My Favourite Things to Do On or Near Campus Alone

Now that most classes are back in person, it is wonderful to see friends and attend class with some new people as well. However, sometimes during your university experience, you’ll go to campus to attend  an elective course or just to study all by yourself. I personally love days on campus by myself, especially in the warmer months. There are so many great places to see on or around campus, and lots of opportunities for people watching or podcast listening. So here are a few of my favourite ways to spend some downtime alone on or near campus.

One thing about me is that I thrive when the sun comes out. Now that it’s consistently above ten degrees celsius and sunny most days, a day lounging on the grass in the Kerr Hall Quad seems like a perfect way to spend the day. People bring their dogs through the quad; sometimes you can catch people kicking around a soccer ball… there’s always lots of life and activity around there. It’s a lovely outdoor spot on campus that usually isn’t too crowded, and a great place to read a book or listen to music.

The trope about university students is generally true — we all love coffee. If you choose to stay on campus, Balzac’s is always a great place to stop in. This is especially true if you manage to snag a seat on their Gould Street patio. You can spend hours there doing work and people watching, really getting to know your campus. If you want to venture off-campus, check out my blog, The 5 Best Coffee Shops Near Campus That Aren’t Starbucks or Balzac’s. I highly recommend Black Bear if you want to get some work done or Dineen for a quick grab-and-go option.

Our campus is very centrally located, making it very easy to access many neighbourhoods. I love walking on Church Street and seeing all of the colourful sidewalks in The Village. I also enjoy walking a little further west on King Street to the Entertainment District, especially close to festival season when you might run into someone attending TIFF (external link, opens in new window) ! There are also some cool hidden gems around the city that aren’t too far from campus. For example, you can check out Allan Gardens (external link, opens in new window) ! It is a gorgeous plant conservatory with several greenhouses to explore. There’s also a framed Banksy piece near St Lawrence Market only a twenty minute walk from campus if you have more time to wander. I highly recommend getting to know the city by taking plenty of walks.

Finally, if you want to grab a bite to eat in the food court or window shop between your classes, pop by the Eaton Centre (external link, opens in new window) . I worked at this mall for my first two years of undergrad, so I have spent a lot of time there. There are plenty of stores to browse around, making it a great place to go when you want to escape your work for a little while.