This weekend was the annual Doors Open Toronto weekend. This was my third year taking part, once a few years back before I moved overseas, and last year. They try to alter the theme and venues each year.

As this year Toronto is hosing the Pan Am Games in July the theme was athletics and sporting venues, although there are many historical buildings mixed in. The venues are spread all across the city though the more historical ones are downtown.

The same venues are not always listed each year so its interesting to try new ones each year. One of the most popular ones I always heard about was the Don Jail which had a reputation for terrible line ups due to its popularity.

This year they announced time allotted tickets would be handed out from 9.40am until they ran out, then no tickets would be handed out the rest of the day. I got there early by 9am to stand in the queue thinking I might be the only crazy one there but there was already quite a long line waiting.

At 9.40 they started handing out tickets. I just missed out on the first slot at 10am and got the next batch at 10.10am. Then the lines evaporated as people would come back for their allotted times.

For all the hype the inside turned out to be a disappointment. The neighbouring hospital has now taken over the jail and it serves as administration offices for the hospital and is not open to the public.

Only 20% of the original jail remains, mostly in the basement cells and the main atrium. The rest has been converted to offices and is not open even for todays tours.

It would have been worth coming a few years back before the hospital retrofit. For all the construction boom going on across the city surely the hospital could have built their own administration building. This should have been declared a National Historic Site and kept open as a museum, art gallery, or other cultural space. I've stayed at the Ottawa jail which is now a youth hostel so you are still free to appreciate the Ottawa jail.

The Don jail was the largest jail in North America at its opening and its wing span design was modelled for other jails. Hangings were held until the late 60s although they stopped allowing the public to attend.

Again this was disappointing and not worth the early line up. There isnt much to see now and I wouldnt recommend coming for the tours to see the meagre leftovers after the office retrofit.

During its years of vacancy it was used for movie shoots, including a Tom Cruise movie which brought it a lot of attention. Nearby was a historic lawn bowling club and views of downtown from Broadview Park, and the Chinatown Gate.

To see last years Doors Open event click here http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-en tries/londone7/28/1401134252/tpod.html