Gardens and History in Road Town

Road Town brings together two distinct themes: the tropical plants of the J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens and the historic role of Old Government House. Main Street adds a shopping district to the mix. Together, these offer clues to which aspects of the town may be of particular interest during your stay.

Gardens and History in Road Town

The J.R. O’Neal Botanic Gardens are a cool, peaceful oasis in the centre of Road Town. They were established in 1979 on the grounds of the Agricultural Experiment Station, which was then a hundred years old. The gardens include native and exotic tropical plants. Both the plant life and the history of the former experimental grounds are among the distinctive features of this site.

Another perspective on the town’s history is offered by Old Government House: from 1926 to 1996, it served as the official residence of the monarch’s representative in the territory. This period places that role within a clearly defined chapter of history. If you are travelling with children and enjoy combining nature with history, you can include both themes in your plans.

Main Street is Road Town’s main shopping district. As this information may become outdated, check before your visit to see whether it is still current. When choosing a holiday rental in Road Town, you can also consider whether the combination of gardens, history and a shopping district appeals to you as a defining feature of the town.

More Travel Ideas in the British Virgin Islands

Beyond Road Town, the British Virgin Islands destination offers nature and water experiences across several islands. The islands can be explored on island-hopping trips by ferry, chartered yacht or sailboat.

Water sports, fishing and boating are available on Tortola, and white sand beaches line its coasts. Cane Garden Bay is used for surfing, while deep-sea fishing is often practised at the North and South Drops. The activities listed range from surfing to deep-sea fishing, offering specific ideas if you would like to focus your trip more on the water and coast.

Virgin Gorda offers hiking trails lined with vegetation and several nature reserves. Devil’s Bay lies at the island’s southwestern tip. From the tip of The Baths, a hike of around 15 minutes leads to the bay; the beaches there are suitable for swimming and snorkelling. This gives the regional selection a different focus from the gardens and history of Road Town: here, nature trails and activities on the water take centre stage.

Another nature destination in the British Virgin Islands is Little Fort National Park, a 36-acre wildlife sanctuary. The region’s maritime history is also part of the picture: the waters around Anegada are home to the wrecks of Spanish galleons, American privateer ships and British galleons. Jost Van Dyke, in turn, is named after a Dutch privateer.

For the main travel overview: British Virgin Islands.