Uptown New Westminster is the city’s hilltop commercial centre, built around Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue, Royal City Centre and Moody Park. Housing ranges from older low-rise apartments to newer mid-rise and high-rise condos, with the heritage homes of Brow of the Hill on the slope below. There is no SkyTrain station in Uptown; frequent buses run down to New Westminster Station. It suits buyers who want shopping, parks and recreation within walking distance.
At a glance
- Housing: older wood-frame low-rise apartments, newer concrete towers near Sixth and Sixth, and some townhouses. Edwardian-era houses in Brow of the Hill sit alongside new mid-rise projects on the slope toward downtown.
- SkyTrain: none in Uptown. New Westminster Station is downhill, connected by frequent buses along Sixth Street.
- To the river: downhill on Sixth Street to downtown, then over the Sixth Street overpass ramp to the waterfront.
- Schools nearby: Lord Kelvin Elementary (1010 Hamilton Street, K to 5) feeds Fraser River Middle School, and New Westminster Secondary is the district’s secondary school. Catchment depends on your exact address, so confirm it with New Westminster Schools.
- Parks: Moody Park, about 24 acres at Sixth Avenue and Eighth Street.
History
Uptown sits on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples, in particular the Qayqayt First Nation, land the city describes as a gathering place for more than 10,000 years. New Westminster Schools recounts how Qayqayt people were displaced from the city core after 1859, and how Chief Rhonda Larrabee revived the Nation in the 1990s.
The Royal Engineers arrived in 1858 under Colonel Richard Clement Moody and surveyed the capital that Queen Victoria named New Westminster in 1859. Uptown’s main park still carries Moody’s name. In April 1863 councillors proposed reserving land as “Moody Square,” and the city’s history says it became the first park created after the 1860 incorporation. The province formally conveyed it to the city in 1908. In the 1890s the park held a golf course and a shooting range, with sheep keeping the grass down.
On the hillside between Uptown and downtown, Brow of the Hill began filling in during the late 1880s with modest homes and grew in the Edwardian boom. The Canadian Register notes that Moody intended this steep, river-view slope for working families, many of whom worked downtown.
Uptown became a shopping district as cars took over. Gas stations appeared at intersections in the 1920s, a Piggly Wiggly opened on Sixth Street in 1929 (later a Safeway), the Medical Arts Building followed in 1946 and a new public library in 1958. Today Royal City Centre, the city’s largest indoor mall, sits beside Moody Park.
That history explains the mix you see now: pre-war and heritage homes on the slopes, mid-century and later apartments around the commercial streets, and towers rising near Sixth and Sixth. Heritage revitalization agreements now shape some infill, such as a Brantford Street proposal that pairs an 1890 house with a six-storey building.
Living here
Uptown is where New Westminster runs its errands. Groceries, banks, pharmacies and services line Sixth Street, and Royal City Centre is next to Moody Park. Tourism New Westminster calls it the busiest part of town.
Moody Park is the main draw for families, with an outdoor pool, ball diamonds, soccer fields, a lacrosse box, tennis courts, lawn bowling, an adventure playground and a spray park, along with Moody Park Arena and the Century House seniors centre. The New Westminster Public Library and Massey Theatre are close by.
The main trade-off is SkyTrain. You’ll ride the bus or walk a steep hill to New Westminster Station. Brow of the Hill has river views and real slopes, so check how a building sits on the hill before you buy.
Places to eat
Restaurants, cafés and bakeries in Uptown rated 4.5 stars or higher on Google when we last checked (October 2026). We re-check this list every few months.
- Hens Up Chicken: Korean fried chicken, 406 Sixth Street
- 4 Seasons Indian Chaat & Curry House: Indian and vegetarian, 420 Sixth Street
- Banette: brunch and bakery, 536 Sixth Street
- Solodko Ukrainian Bakery: bakery, 444 Sixth Street
- Kozak Ukrainian Eatery: Ukrainian, 444 Sixth Street
- Massawa Restaurant: 418 Sixth Street
- Kinton Ramen: ramen, 678 Sixth Street
- Sanjo Sushi: Japanese and sushi, 546 Sixth Street
- Pho ACE: Vietnamese, 522 Sixth Avenue
- Mediterranean Donair House: Mediterranean, 733 Sixth Street
What condo buyers and sellers should know
Uptown has a wide spread of building ages: older wood-frame walk-ups, buildings from the late-1980s and 1990s leaky-condo era, and newer concrete towers. For anything built from about 1985 to 2000, ask for the depreciation report and the building envelope history. For older wood-frame buildings, ask about plumbing, roofing, windows and electrical upgrades.
Strata corporations with five or more lots must get a depreciation report every five years and can no longer vote to defer one. Compare it with the contingency reserve fund and any special levies. Also check rental and pet bylaws, parking and storage, and nearby redevelopment applications that could affect your views or bring construction noise. If you’re selling, order your Form B and gather the strata minutes before you list.
Getting around
- SkyTrain: New Westminster Station on the Expo Line, downhill from Uptown.
- Bus: the 105 and 106 run between Uptown and New Westminster Station, and the 112 and 123 serve the wider area. Check TransLink for current routes and schedules.
- Cycling: the BC Parkway follows the Expo Line through New Westminster.
- Driving: Twelfth Street leads to Kingsway, which the Royal Engineers originally built to link New Westminster with False Creek. Canada Way heads west into Burnaby, and McBride Boulevard runs to Brunette Avenue and Highway 1. The stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge to Surrey opened in February 2026.
FAQ
Where is Uptown New Westminster?
The hilltop commercial area centred on Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue, around Royal City Centre and Moody Park.
Is there a SkyTrain station in Uptown?
No. Buses including the 105 and 106 connect Uptown with New Westminster Station on the Expo Line.
What is Brow of the Hill?
The steep residential slope between Uptown and downtown, settled from the late 1880s, with many Edwardian-era houses.
What parks are in Uptown?
Moody Park is the main one, with a pool, sports fields, tennis courts, playgrounds, an arena and a seniors centre.
What should I check when buying an older Uptown condo?
The depreciation report, the envelope history, records of major system upgrades, the contingency reserve balance and any special levies.
Last reviewed 28 October 2026 by Adam Lloyd. Catchment boundaries change. Confirm your address with New Westminster Schools before you buy.