Barbados is the Caribbean island home to Speightstown, one of the island’s oldest towns.
Speightstown is on Barbados’s northwest coast, in Saint Peter parish. It developed as a port and trading settlement during the colonial era and was historically connected to commerce with Britain and other parts of the Atlantic world.
The town was originally called Little Bristol, a name reflecting its importance in trade and its relationship with the English port city of Bristol. Today, Speightstown is known for its historic streets, waterfront, museums, shops, and restaurants.
Speightstown is not Barbados’s capital; Bridgetown is. Bridgetown lies farther south on the island and remains the country’s principal political and commercial center. The two towns are both on Barbados’s west coast, sometimes called the Gold Coast because of its beaches and resort development.