Broad Street, Bridgetown

Broad Street runs through the heart of Bridgetown and has long been the city’s main commercial thoroughfare lined with numerous shops, banks, historic buildings, and some of the capital’s best-known landmarks.

A good place to begin is near the western end of Broad Street at Saint Mary’s Anglican Church, which stands beside the junction with Cheapside Road. Look for the church set slightly back from the street, surrounded by trees. If you want to see Cheapside Market, walk west along Cheapside from the church. The market is just a short distance away and is particularly lively when vendors are selling fresh fruit, vegetables, spices, and other local produce.

To explore Broad Street, return to Saint Mary’s and head east along Broad Street, away from Cheapside and toward the center of Bridgetown. Stay on Broad Street as it continues straight ahead. This is the city’s traditional shopping and financial district, so look to both sides for banks, jewelry stores, duty-free shops, and a mixture of modern buildings and older façades.

Continue straight along Broad Street until you reach its eastern end. Here, the street brings you to the area around National Heroes Square, formerly known as Trafalgar Square. The Lord Nelson Statue, mentioned in many older descriptions of Broad Street, once stood here for more than 200 years before being removed in 2020.

As you reach the square, look to your left, or north, for the Parliament Buildings. They are easy to identify by their pale coral-limestone walls, pointed Gothic Revival windows, and prominent clock tower.

Now look to your right, toward the water. Here you’ll see the Careenage, Bridgetown’s historic inner harbor along the Constitution River. Its name recalls the days when ships were tilted, or careened, so their hulls could be cleaned and repaired. Today, small boats and yachts often occupy the waterway.

From National Heroes Square, you can continue toward Bridge Street and the waterfront, or turn back and walk west along Broad Street for the shops. Keep an eye on the side streets as you walk-between the commercial buildings, you’ll often catch glimpses of the Careenage and Bridgetown’s historic center.