Cultural capital


A new non-stop flight from the UK brings Ottawa into play as a year-round city-break destination, discovers Joanna Booth


DESTINATIONS OTTAWA | CANADA


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Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River PICTURE: Shutterstock/f11photo


travelweekly.co.uk


hat does Ottawa have in common with Canberra,


Wellington and Ankara? Yes, they’re in the Forgotten Capitals Club. These rather bijou centres of government tend to get overlooked in favour of bigger, glitzier cities. But with Air Canada relaunching a direct flight from Heathrow this year after a five- year hiatus, Ottawa has come into play as a long-haul city break choice, or – sitting right on the provincial border – as a gateway to a wider adventure in both Ontario and Quebec. The route has been so popular that Air Canada recently extended the seasonal summer service to operate year-round, with three flights a week from November 2 to March 27, 2026, rising to four flights a week next summer. Ottawa’s location, where three


rivers meet, has always been key. The Indigenous Algonquin peoples have lived and traded in


the region for more than 6,000 years, and the construction of the Rideau Canal and the railway gave the city a boost in the mid-19th century. Yet Ottawa hasn’t traditionally been front of mind for tourists, who have flown into Toronto or Montreal, often bypassing the capital altogether. The direct air link with the UK is just one aspect of Ottawa’s expanding appeal, with new public projects and private developments underway. The popular ByWard Market area is welcoming two new properties – an AC Marriott this year and a Moxy in 2026 – plus this summer a Hard Rock Hotel with a casino opened by the airport. And Ādisōke, set to launch next year, will be not only a new public library but also a space for exhibitions and events showcasing Indigenous stories and Canadian heritage. So if clients want to experience the nation’s culture in one conveniently bite-sized city, open their eyes to Ottawa.²


9 OCTOBER 2025


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