oday’s Bridgetown is a vibrant city with an atmosphere that represents the Industry and the pulse of the people. The look of Bridgetown incorporates historic buildings and sites, with modern offices which gives it a unique blend. Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados, the main commercial centre where you'll find banks, shops and duty free shopping and restaurants. It is the largest and liveliest city in Barbados.

It is also home of the Bridgetown Port which is a major port of entry for both cruise and cargo ships docking in Barbados, and is the central hub for the island’s public transport system. Broad Street, the main street, runs directly through the centre of the city. Broad Street passes the Parliament Buildings and serves as the centre of the city's shopping area.

The Public Buildings or Parliament located in the heart of the city directly north of Heroes Square, formerly Trafalgar Square, house the third oldest continuous parliament in the British Commonwealth. Indeed, at one point in the city's early history, Bridgetown was the most important city of all British possessions in the New World due to the city's easterly location in the Caribbean region.

The Bridgetown story began on July 5th 1628, when the site was chosen for its harbour by Charles Wolverston, the soon to be Governor, and his group to settle. The harbours at the Careenage and Carlisle Bay gave it supremacy over Holetown which was settled a year earlier.

The name Bridgetown came from its original title “the Indian Bridge Towne” which refers to a primitively constructed bridge left by the Amerindians. In later years it was called “the bridge,” “the Bridge Town” and “St. Michael Town”.

Street names date back to the city’s founding and commemorate prominent early settlers including the surveyor – Swan, who laid out the town and whose name is attached to the city’s secondary street, Swan Street. Today they aren't many buildings dating before the 1840s because of fires and hurricanes during the 1600’s and 1700’s.

This town has proudly played host to many famous people such as Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II and George Washington. Bridgetown is the only city outside continental North America that George Washington ever visited.

Click here for information on the Places of Interest in the city of Bridgetown & outlying areas.

Contact Info Bridgetown