In 1784, Admiral Horatio Nelson, noted the warm, steady winds, complex coastline of safe harbours and protective, nearly unbroken wall of coral reef in Antigua and decided it was a perfect place to base his British fleets. Today, it's the prefect base for your holiday. Not only is there a beautiful white beach for every day of the year but the coral reefs, once the bane of enemy ships, attract snorkellers and scuba divers from all over the world. Courtesy of the Trade Winds, the island is also home one of the world's foremost maritime events, Sailing Week.
English Harbour with its restored buildings, hilltop forts and museums reflects the Island's British military past and must be seen. Nelson's Dockyard, which dates from 1743, is Antigua's most popular attraction, with inns, shops, a market, restaurants, an art centre and a small nautical museum. Betty's Hope, named after the daughter of plantation entrepreneur, Christopher Codrington, is the only remaining legacy of a once thriving sugar plantation industry.
For nature lovers, the neighbouring island of Barbuda, once a scavenger's paradise because so many ships were wrecked on its reefs, is now home to one of the region's most significant bird sanctuaries.
Top accommodation
- 01. Carlisle Bay
- 02. Blue Waters
- 03. Curtain Bluff
- 04. Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort
- 05. The Inn at English Harbour
