Bizi-Body Travel Guides Barbados Things to Do

Things to Do

Bridgetown

The capital. There are several historical sites and areas worth visiting. Parliament buildings are a good place for the history of Barbados . House of Assembly is the ornate Speaker's chair and mace. Stained glass windows depict English monarchs.
The old harbour at eh Carenage surrounded by old buildings and shops and restaurants.
Trafalgar Square , bronze statue of Lord Nelson. Dolphin fountain and the War Memorial.
Jewish Synagogue built in 1654.
St Michaels Cathedral .
Barbados Museum was a military prison and now houses artefacts from the island's history.
Garrison Savannah a 50 acre park, home of the garrison horse track.

Bridgetown Area.

Malibu Visitor Centre

Home of Malibu Coconut Rum. Tour the distillery.

Mount Gay Visitors Centre

Tour the factory and sample the rum made here. Considered to be the best.

Medford Craft Village

Famous for its mahogany gift items. From clocks to carvings.

St Michael

Tyrol Cot Heritage Village is a living museum. Chattel houses each displays the work of traditional craftsmen or artist at work on-site. The house is filled with antiques and memorabilia.

Andromeda Gardens

Contains varieties of orchids, bougainvillea, hibiscus, heliconia, palms, ferns and cacti. Has pools and waterfalls due to the cliff top situation

Holetown

Originally called ‘James Town', site of the first landing in 1625. A monument commemorates the landing

Barbados Wildlife Reserve

Mahogany forest with a feast of wild animals including, mongoose, peacocks, tortoise, porcupine, iguana, deer, hares, birds and the green monkey.

Francia Plantation House

Elegant Great House with antique furniture and paintings still in situe.

Folkestone Marine Park

Underwater park where you can view marine life from glass bottomed boats. Small marine museum of photos, artefacts and specimens.

St John

Codrington College –first opened in 1745 is an architectural and historical gem
St John's Church – 150 years old, magnificent views as it stands on a cliff.

St George

Gun Hill Signal Station - One of several signal stations build around 1818. Collection of military memorabilia.
The Lion – was sculptured from one piece of rock by a British soldier stands 10 feet tall by 16 feet long.

Christ Church

Oistins – principal fishing port and the site of the fish festival

St Philip

The Sunbury Plantation House and Museum is 300 years old and was a sugar estate. Has the islands largest collection of antiques, china and silver. Old carts and machinery and mule and oxen driven equipment are still there.
Sam Lord's Castle – it is now a luxury hotel but still features beautiful grounds and furniture and paintings.

St Thomas

Ayshford Ratiti Gardens – small park of tropical birds and some animals
Harrison 's Cave - Cave systems. From special trains visitors can view the limestone caverns with their stalactites and stalagmites, also has lakes, streams and a 40 foot waterfall.
Welchman Hall Gully - Exotic garden of tropical plants and trees. The three-quarter mile gully is a crack in the coral limestone cap that covers the island. One of the world's largest pillars is there, the joining of a stalactite and stalagmite and a charming gazebo overlooks the Atlantic Ocean .

St Peter

Farley Hill National Park – a fire demolished it but the gutted remains still stand.
St Nicholas Abbey - At Cherry Tree Hill is a g0reat historical spot to observe the Atlantic coastline. Dates back to 1650 and sits 800 feet above sea level on top of a cliff.
Spreightstown - Formally known as ‘Little Bristol'

St Andrew

Chalky Mount – Potteries .
Morgan Lewis Sugar Windmill - The last mill to grind sugar and the only remaining windmill on the island.

St Joseph

Cotton Tower – a signalling tower

Beaches

West coast is calm. Payne's Bay, Treasure Beach and Holetown Beach with calm water. There are beach bars along the stretch of beaches, try Mullins, on Mullins Beach . Cocomas at Holetown and Bomba's just south of Holetown.

South coast is a little livelier. Accra Beach in Hastings , Worthing Beach in Worthing , Dover Beach close to St Lawrence Gap, Miami Beach just east of Oistins and Silver Sands for the more experienced windsurfers, on the islands southern tip. Carib Beach Bar in Worthing is a good bar to visit.

East of the southern tip the most charming beaches are to be found. Crane Beach good for body surfing, Foul Bay , Harrismith Beach and Bottom Bay also good for body surfing.

South side is good for windsurfing. Maxwell for beginners. Bathsheba is for the surfers.

What to Buy

Barbados is a duty free port – savings of between 30 – 50% below US retail prices. So check before you leave the UK and then you can compare the prices of what you want to buy.

Popular buys-

Cameras
Watches
Crystal
Cosmetics and Perfumes
Liquor
Cigars
Clothing and Sportswear from England

Duty Free Malls

Mall 34 on Broad Street and Pelican Village near Deep Water Harbour .

Popular Locally made items

Rum ( Mt. Gay is the most popular)
Pottery
Straw made items
Artwork ( Jill Walker is popular)
Dolls
Jewelry
T-shirts

Best places to shop for local products

Best of Barbados found at various outlets sells only island made or designed items
Caribbean world – Artwork and craftwork
Mt Gay Rum Visitor Centre – purchase rum direct from the factory
Pelican Village – Watch craftspeople at work in the shops
Earthworks – Pottery and ceramics ,
Red Clay Pottery – pottery
The Great House Gallery – art gallery
Queen's Park Gallery – National Cultural Foundation - showcasing the great crafts people of the island
Galleries – Kirby Gallery , The Courtyard, Hastings
Gallery of Caribbean Art in Speightstown
Luna Jewellers, Kildare, Bay Street , Bridgetown for jewellery

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