Western Barbados is the area of Barbados that lies north of Bridgetown and comprises the parishes of Saint James, Saint Peter and Saint Lucy. This is the west-facing, most sheltered coast, so it's the best for family beach holidays, and has the highest concentration (and steepest prices) of hotels.
Understand
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Holetown and Speightstown are the two main settlements but it's basically one long ribbon development along the coastal Highway 1B. Tourist literature often refers to the sea here as the Caribbean but that's 100 miles west, over the horizon beyond Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent. This here is the Atlantic and can get rough, but it's normally in the "Goldilocks zone" of being calm enough inshore for family bathing, yet lively enough further out for surfing, wind-surfing and the like.
Holetown is where the British first landed in 1625, the hole being the haven and freshwater creek; it was first called "Jamestown" for King James I / VI. More settlers arrived in 1627, plantations and transatlantic trade were established, and the area grew up to be the first capital of the colony. Then the Earl of Carlisle founded a new settlement with a better natural harbour to the south which overtook it, and is nowadays Bridgetown. The west coast ports however stayed in business, trading especially with Bristol.
20th century commercial aviation brought first the rich then a mass market to take holidays on Barbados, and a hotel strip burgeoned along the west coast. One famous resident was Claudette Colbert (Émilie Claudette Chauchoin 1903-1996), star of many 1930s Hollywood film romances and comedies. She bought a house in Speightstown in the 1960s and lived the rest of her life between there and Manhattan.
Get in
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The coast highway runs north from Bridgetown via Holetown to Speightstown. All public transport runs along this road, some continuing up to St Lucy's Church. Bus #1 runs up the coast from Bridgetown Princess Alice Terminal to Holetown and Speightstown every 30-60 min, but there are also very frequent minibuses. Bus # 1E crosses the top of the island every couple of hours daily between Speightstown and Bathsheba on the east coast.
Highway 2A, the Ronald Mapp Highway, carries most of the traffic inland. It links to the Earl Barrow Highway bypassing Bridgetown, so taxis or other private transfers between the airport and west coast resorts shouldn't exceed an hour. So the coastal highway is slow and congested in rush hour but not permanently thrombosed.
Get around
[edit]The coast road is narrow and ratty with traffic, with poor sidewalks, so walking is no fun. Take a minibus for any distance along the north-south main drag; getting inland (eg to Harrison's Cave) will involve a taxi or joining an excursion.
See
[edit]- Holetown Monument commemorates the first English landing.
- Saint James Parish Church in Holetown was the first in Barbados, founded in 1628. The present church dates from 1874.
- 1 Speightstown was the island's main settlement until Bridgetown outgrew it - William Speight was the landowner. It has a pleasant old centre, with 18th / 19th century buildings such as St Peter's, the Anglican church, and Arlington House Museum (M-Sa) in a chandlers house.
- 2 Harrison Point Lighthouse is disused. Built in 1925, it's 85 ft / 26 m tall. No interior access, you come for the view, if you care to drive down the rough lane off Husbands Rd.
- 3 Animal Flower Cave at the north tip of the island is a scenic sea cave, open Tu-Su 9:30AM-4:30PM, adult B$40, child B$20.
- 4 Mount Gay Rum Distillery in Saint Lucy has no walk-in tours, you must book online. Otherwise go to their visitor centre in Bridgetown, which explains the history and process.
- 5 Farley Hill (pictured at head of page) is at Benny Hall on Highway 2, straddling the boundary with Saint Andrew. The 19th-century mansion is now a ruin. It's set in Barbados Wildlife Reserve, open daily 10AM-5PM. Brick paths lead through four acres of mahogany forest. Adult B$30, child B$15, which includes admission to Grenade Hall Signal Station.
- 6 Mount Hillaby is Barbados' highest point, at 1120 ft / 340 m. Drive up the lane from the village of Hillaby on its west flank.
- 7 Welchman Hall Gully, Canefield Rd, Welchman Hill, ☏ +1 246 438 6671. Daily 9AM-3:30PM. Forest park with an accessible trail. Green monkeys are common but not guaranteed. Adult B$40, child B$20.
- 8 Harrison's Cave, Allen View, Welchman Hill, ☏ +1 246 417 3700. Daily 8:30AM-4:30PM. Karstic show cave that you chug through in an electric tram. Plus all sorts of catchpenny side-shows (that word "Eco" is the danger signal), since no cave visit would be complete without riding a forest zipwire. Hotel pick-up extra. Basic tour adult $65, child $45.
- Coles Cave is similar, half a mile south: access off Highway 3A. It's a tougher proposition, you need a guide and to be fit and agile.
- 9 Rock Hall Monument of Freedom commemorates the founding of Rock Hall by freed slaves in 1841. The village has many original wooden bungalows of that era.
Do
[edit]- Scuba diving (and see Diving in Barbados): shacks include Salt & Sea within Mango Bay Hotel Holetown, Hightide Watersports within Coral Reef Club Holetown, Reefers & Wreckers in Speightstown, and BarbadoScuba in Clinketts.
- Golf: Sandy Lane Country Club has three courses, see Sleep. Apes Hill is northeast inland.
- Holetown Festival over a week in February celebrates the arrival of the English in Barbados with parades, dances, games, street fairs, and services at Saint James Parish Church.
Buy
[edit]- Holetown: Massy Stores is the supermarket, open M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 8AM-4PM. Limegrove Mall is mostly clothing stores.
- Speightstown: New Town Square has a range of stores. Jordan's supermarket is open M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 9AM-2PM.
Eat
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- Zaccios (was Cocomos), Highway 1, Holetown, ☏ +1 246 432 0134. Daily 8:30AM-9:30PM. Italian ocean-front dining. Good value for money, relaxed atmosphere.
- Fisherman's Pub, Queen's St, Speightstown, ☏ +1 246 422 2703. Tu-F 11AM-10PM, Sa 11AM-6PM. Reasonably priced pub with local food.
- The Cliff, Highway 1, Derricks, ☏ +1 246 432 1922. M-Sa 5PM-midnight, Su noon-midnight. Excellent top-end restaurant, gets great reviews for food, service and views, all reflected in the price.
- Roti Den, Highway 1, Payne's Bay (Jcn with Holders Hill), ☏ +1 246 432 6030. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su 11AM-8PM. Good roti and curries at this small shop.
- Fish Pot, Little Good Harbour, Sherman St, Clinketts (a mile north of Speightstown), ☏ +1 246 439 3000. Daily 8AM-9:30PM. Dine above the breaking surf at this fine Barbados restaurant but call ahead for reservations.
Drink
[edit]- Holetown has Drift Ocean Terrace, Tipsy Monkey, Zouk Lounge and Jeremy's.
- Weston going north has John Moore Bar, Carlton Variety Bar and Thunder Bay Beach Bar.
Sleep
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The west coast is prime territory for family beach holidays. There are good package deals to be found, but hotel rates for individual travellers are inflated. However this area also has a number of small B&Bs and guesthouses a few blocks inland for more reasonable prices. The Fitts Village / Risk Road neighbourhood is a good bet.
- 1 Waves Resort, Prospect Bay, St James, ☏ +1 246 424 7571. Marriott resort hotel with great service, comfort and catering. Double (all inclusive) $1300.
- 2 Beach View Hotel, Paynes Bay, Durants, ☏ +1 246 432 2300. Relaxing place across the road from the beach. Double (room only) $440.
- 3 The House, Paynes Bay, ☏ +1 246 432 5525. Adults only Marriott hotel, guest opinions veer between rave and raspberry.
- Tamarind is 100 yards north of The House.
- Treasure Beach, Paynes Bay (200 yards north of The House), ☏ +1 246 419 4200. Another Marriott hotel, but this one wins great reviews. B&B double $1200.
- 4 Sandy Lane Hotel, Sandy Lane, Holetown, ☏ +1 246 444 2000. Luxury hotel on a former sugar plantation. Opulent is the word, this hotel is in the top bracket for room comfort, amenities, service and price. B&B double $2800.
- 5 All Seasons Resort Europa, Palm Ave, Holetown, ☏ +1 246 432 5046. Spacious suites with kitchenette, inexpensive by local standards. Double (room only) $250.
- Royalton Vessence in Folkestone is scheduled to open in summer 2026.
- 6 Colony Club, Porters Rd, St James, ☏ +1 246 422 4335. Comfy spacious Marriott hotel. B&B double $1800.
- 7 Fairmont Royal Pavilion, Highway 1B, Holetown, ☏ +1 246 422 5555. Slick friendly service but the rooms need an upgrade, way overpriced for what you get. B&B double $3000.
Connect
[edit]The west coast has 4G from Flow and Digicel. 5G is rolling out in 2026.
Go next
[edit]- Public transport converges on Bridgetown. Garrison Savannah is a couple of miles south of the centre.
- Southern Barbados has wilder waters, better for water sports, and is well-developed.
- Central Eastern Barbados has more rugged terrain. The big attraction is Andromeda Gardens.