St James

Holidays to St James take you to Barbados’ gorgeous west coast – where designer shopping and Caribbean cooking blend in with idyllic white sand beaches.

Laidback to designer in Barbados

Stretched along Barbados’ west coast, St James is one of the island’s most beautiful tourist regions. It’s a fun, lively area with a mix of laid-back glamour and Caribbean sunshine. The main spot is Holetown, which boasts designer shopping, glossy restaurants and vibrant nightlife. And the action there revolves around the town’s stunning beach.

Idyllic Caribbean beaches

Holetown Beach is postcard-pretty, with gleaming soft white sands sandwiched by lush palms and azure seas. There are oodles of sunloungers and thatched umbrellas, with charming shack bars along the beach for drinks and snacks. And just a couple of minutes’ drive south is Sandy Lane, a gorgeous sliver of white sand backed by mahogany trees.

In and around Holetown

St James Parish Church is a little Gothic structure in Holetown – it’s undergone touch-ups since it was built in 1629, but the inscribed stone to King William still remains from the 17th century. A few minutes’ drive out of Holetown is the Lascelles Plantation – it was the first English plantation and today there are 3 acres of landscaped gardens to explore.

Daytrips to Bridgetown

Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, is just a 15-minute drive away. For a whole history of the island, the Barbados Museum is bang in the middle of town. Then there’s the grand old Parliament Building nearby – the statue of Lord Nelson in front is older than the one in Traflagar Square. The pink façade of the town syngagogue is just a stroll away too.