Famed as the sailing capital of the Caribbean, English Harbour sits towards Antigua’s southern tip, and makes for a beautiful holiday base. Accommodation options are wide-ranging, with everything from old-school inns to chic beach hotels catering to a whole host of tastes and budgets. With sailing, superb scenery and fabulous food near the top of most travellers’ itinerary, the best places to stay in English Harbour are perfectly poised to delight on all counts.
With Antigua and Barbuda under English control from 1632, English Harbour was chosen as the ideal site for a well-protected naval base, facing neighbouring French-dominated Guadeloupe. Fort Berkeley was built on the coast at the turn of the 18th century, and the Dockyard — known as Nelson’s Dockyard for its association with Admiral Horatio Nelson’s formidable navy — was constructed later. Today, Fort Berkeley is well worth visiting, and UNESCO-listed Nelson’s Dockyard & Museum are particularly popular. There are some wonderful hikes in the surrounding Nelson's Dockyard National Park, too. Nearby Shirley Heights offers a spectacular lookout point over the harbour, and a further insight into the area’s history.
Head out onto the water for world-class sailing, as well as snorkelling and diving opportunities. The tranquil ocean waters are perfect for windsurfing, water-skiing, kayaking and boat trips to hidden coves and sandy beaches, too. If you’re dreaming of sunbathing and sandcastle-building, Pigeon Point Beach and Galleon Beach are the places to go. English Harbour’s sailing culture has given rise to a plethora of excellent sailing schools — hone your skills or sign the children up for a week’s worth of lessons. There can be few more enchanting places to learn to sail!
Glitzy and trendy, English Harbour draws a returning crowd during the winter months. Book your stay well in advance to guarantee a room at one of the best places to stay in English Harbour, and speak to your hotel about reserving a spot in the marina if you’re arriving by boat.