Barbados Road Trip: Things to Do in the Parish of St James
by Karen Rollins May 15, 2023
St James is arguably one of the best-known parishes in Barbados. It has the nickname of ‘the platinum coast’ and is renowned for its white sand beaches, calm waters, celebrity visitors, and palatial houses.
Anyone visiting St James will find lots of interesting attractions, along with several restaurants, bars, and clubs (mainly on 1st street and 2nd street) where you can enjoy a rum punch and watch the sunset.
If you are planning a trip to St James, here are five things you can see and do in the parish.
Limegrove Lifestyle Centre in Holetown is one of the best places to shop in Barbados.
This high-end retail centre features several specialty stores along with an unmatched selection of outlets offering some of the world’s leading luxury brands such as Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Breitling, and Cartier.
In addition to shopping, Limegrove also features an art gallery, spa, two cinemas, bars, restaurants, and eateries. It also has plenty of recreational spaces where you can sit and watch the world go by.
Chattel House Village
After visiting Limegrove, you can continue shopping just 10 minutes down the road at the colourful Chattel Village, where you’ll find a wide selection of boutique businesses selling unique keepsakes and beautiful gifts.
The Village has something for everyone with art, fashion, accessories, and souvenirs on offer. You can also get something to eat and drink at Café Bar Carizma or Just Grillin’.
West Coast Boardwalk
The west coast boardwalk gives visitors a chance to enjoy a small section of the stunning St James shoreline from Sandy Lane through to Holetown.
Take your time to meander past beachside hotels, restaurants, and bars. Sit on one of the boardwalk’s wooden benches and enjoy the sound of the sea touching the sand while local fishermen head out to get their catch for the day.
Unlike the south coast boardwalk, this version is not one continuous stretch, but is instead punctuated by different sections of beach in between.
St James Parish Church
Known as the oldest church on the island, St James Church is inextricably linked with the history of Barbados as it sits close to the spot where the first English settlers arrived.
The site’s original wooden church is believed to have been built in the 1600s, but it was twice destroyed by hurricanes. The current building is made of natural coral stone and houses items dating back over three hundred years.
The church is next door to another interesting attraction, Folkestone Marine Park, with both attractions sitting on an area of land known as ‘God’s Acre’.
Holetown Festival (annually in February)
The Holetown Festival takes place every year in February.
This popular event commemorates the day in 1627 when the first 80 English settlers arrived on Barbados, along with 10 enslaved Africans (who were captured on the voyage), onboard a ship called the ‘William and John’.
The festival lasts a week and includes historic tours, a church service, street parades, and live music from some of the island’s top performers.
—
You may also like: Things to do in the parish of St Lucy, Things to do in the parish of St Peter, and Things to do in the parish of St Andrew.
Look out for the rest of this series as we explore every parish in Barbados!
