English Harbour, an elegant and evocative historic district in Antigua, is situated on 15 square miles of land within Nelson's Dockyard National Park and is one of the most popular tourist attractions for Antigua immigrants.
The harbour was established as a British naval base during the heyday of sailing, serving as the headquarters for the Leeward Islands fleet during the turbulent times of the late 18th century. Although Horatio Nelson oversaw a significant expansion of the dockyard during that period, it gradually declined in the 19th century and ceased operations in 1889. Today, Nelson's Dockyard has been fully restored and is the only remaining Georgian-era dockyard in the world.
Almost all the attractions in the park overlook the harbour, the closest of which is Clarence House. Built as a residence for the future King William IV of England (1765-1837) when he was captain of the H.M.S. Pegasus and serving under Nelson, it is a notable landmark. Further from the harbour is Shirley Heights, a partially restored colonial lookout post. The stunning views from Shirley Heights extend across the beach and over the Caribbean Sea to the islands of Montserrat and Guadeloupe.
On Sundays, the atmosphere is enlivened by barbecues and live music at local bars (steel drum bands perform from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and reggae music from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM). Visitors can reach Shirley Heights via the Lookout Trail, a nature hiking path that starts from the harbour and winds through the forest; however, we advise against using this trail after dusk or during the barbecue festivities.
Continuing along the Lookout Trail near Shirley Heights is the Dow's Hill Interpretation Center, where visitors can watch a multimedia film about the history of Antigua, from its initial colonization to independence. The observation deck at Dow's Hill also offers another perspective of the harbour, similar to the view from the ruins of Fort Berkeley, which is located on the other side of the bay and can be reached by walking around the island.