Victoria

Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia and is located on scenic Vancouver Island, a short ferry ride off the west coast.

Although it’s the provincial capital, Victoria is much smaller and quieter than Vancouver, British Columbia’s largest city. It’s a peaceful student town with a high population of both young people and retirees.

Victoria has one of the warmest climates of anywhere in the country and is also home to the University of Victoria and several other small colleges, so many students come here to study.

Victoria’s downtown is rich with historical buildings from the Gold Rush era, as well as many Art Nouveau and Art Deco facades. There’s a distinctly old-fashioned British feel to the downtown, with its cobbled streets, streetlights decorated with hanging baskets and horse-drawn carriages. These details, as well as the tour guides dressed in period costume at the British Columbia Legislature, can give you the impression that you’ve stepped back in time.

When you leave the city center, Victoria is filled with quiet and leafy suburbs and lots of lovely parks and green spaces - perfect for relaxing and hanging out at the weekend. The Galloping Goose Trail traverses the length of the city all the way up to Saanich and beyond, offering great walking and cycling paths.

Learn English in Victoria and you won’t be short of things to do. Check out the Royal British Columbia Museum, one of the most prominent buildings in the Inner Harbour. It has a fascinating collection of artefacts from First Nations cultures as well as from the colonial era on Canada’s west coast.

Next door to the museum is the British Columbia Legislature Building, which is a truly stunning piece of architecture. You can tour its interior. The Fairmont Empress, one of the most famous hotels in Canada, has a prominent place in the Inner Harbour and dates back to 1908. Having afternoon tea at the Empress is a classy and elegant experience.

Take some time just to wander around the small streets of Victoria’s downtown and you’ll find plenty of quirky cafes, a diverse collection of restaurants with food from around the world, unique boutiques featuring clothing and jewellery by local designers, and small independent art galleries. In the summer months there are often street performers dotted around the city, so you can stop and enjoy some live music, dancing or a live magic show. 

Learn English in Victoria for a memorable learning experience!