Last Updated: December 24, 2025
Sussex Drive winds through Ottawa’s most prestigious real estate, linking the Prime Minister’s residence, the Governor General’s estate, and a row of grand embassies in what many consider Canada’s most historically significant street.
This tree-lined boulevard stretching from the ByWard Market to Rockcliffe Park tells the story of Ottawa’s transformation from rugged lumber town to refined national capital. What began as a dirt road serving lumber barons in the 19th century evolved into the ceremonial heart of Canadian diplomacy and governance, where prime ministers have lived, foreign dignitaries have been received, and the nation’s most important institutions have taken root.
Key Highlights
TL;DR: Sussex Drive is Ottawa’s most prestigious address, home to the Prime Minister’s residence (24 Sussex Drive), the Governor General’s estate (Rideau Hall), numerous embassies, and cultural institutions like the National Gallery of Canada. The street evolved from a lumber baron thoroughfare to Canada’s ceremonial corridor.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| 📍 Location | From ByWard Market to Rockcliffe Park |
| 🏛️ PM Residence | 24 Sussex Drive (since 1951) |
| 👑 Rideau Hall | Governor General’s residence since 1867 |
| 🎨 National Gallery | Moshe Safdie’s iconic glass building (1988) |
| 🚗 Length | Approximately 4 kilometres |
| 📅 Named | 1867, after Duke of Sussex |
The Origins: From Lumber Road to Prestigious Boulevard
Sussex Drive’s history begins long before Confederation, when the road served a far humbler purpose than hosting prime ministers and ambassadors. In the 1820s and 1830s, as Bytown grew around Colonel John By’s Rideau Canal construction project, the route that would become Sussex Drive was little more than a muddy track connecting the emerging settlement to the lands north along the Ottawa River.
The lumber industry transformed this modest path. As Ottawa became the epicenter of Canada’s timber trade in the mid-19th century, wealthy lumber barons sought commanding views of the river that generated their fortunes. They built grand estates along the high ground north of Bytown, establishing the pattern of prestige that Sussex Drive would carry into the modern era.
The street’s name honours Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, the sixth son of King George III. The naming coincided with Confederation in 1867, when Ottawa officially became Canada’s capital and began cultivating an identity befitting a national seat of power. Sussex Drive was meant to sound distinguished, evoking British royalty and imperial grandeur—a deliberate choice as the young nation sought to establish its legitimacy on the world stage.
24 Sussex Drive: The Prime Minister’s Residence
No address in Canada carries more political weight than 24 Sussex Drive. This stone mansion overlooking the Ottawa River has housed every Canadian Prime Minister since Louis St. Laurent took up residence in 1951, making it the symbolic home of Canadian democratic leadership.
The house itself predates its prime ministerial role by nearly a century. Joseph Merrill Currier, a lumber baron and later Member of Parliament, built the Gothic Revival mansion in 1868, just one year after Confederation. Currier chose the elevated site for its commanding views of the Ottawa River—the same waterway that floated the timber logs generating his considerable wealth.
The residence changed hands several times before the federal government acquired it in 1943 as part of wartime planning. Initially, officials proposed demolishing the aging structure, but its architectural merit and prime location saved it. In 1950, the government designated it as the official Prime Minister’s residence, and St. Laurent moved in the following year.
Since then, 24 Sussex has witnessed the private lives of Canadian leaders from John Diefenbaker to Justin Trudeau. Children have grown up within its walls, political strategies have been debated in its rooms, and world leaders have visited for diplomatic dinners. Pierre Trudeau famously slid down the residence’s banister with his sons, humanizing the formal address for a generation of Canadians.
The residence’s current state presents a significant challenge. Decades of deferred maintenance have left 24 Sussex in critical condition. The building lacks modern fire suppression systems, its electrical wiring is outdated, and its heating system is inefficient. Estimates for necessary renovations have ranged from $10 million to over $36 million, but no government has undertaken the politically awkward task of spending millions on the Prime Minister’s home.
Since 2015, the Trudeau family has resided at Rideau Cottage on the Rideau Hall grounds rather than 24 Sussex, which remains vacant awaiting decisions about its future. Whether the historic residence will be renovated, rebuilt, or replaced remains one of Ottawa’s ongoing political and heritage debates.
Rideau Hall: The Crown’s Canadian Home
If 24 Sussex represents democratic governance, Rideau Hall embodies Canada’s constitutional monarchy. This sprawling 79-room estate at 1 Sussex Drive has served as the official residence of Canada’s Governor General since Confederation, representing the Crown on Canadian soil.
The property’s origins mirror those of 24 Sussex—a lumber baron’s estate transformed into an instrument of state. Thomas MacKay, the contractor who built the Ottawa Locks of the Rideau Canal, constructed the original stone villa in the 1830s. MacKay named his estate after the nearby Rideau River, and it remained a private residence until the government leased it for the first Governor General, Viscount Monck, in 1867.
The Crown purchased Rideau Hall outright in 1868 and began the expansions that would transform a gentleman’s country house into a residence suitable for vice-regal duties. Over subsequent decades, additions created the sprawling complex visible today, including the Ballroom, the Tent Room (with its distinctive striped ceiling recalling outdoor entertaining tents), and extensive service wings.
Rideau Hall’s 79 acres of gardens and grounds serve both ceremonial and public purposes. The estate hosts state dinners, investiture ceremonies for the Order of Canada, and official receptions for visiting dignitaries. Yet it also welcomes ordinary Canadians—the grounds are open for free public tours, and the skating rink (weather permitting) allows visitors to skate where governors general have glided for over a century.
The property connects directly to Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa’s wealthiest neighbourhood, creating a green corridor from the diplomatic heart of Sussex Drive to the residential enclave where many ambassadors maintain private homes.
Diplomatic Row: Where Nations Meet
Sussex Drive between the ByWard Market and Rideau Hall has earned the informal designation “Diplomatic Row” thanks to the concentration of embassies and high commissions lining its length. These grand buildings—some purpose-built, others converted mansions—house the representatives of nations maintaining diplomatic relations with Canada.
The Saudi Arabian Embassy, with its distinctive modern architecture, anchors one stretch of the drive. The French Embassy occupies historic properties befitting France’s long relationship with Canada. The Japanese Embassy, with its elegant design, represents another major diplomatic presence. These buildings and their counterparts create an international corridor within the Canadian capital.
The concentration of embassies along Sussex Drive wasn’t accidental. When Ottawa became Canada’s capital, the government actively encouraged diplomatic missions to establish themselves along prestigious routes that would project Canada’s international standing. Sussex Drive, already associated with wealth and prominence, naturally attracted nations seeking appropriate settings for their representatives.
Walking the diplomatic stretch of Sussex Drive offers a global tour without leaving Ottawa. Architectural styles range from Victorian mansions adapted for diplomatic use to modernist purpose-built structures. Security features—discreet but present—remind observers that these elegant buildings house sensitive operations and represent foreign sovereignty on Canadian soil.
For visitors curious about Ottawa’s neighbourhoods and their histories, the diplomatic section of Sussex Drive demonstrates how international relations have shaped the capital’s urban fabric. The embassies contribute to Ottawa’s cosmopolitan character, hosting cultural events, national day celebrations, and public programs that enrich the city’s international identity.
The National Gallery of Canada: Art on Sussex
The National Gallery of Canada, with its dramatic glass and granite architecture, anchors the southern end of Sussex Drive’s cultural corridor. Designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie and opened in 1988, the building has become an Ottawa landmark in its own right, its crystalline forms reflecting both the nearby Parliament Buildings and the sky above.
Safdie’s design intentionally echoed the Gothic Revival towers of Parliament Hill visible across the Ottawa River, creating an architectural dialogue between art and governance. The Great Hall’s soaring glass ceiling draws natural light deep into the building while framing views of Parliament that remind visitors of the relationship between culture and democratic society.
The Gallery’s collection spans centuries of Canadian and international art. The Canadian galleries trace artistic expression from Indigenous works through the Group of Seven to contemporary practitioners. European galleries house Old Masters alongside modern movements. The contemporary wing showcases works challenging conventional definitions of art itself.
Sussex Drive’s role as the Gallery’s address reinforces the street’s cultural significance. Art institutions often cluster in prestigious districts, and the Gallery’s Sussex Drive location connects it physically and symbolically to the governance institutions and diplomatic missions nearby. Together, they form a corridor representing Canadian identity in its political, international, and cultural dimensions.
For those planning what to do in Ottawa, the National Gallery offers world-class exhibitions in a setting that integrates with Sussex Drive’s broader historical narrative. The building itself merits attention as an architectural achievement that has defined Ottawa’s skyline for nearly four decades.
Rockcliffe Park: Where Sussex Drive Ends
Sussex Drive’s northern terminus lies in Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa’s most exclusive residential neighbourhood and a fitting conclusion to the street’s journey through Canadian prestige. This leafy enclave of estates and embassies represents the continuation of Sussex Drive’s character in residential form.
Rockcliffe Park developed in the late 19th century as a retreat for Ottawa’s elite, deliberately planned with winding roads, generous lot sizes, and stringent architectural standards that endure today. The neighbourhood’s residents have included Prime Ministers (some maintained private homes here while in office), corporate executives, senior diplomats, and old-money families whose presence predates Confederation.
The village’s connection to Sussex Drive extends beyond geography. Many ambassadors whose embassies line Sussex Drive maintain private residences in Rockcliffe Park, creating a neighbourhood where global affairs blend with Canadian domesticity. Walking Rockcliffe’s streets reveals architectural styles from across the world—a Spanish colonial villa here, a Georgian manor there—reflecting the international backgrounds of longtime residents.
Rockcliffe Park’s independence as a separate municipality ended only in 2001 when it amalgamated with Ottawa. Residents had long resisted incorporation, preferring their village’s distinct identity and governance. The merger remains controversial among some longtime residents who cherish Rockcliffe’s exclusivity and separation from the broader capital.
For those exploring Ottawa’s hidden gems, Rockcliffe Park offers quiet walks through one of North America’s most distinguished residential neighbourhoods. The views of the Ottawa River from Rockcliffe Parkway, which branches from Sussex Drive, rival any in the capital region.
Historical Development: A Street That Grew with Canada
Sussex Drive’s evolution mirrors Canada’s own growth from colonial outpost to modern nation. Each era left its mark on the street, layering new significance over old foundations.
The lumber era (1820s-1880s) established Sussex Drive’s prestige as timber barons built mansions along its length. These industrialists, having made fortunes from Ottawa Valley forests, sought homes that displayed their wealth and commanded views of the river carrying their products to market. Several of these mansions survive, adapted for modern uses.
The diplomatic era (1867-present) began immediately after Confederation, when the young nation needed to project international credibility. Foreign governments seeking to establish relations with Canada naturally gravitated toward Sussex Drive, where the physical setting communicated permanence and importance.
The institutional era (mid-20th century) saw federal acquisition of key properties along Sussex Drive for official purposes. The Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex, the formalization of Rideau Hall’s role, and the establishment of cultural institutions like the National Gallery transformed Sussex Drive from a prestigious address to a corridor of national significance.
Today, Sussex Drive functions as living heritage, carrying centuries of accumulated meaning while accommodating modern traffic, security requirements, and tourism. The street’s character emerges from this layering—lumber baron mansions alongside purpose-built embassies, Victorian stone next to modernist glass, private wealth integrated with public purpose.
Visiting Sussex Drive: A Walking Tour
Sussex Drive rewards exploration on foot, allowing visitors to appreciate architectural details and historical markers that blur past car windows. A comprehensive walk from the ByWard Market to Rockcliffe Park covers approximately 4 kilometres and takes 1-2 hours depending on stops.
Begin at the intersection of Sussex Drive and George Street, where the ByWard Market’s commercial energy gives way to the street’s more formal character. The National Gallery of Canada, with its distinctive spires, marks the transition. Allow time to explore the Gallery or simply admire Safdie’s architecture from the plaza.
Continue north past the Royal Canadian Mint, where Canadian coins are produced, and Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa’s oldest surviving church. These institutions demonstrate Sussex Drive’s role as a corridor of national significance extending beyond government and diplomacy.
The embassy district follows, with diplomatic missions representing nations from around the world. Security protocols prevent entering these buildings, but their architecture and grounds are visible from the street. Interpretive plaques at some locations explain historical connections between Canada and the represented nations.
24 Sussex Drive sits behind security fencing, viewable but not accessible. The Prime Minister’s residence, whether occupied or vacant, represents democratic leadership’s physical anchor on the street. Photography from public areas is permitted.
Rideau Hall welcomes visitors for free guided tours during public hours. The grounds are accessible year-round, and the Visitor Centre provides context on the Governor General’s role and Rideau Hall’s history. Allow at least 30-45 minutes for a meaningful visit.
Beyond Rideau Hall, Sussex Drive winds through Rockcliffe Park’s residential streets toward the Ottawa River. The drive ends at the Sir George-Etienne Cartier Parkway, which continues along the river toward other scenic drives around Ottawa.
FAQ
Q: Can you tour 24 Sussex Drive, the Prime Minister’s residence?
No, 24 Sussex Drive is not open to public tours. The residence is closed to visitors and currently sits vacant awaiting renovations. Security fencing prevents close access, though the building is visible from Sussex Drive. For those interested in prime ministerial history, the Diefenbaker Canada Centre in Saskatoon contains exhibits on Prime Minister John Diefenbaker’s life and career.
Q: Is Rideau Hall open to the public?
Yes, Rideau Hall welcomes visitors for free guided tours year-round, though schedules vary by season. Summer tours run most frequently, while winter access depends on weather conditions. The grounds are generally open daily for self-guided exploration. The Visitor Centre provides orientation and historical context. Check the Governor General’s official website for current tour schedules and special event closures.
Q: Why is 24 Sussex Drive not being renovated?
The renovation question is politically sensitive because any government ordering expensive work on the Prime Minister’s home risks appearing self-serving. Estimates for necessary repairs have exceeded $36 million, and the building’s heritage status complicates modernization. No Prime Minister has been willing to authorize the expenditure or reside elsewhere during lengthy construction. The residence has been vacant since 2015 while debates continue about its future.
Q: What embassies are located on Sussex Drive?
Major embassies along Sussex Drive include the French Embassy, Saudi Arabian Embassy, Japanese Embassy, and the High Commission of Brunei, among others. The specific diplomatic missions occasionally change as nations relocate or close facilities. Not all buildings on Sussex Drive’s embassy row currently house active diplomatic missions—some have been converted to other uses while retaining their historic architecture.
Q: How did Sussex Drive get its name?
Sussex Drive was named in 1867, the year of Confederation, after Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex. The Duke was the sixth son of King George III and Queen Charlotte of Britain. The naming reflected the young capital’s desire to project British legitimacy and royal connection. Prince Augustus Frederick himself never visited Canada; the honour was purely ceremonial.
Final Thoughts
Sussex Drive stands as Canada’s most historically layered street, a 4-kilometre corridor where lumber baron ambition, democratic governance, constitutional monarchy, international diplomacy, and artistic achievement converge. Walking from the ByWard Market to Rockcliffe Park traces not just geography but the story of a nation growing into its identity.
The street’s landmarks—24 Sussex Drive with its uncertain future, Rideau Hall with its century-plus of vice-regal tradition, the embassy row projecting Canada’s international relationships, the National Gallery housing cultural treasures—together compose a narrative of Canadian aspiration and achievement. Each building contributes to a streetscape that functions as living heritage.
For visitors to Ottawa, Sussex Drive offers encounters with the institutions and addresses that have shaped Canadian public life. For residents, it remains a daily reminder that national significance can coexist with neighbourhood streets, that history lives not only in museums but in the built environment of an evolving capital city.
Whether 24 Sussex Drive is renovated, rebuilt, or replaced, whether new embassies rise and old ones relocate, Sussex Drive will continue its role as Ottawa’s ceremonial corridor—the street where Canada presents itself to the world and reflects on its own becoming.
Source: National Capital Commission heritage documentation, Rideau Hall official archives, Parliament of Canada historical records, and City of Ottawa heritage surveys.
