Charlestown Between Coast, History and Art

Charlestown brings together coastal scenery, history, religious sites and art, as well as seasonal cricket matches. Gallows Bay, the Nevis Heritage Trail, Hamilton connections and changing exhibitions offer different focal points for a stay. If you’re planning a trip, you can start by considering whether scenery, history, crafts or a seasonal event will shape your stay.

Coast and Orientation

Gallows Bay in Charlestown is wide and sandy. A map of the town is located at the harbour, near the ferry ticket counters. The bay and harbour therefore offer two specific starting points for planning a trip: the coastal landscape and a map to help you find your way around town. If you’d like to connect Charlestown with its coastal scenery, Gallows Bay provides a clear landscape reference; the map at the harbour offers another way to get to know the town.

Hamilton’s History in Charlestown

The two-storey Georgian-style building that houses the Museum of Nevis History was Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace in 1757. The building’s style and year of birth give its history a specific connection to Charlestown. For travellers interested in architecture and historical biographies, this site brings both together in one building.

The Coffee With Hamilton tour begins with a light breakfast at Café des Arts on the grounds of Hamilton’s birthplace in Charlestown, Nevis. If you’d like to plan the tour, check the current arrangements in advance: offerings and itineraries may change.

Heritage Trail and Religious Sites

The first stop on the Nevis Heritage Trail is in Charlestown. The trail’s religious sites in Charlestown include Charlestown Methodist Church, St. Paul’s Anglican Church and School, and the Jewish Cemetery. The location of the first stop gives Charlestown a clear role along the trail; the sites listed also offer a glimpse of the town’s religious landmarks. Along with Hamilton’s history, they create a historical focus covering several different themes.

Art and Crafts

The Charlestown Art Gallery features changing exhibitions of original paintings, photographs, sculptures and mixed-media works. The Charlestown Gallery showcases and sells works by emerging and established Caribbean artists. For art lovers, the focus is therefore on both changing exhibitions and works by Caribbean artists.

The Nevis Artisan Village comprises 10 shop units and 19 craft vendors. Its products include items made from shells, coconut, leather, ceramics, stone and wood, as well as paintings, soap, dolls, bamboo goods, basketry, clothing and local jewellery. The mix of vendors may change. Those interested in crafts will find a wide variety of materials and goods here, distinct from the exhibitions and gallery works.

Cricket and Choosing When to Visit

During the season, cricket matches are held on Thursday evenings at Grove Park in Charlestown. If you’d like to plan a visit around them, check the current match schedule locally. Cricket adds a seasonal highlight to trip planning, while exhibitions at the Charlestown Art Gallery change over time. These different schedules can help you plan activities around your travel dates.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Charlestown, your daily plans can be a good starting point: Are you mainly interested in Hamilton’s history and the religious sites, more drawn to art and crafts, or would you like to plan your stay around cricket during the season?

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Ogees, Frigate Bay, Trinity, Sandy Point Town, Nevis.

Back to the main travel guide: St. Kitts and Nevis.