James Bay Neighbourhood Overview

Bordering Victoria’s Inner Harbour, James Bay is easy walking distance to everything in Victoria’s Downtown. James Bay is surrounded by water and parks with the Victoria Harbour to the north and west, the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the south, and the historic 200 acre Beacon Hill Park to the east.

Some of Victoria’s most popular tourist destinations are located in James Bay. These include the Royal BC Museum, the BC Legislature, Fisherman’s Wharf and numerous hotel and bed and breakfast establishments.

The housing in James Bay is more widely varied and mixed than perhaps any neighbourhood in Greater Victoria. Beautifully maintained heritage homes can be found on the same street as modern condominium buildings.

This mixture of housing styles and the different types of people they attract give James Bay a feeling that some have described as “funky” and make James Bay a favourite of people wanting to live in a community that offers great diversity.

What We Love

The close proximity to Downtown, and the fabulous pedestrian walkways along the James Bay side of the Inner Harbour make this a great neighbourhood for those who prefer to get around on foot.  Summers in this neighbourhood come alive with the clip clop of carriage tours, visitors disembarking from the cruise ships at Ogden Point and locals stopping by the Beacon Drive-In for the best soft serve ice-cream in the city – seriously, it’s amazing.