Self-Guided & Heritage Walking Tours (OA)

The picturesque Town of Cobourg is rich in history dating back to the early 1790s. Explore its Heritage Conservation Districts at your own pace with self-guided heritage walking tours. Plan your next visit and discover the stories behind Cobourg’s historic charm!

Self Guided Tours

Victoria Hall FREE Tour

Explore Cobourg's beautiful Victoria Hall!

Tour Information:

The Victoria Hall Tours are FREE and are set to start on June 12, 2025.

Tour Details:
Ran By: Experience Ambassadors (Maci, Annabel, and Alex )

When: Thursdays & Fridays from 10am – 1:45pm (approx. 45 minutes each). Each tour must have a booking. No walk-ins unless the schedule permits.

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Ginny & Georgia Walking Tour

Take our exclusive self-guided walking tour of the Netflix hit series Ginny & Georgia! Explore various key locations throughout the series that are filmed in our very own Town of Cobourg.

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The Poppy
Trail

With this virtual tour and booklet, we invite you to come and explore Cobourg’s history. Using the booklet as your guide, you may walk the tour on your own, or watch the video and enjoy learning about Cobourg’s wartime past from the comfort of your own home.

This tour of Cobourg’s historic downtown will allow you to savour charming period architecture and streetscapes while learning about Cobourg’s significant war time contributions.

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Commercial Core Heritage Conservation District

The Commercial Core District is defined by mid-to-late 19th century commercial development. Settlement began to occur more rapidly following the war of 1812. In the 19th Century the Commercial Core was much more residential in nature, as many shop owners lived above their businesses. Please remember the homes you view are private property and should be viewed from the street. Enjoy your tour through a sampling of Cobourg’s heritage.

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East Heritage Conservation District

The East Heritage Conservation District is one of the oldest residential neighbourhoods in the Town of Cobourg. The East District is an example of incremental residential growth in Cobourg, as with the other residential districts. The construction of Cobourg’s first Anglican church (St. Peter’s) in 1818 attracted wealthy settlers who wanted to live closer to their place of worship. Please remember the homes you view are private property and should be viewed from the street. Enjoy your tour through a sampling of Cobourg’s heritage.

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Waterfront Wisdom Pathway

Cobourg’s Waterfront will host the work of two Indigenous Artists this summer. Take a stroll along the beach and Harbourfront to see the work of Koren Smoke and Rick Beaver.

The lamp posts host vibrant expressions of storytelling, tradition, and remind us of our connections to the land.

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Coffee Crawl Tour

Exciting News, Coffee Lovers!

We’re thrilled to launch Cobourg’s self-guided Coffee Crawl! Explore the heart of downtown Cobourg and taste your way through some of our most beloved cafes:

The Black Cat
Holy Dough
Fabled Bean
The Pink Cafe
Prep Food Co.
Rosarya Bakery and Cafe

Discover new favorites and enjoy a delightful day out! Grab your coffee-loving friends and get ready to sip your way through Cobourg!

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Heritage Walking Tours

George Street Heritage Conservation District

The George Street Heritage Conservation District was originally settled by Nathaniel Herriman in 1799. The differing architectural styles is due to the incremental growth of the district. Some of the styles include Classical Revival, Gothic Revival and Ontario Cottage Vernacular. In the 1850s George Street was meant to be the main thoroughfare to and from the railway station, but with competing interests the location of the station changed and Division Street became the main thoroughfare. Please remember the homes you view are private property and should be viewed from the street. Enjoy your tour through a sampling of Cobourg’s heritage.

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West Heritage Conservation
District

Land in the West District were subdivided by 1850s, but most construction did not take place until the 1870s with the uptick in the Town’s economic activity with new industry locating within the Town. The dominant form of the West District is vernacular design, which were constructed for workers. This tour includes stops outside of the West District. Please remember the homes you view are private property and should be viewed from the street. Enjoy your tour through a sampling of Cobourg’s heritage.

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Cobourg ACO Walking Tour

Courtesy of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) – Cobourg Branch

The Walking Tour below is from a brochure titled Interesting People and Places, published by the ACO in 2008. For an overview, see Introduction to the ACO Walking Tour. A print-friendly PDF of the original brochure is available at the bottom of this page.

The tour features three routes—West, East, and North—highlighted on a colour-coded map, follow the link.

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Introduction to ACO Walking Tour

A guide to Cobourg’s rich history and architectural heritage, courtesy of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario – Cobourg Branch. This introduction is from the 2008 ACO brochure Interesting People and Places, which also includes a walking tour of Cobourg’s historic sites—available here.

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