barbados parade is now held here although for the rest of the year it is an active sports and recreation area, encircled by a racetrack, which hosts horse races almost every other week.

The area contains some splendid Caribbean Georgian mansions, such as Bush Hill House (now George Washington House) and Shot Hall (now the Barbados Yacht Club). The attractive maroon buildings that surround the area were once the military barracks, hospital and prison. This last building is now home to the Barbados Museum.

Standing tall between the racecourse and the main road is the impressive Main Guard (pictured above), where every Thursday at 11am–1pm, you can witness the changing of the guard (see below). It’s not on the scale of Buckingham Palace, but is an engaging ceremony nevertheless.

Across the main road are the remains of St Ann’s Fort, built in 1705. Now home to the Barbados Defence Force, it is closed to the public.

Practical Info

By car: There is a car park outside the Barbados Museum, located at the north-east corner of the Garrison, and one by the race course grandstand.

By bus: Any South Coast bus, such as #12A or #12F, from Fairchild St Bus Terminal, or a ZR 11 (from outside Constitution River Bus Terminal), can drop you off at the southwest corner of the Garrison (5–10min)