You can’t miss cricket in Barbados – it’s played on the beach, on small pitches of varying shapes, sizes and conditions around the island, and at the glorious Kensington Oval. An international match here is a cultural must, even if you are uninterested in cricket and haven’t a clue about the rules. From soaking up the buzz of the local supporters to queuing for your fishcakes and beer, it’s a great day out. The ground first hosted a cricket match in 1882 – not that long after its namesake in London – but was totally revamped for the 2007 Cricket World Cup (pictured above) to become the Caribbean’s finest cricket stadium, capable of hosting up to 28,000 spectators.

Kensington Oval also hosts international football matches, as well as concerts, and even beauty pageants.

Don’t miss the statue of Sir Garfield Sobers – one of the sport’s all-time greats and a Barbados National Hero – wielding his bat outside the main entrance (pictured above). He’s been joined more recently by one of the island’s best bowlers, Sir Wesley Hall. Serious cricket buffs should consider taking a guided tour of the stadium, or popping over the road to the niche Legends of Barbados Cricket Museum, for some cricketing memorabilia, press cuttings of past West Indies glories on the pitch, and a chance to bag a Windies cricket shirt at the gift shop.

Practical Info

Location: The northern end of Bridgetown, just over a mile (1.8km) northwest of the city centre, at the start of the Mighty Grynner (Spring Garden) Highway.

Tickets: You can buy tickets online, or at the box office, just outside the ground, which usually opens the week before an international tournament or test match. There’s no need to pre-book for intra-Caribbean encounters and even tickets for test matches are easy to come by on the day. T20 matches are far more popular, so get your tickets early.

1 246 536 0353

Kensington Oval

West Indies online tickets

Legends of Barbados Cricket Museum