1656; or by e-mail at guide@gg.ca.

Heraldry in Canada

Download the educational document Heraldry — An educational package for ages 9 to 13 (PDF — 2.73 Mb).

Other Useful Links

Learn about the Teachers Institute on Canadian Parliamentary Democracy, an annual program that brings teachers from across the country together on Parliament Hill.

You can also download a set of four pre-visit classroom activities prepared by the National Capital Commission.

To read Adobe Acrobat® files, you will need to download and install the free Acrobat Reader® software available from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Rideau Hall is a working residence and official events may require unforeseen changes to your visit.