What is the capital of the British Virgin Islands?

The capital of the British Virgin Islands is Road Town. It is located on Tortola, the territory’s largest and most populous island, along the sheltered Road Harbour on its southern coast.

Road Town serves as the administrative and commercial centre of this British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. Government offices, the governor’s residence, ferry connections, marinas, and many tourism businesses are concentrated there. Its harbour also makes it an important starting point for yacht charters throughout the Virgin Islands.

The name comes from the nautical expression “the roads,” meaning a place where ships can anchor near shore but receive less protection than they would in a fully enclosed harbour. Much of modern Road Town’s commercial waterfront expanded through land reclamation, including the Wickham’s Cay development.

A common mix-up is confusing the British Virgin Islands with the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands. Road Town belongs to the British territory, while Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands.