It is at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County.

With over 270 heritage-designated buildings, Port Hope has a higher per capita rate of preservation than any other town or city in Canada.

This character makes Port Hope a destination for heritage tourism and people interested in architecture.

In 1978, eight members of the Satan's Choice Motorcycle Club were charged with a murder that occurred at Port Hope's Queen's Hotel.

[16] During World War II, the Eldorado plant produced exponentially more uranium oxides, which the United States used in the Manhattan Project to make nuclear weapons.

[18] More recently, testing of over 5,000 properties began, with a plan to remove and store contaminated soil that had been used as landfill.

[1] Mother tongue (2021):[1] Downtown Port Hope offers shopping and a historic main street.

In January 2025, the Ontario Government announced plans for a new nuclear generating station to be built at Wesleyville.

[27] The Ganaraska River (affectionately known as "The Ganny"), is well known to area anglers for annual salmon and trout runs.

Every April since until 2020, Port Hope has commemorated the flood with "Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny" ten kilometre boat race.

[33] The theatre's main auditorium is styled after an outdoor medieval courtyard and rolling clouds are projected onto the ceiling.