Bridgetown

Bridgetown combines its colonial heritage with museums, a square overlooking the river and a market focused on food and handicrafts. You can shape your trip around the city’s history, exhibitions and time in public spaces. As you plan, consider whether you want to focus mainly on historical topics, explore different types of museums, or also include a market and park.

City history, museums and a riverside square

Bridgetown and 115 buildings within the city are considered a well-preserved example of a British colonial town from the 17th to the 19th century. The Historical Maritime Centre is next to Blackwoods Screw Dock and features photographs and exhibitions about Barbados’s past. The Museum of Parliament explores the history of governance in Barbados and also houses the National Heroes Gallery. The Exchange Interactive Centre offers a different focus: this interactive museum combines touchscreen displays with audio stations and is designed for people of all ages.

Independence Square was redesigned and reopened to the public in 2007. The park offers space to relax, shaded areas, an amphitheatre and fountains, as well as views of the river and boats. It is named in honour of Barbados’s independence, and Independence Arch is just a short walk away. The same square thus brings together references to national history and opportunities to spend time outdoors.

The history of the bridge also spans several periods: in 1872, the bridge was once again replaced by a drawbridge that could open to let ships pass. In 1900, Chamberlain Bridge was named after Joseph Chamberlain. In 2011, it was converted into a lift bridge, which still stands today. These dates make it possible to trace the bridge’s development without confusing its later modifications with its earlier naming.

City tours and other cultural topics

A guided walking tour takes you through Bridgetown and its Garrison; it is offered to individuals as well as small and medium-sized groups. As availability may change, check before your trip. Another option is the two-hour tour of Bridgetown offered by the Barbados Museum & Historical Society. It introduces historical sites and architecture of cultural significance and takes place during opening hours, between 9 am and 3 pm. The tour must be booked in advance; confirm the current arrangements before your visit.

The wider destination of Saint Michael offers further historical and cultural topics. Galleries of the Barbados Museum & Historical Society are housed in buildings that formed part of a 19th-century military prison within Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison. The Jubilee Gallery’s “In Search of Bim” exhibition traces Barbados’s prehistoric and historical development up to the 1940s. Through exhibitions and dioramas, the Harewood Gallery illustrates the ecology of the coral reef and its marine life, as well as the development of mangrove swamps and seagrass beds.

The history of democracy is also explored in the wider destination of Saint Michael: an interactive exhibition in the west wing of the Barbados Parliament Buildings traces it through audiovisual displays and text panels. St Mary’s Anglican Church stands on Bridgetown’s first consecrated site; the present church was consecrated in 1827. Kensington Oval is a cricket ground founded in 1882, and tours are available. Check with the stadium for current availability. The Emancipation Statue, also known as the “Bussa” statue, stands on the outskirts of Bridgetown and was erected to commemorate the end of slavery.

Market life and finding a holiday apartment

The wider destination of Saint Michael also includes Temple Yard in Cheapside, Bridgetown. This open-air food and handicrafts market is known as a local Rastafari street market. Ital-style vegetarian dishes are available there daily; check locally whether this is still the case. The market complements the museums and historical sites with a different perspective on what the area has to offer.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Bridgetown, your trip’s interests can help you decide: city history, exhibitions, time in a park or a visit to a market each offer a different focus.

For the wider travel overview: Barbados.