Barrington Street, Halifax

Barrington Street is one of Halifax’s oldest and most important streets. Running roughly parallel to the harbor, it formed part of the original town laid out in 1749 and later developed into the city’s principal commercial thoroughfare. Today, its historic buildings, churches, shops, restaurants, and civic landmarks make it one of the most interesting streets in downtown Halifax.

Starting near Saint Mary’s Basilica at Spring Garden Road, look across the intersection toward the Old Burying Ground, Halifax’s first cemetery, used from 1749 to 1844 and containing more than 1,200 surviving gravestones. On the opposite side of the street stands Government House. Continue north along Barrington Street, and you will soon pass the ornate Khyber Building at number 1588, built in 1888 as the Church of England Institute and distinguished by its Gothic Revival details.

Beyond the Grand Parade, Barrington Street continues toward the northern waterfront. Casino Nova Scotia lies a short distance east on Upper Water Street, while farther north the street passes the naval facilities and Halifax Shipyard, reflecting the harbor industries that have long shaped the city.

Along the downtown section, historic stone and brick façades stand beside restaurants, shops, theatres, and newer buildings. Positioned between Citadel Hill and the harbor, Barrington Street provides a good cross-section of Halifax’s history, from its earliest burial ground and colonial institutions to its commercial streets and working waterfront.