Main Street, Road Town (must see)

Main Street is a lively and historic stretch that gives visitors a clear sense of how the British Virgin Islands blend past and present. Lined with colorful colonial-style buildings, small shops, and government offices, it remains the traditional center of activity in the capital. The street once formed the town’s main commercial route, and it continues to serve that role today, offering a mix of practical services and locally owned businesses.

As you continue down the street, look for the older wooden buildings with red tin roofs and decorative trim — quiet reminders of an earlier era. The shops along the way range from small art galleries to island and resort wear, spices, handcrafted jewelry, nautical antiques, toy shops, wine sellers, and bakeries.

One place you shouldn’t miss is Sir Olva Georges Plaza. It honors the only BVIslander to receive a knighthood and once housed key government offices. Many locals recall market days here, when horses and donkeys were tied between the Old Post Office and the pharmacy.

The plaza remains an active gathering point. If you come early on a Saturday morning, you’ll find farmers arranging fresh produce and homemade goods while chatting with neighbors. Just across from the plaza, near the Eastern Caribbean Court Building, fisherfolk from Anegada arrive on Tuesdays and Thursdays with lobster, conch, and fish when in season.