What private schools are in or near Rockcliffe?

Ashbury College (co-ed, JK–12) and Elmwood School (girls, PreK–12) sit inside the neighbourhood and are a major draw for families. Rockcliffe Park PS covers the public elementary years, while Lisgar Collegiate downtown is a popular public high school choice.

Can I tear down and rebuild in Rockcliffe?

Rockcliffe Park is a designated Heritage Conservation District, so demolitions and major exterior changes require Heritage Committee review, and many lots carry specific heritage status. Confirm what's possible with a heritage planner before writing an offer on anything you plan to rebuild.

Is there a lot of off-market activity in Rockcliffe?

Yes. A meaningful share of transactions never reach MLS — private sales between known parties, exclusive listings among a small group of luxury agents, and quiet pre-market opportunities are all common. If you're a serious buyer, being plugged into that network matters more here than anywhere else in Ottawa.

A tree-lined Ottawa street at golden hour

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Ottawa · Rockcliffe Park

Rockcliffe Park Real Estate

By Bo Yu, Broker, Right at Home Realty, Brokerage

Rockcliffe Park is a National Historic Site as much as a neighbourhood — mature trees, winding streets, and estate homes that have housed prime ministers, governors general, ambassadors, and Ottawa's old-money families for more than a hundred years.

This is the top of the Ottawa market, and every other luxury pocket in the city gets compared to it. Here's what to know before you book a tour.

Prices, rates, and program rules change often. Treat the figures here as general guidance, not advice for your specific situation. Ask Bo for current OREB comparables, and confirm program eligibility with your lender or lawyer.

On the market

Homes for sale in Rockcliffe Park

Condos, townhomes, semis, and detached homes from the Ottawa MLS board, refreshed daily. Commercial, land, and rental listings aren't included here.

Listing information is supplied by third-party brokerage and listing data sources. Status, price and details can change without notice, are believed reliable but are not guaranteed, and must be independently verified. Shown for personal, non-commercial use. Not intended to solicit properties already listed with another brokerage. Full disclosures.

Community overview

Rockcliffe was its own village until it amalgamated into Ottawa in 2001, and it's bounded by the Ottawa River, Sussex Drive, and Beechwood Avenue. Heritage controls here are strict, protecting the tree canopy, lot sizes, and architectural character, with the Village of Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District governing renovations and tear-downs.

Tree-lined Ottawa street of century brick homes in autumn — Central Ottawa's century homes and mature maple canopy.

Schools in Rockcliffe Park

Elmwood School (private, girls), Ashbury College (private, co-ed), and Rockcliffe Park Public School are the main options, with Lisgar Collegiate downtown taking many public-stream high schoolers. Bus routes and private-school catchments often shape where families choose to buy.

Transportation & commute

Sussex Drive and the Aviation Parkway get you downtown in under 10 minutes outside peak. There's no LRT station in the neighbourhood itself — Hurdman or Lees via Vanier is closest — so most residents drive. That's by design: no through routes, no commercial strips.

Rideau Canal beside the Château Laurier in summer — The Rideau Canal — a UNESCO World Heritage site running through the city.

Parks & recreation

Rockcliffe Park proper, McKay Lake, the Pond, the Rockeries, and the Rockcliffe Parkway pathways along the river make up the daily green space. The Rideau Tennis Club and Royal Ottawa Golf Club are both a short drive away.

Shopping & amenities

The neighbourhood is residential by design, so daily errands happen at Beechwood Village — cafés, a Metro, bakeries, independent shops — or on Sussex Drive in New Edinburgh. ByWard Market is five minutes by car.

ByWard Market produce stalls in downtown Ottawa — ByWard Market — Ottawa's historic downtown shopping district.

Lifestyle

Quiet, private, and distinctly diplomatic. Many homes sit behind hedges and gates, embassy residences are scattered throughout, and social life tends to run through Ashbury, Elmwood, the golf club, and the Rideau Club.

Real estate market

This is a thinly traded luxury market. Listings are limited, off-market deals happen often, and price swings widely with lot size, heritage status, and condition. Heritage rules constrain tear-down-and-rebuild projects, which helps protect long-term values.

Average home prices

Entry-level homes start in the high $1Ms, most family homes trade between $2M and $4M, and estate properties on McKay Lake or larger heritage lots regularly clear $5M to $10M-plus. Pricing here is highly property-specific — comparables carry less weight than almost anywhere else in the city.

Who should live in Rockcliffe Park

Diplomats, senior executives, established Ottawa families, and high-net-worth buyers relocating to the capital. It suits people who value privacy, mature character, and proximity to private schools over walkable urban amenity.

Questions People Ask

A few common questions

What is the average home price in Rockcliffe Park?: It's a luxury market where averages don't tell you much: entry-level homes start in the high $1Ms, most family homes trade between $2M and $4M, and estate properties on McKay Lake or larger heritage lots clear $5M to $10M-plus. Lot size, heritage designation, and condition swing pricing dramatically.
What private schools are in or near Rockcliffe?: Ashbury College (co-ed, JK–12) and Elmwood School (girls, PreK–12) sit inside the neighbourhood and are a major draw for families. Rockcliffe Park PS covers the public elementary years, while Lisgar Collegiate downtown is a popular public high school choice.
Can I tear down and rebuild in Rockcliffe?: Rockcliffe Park is a designated Heritage Conservation District, so demolitions and major exterior changes require Heritage Committee review, and many lots carry specific heritage status. Confirm what's possible with a heritage planner before writing an offer on anything you plan to rebuild.
How is the commute from Rockcliffe to downtown?: Sussex Drive and the Aviation Parkway get you to Parliament Hill in 8–12 minutes outside peak. There's no LRT station in the neighbourhood — Hurdman via Vanier is closest — so most residents drive or take the area's express buses.
Is there a lot of off-market activity in Rockcliffe?: Yes. A meaningful share of transactions never reach MLS — private sales between known parties, exclusive listings among a small group of luxury agents, and quiet pre-market opportunities are all common. If you're a serious buyer, being plugged into that network matters more here than anywhere else in Ottawa.

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Straight From the Source

Check the numbers yourself

These are the official sources I use for current Ottawa real estate data, government programs and buyer protection.

Tour Rockcliffe Park with an experienced Ottawa realtor.

Get live comparables, school catchment maps, and the new-build pipeline for Rockcliffe Park.

Book a Rockcliffe Park consultation

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