Speightstown
Speightstown is a town in northern Barbados, about 12 miles (19 km) from Bridgetown. Visit for its port history, central streets and northern shopping district.
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Speightstown is Barbados’s second-largest town, in the northern parish of Saint Peter. It was settled around 1630 and became the island’s busiest port in its early years. Ships carried sugar and other goods from Speightstown to London and, especially, Bristol, giving the town its nickname, Little Bristol. Today, it is the centre of a tourist area and a northern shopping district. Highway 1 runs through town, past central streets such as Church Street, Chapel Street and Gooding Alley.
The town’s history is also tied to Charleston, South Carolina. As large-scale sugar cane growing took hold, some planters left Speightstown for Charleston with enslaved people. Charleston’s original layout was based on Bridgetown’s plans, and the two towns have been sister cities since 1997. SCAP, a community archaeology project started in 2010, studies historic buildings, graveyard memorials and an 18th-century coastal fort at Maycock’s Bay, north of town. These sites and streets make Speightstown a stop for travelers interested in Barbados’s port and town history.
Speightstown in five
- Find the central streetsHighway 1 runs through Speightstown. Church Street, Chapel Street and Gooding Alley are central streets.
- Plan the trip from BridgetownSpeightstown is about 12 miles (19 km) north of Bridgetown.
- Learn about the Little Bristol connectionSpeightstown’s early port sent sugar and other goods to London and especially Bristol. That trade explains the nickname Little Bristol.
- Visit the northern shopping districtSpeightstown is the centre of a northern shopping district and a tourist area.
- Learn about SCAP’s archaeology workStarted in 2010, SCAP studies historic buildings, graveyard memorials and an 18th-century coastal fort at Maycock’s Bay, north of town.
Need to know
- Currency
- Barbadian dollar (BBD)
- Entry
- Visa requirements depend on your passport
- Emergency
- 211 police; 311 fire; 511 ambulance
- Tipping
- Check whether a service charge is included
- Time
- UTC−4, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryDry season
- FebruaryDry season
- MarchDry season
- AprilDry season
- MayDry season
- JuneRainy season
- JulyRainy season
- AugustHurricane season
- SeptemberHurricane season
- OctoberHurricane season
- NovemberHurricane season
- DecemberDry season begins
Right now in Speightstown
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
29
- Feels like
- 33°
- Humidity
- 80%
- Wind
- 27 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 96%
Speightstown
04:40 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today31°24°96%Monday: Rain. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Tue31°26°77%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 77%.
- Wed31°26°59%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 59%.
- Thu32°25°73%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Fri31°26°68%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 68%.
- Sat32°26°20%Saturday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Sun33°26°25%Sunday: Drizzle. High 33°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 25%.
Updated 04:09 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 2 BBD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Speightstown
Rules for Speightstown, checked
- Check entry requirements for your passport with Barbados Immigration before travelling.
- Check whether your restaurant bill includes a service charge before deciding whether to tip.
Plan around Speightstown
Speightstown FAQ
Where is Speightstown in Barbados?
Speightstown is in the northern parish of Saint Peter, about 12 miles (19 km) north of Bridgetown.
What is Speightstown known for?
Its nickname, Little Bristol, refers to its historic port trade with Bristol. Speightstown is also the centre of a northern shopping district and a tourist area.
Why is Speightstown called Little Bristol?
Ships carried sugar and other goods from Speightstown to Bristol and London. The trade with Bristol gave the town its nickname.
What should I see in Speightstown?
See the central streets, including Church Street, Chapel Street and Gooding Alley. SCAP studies historic buildings, graveyard memorials and an 18th-century coastal fort at Maycock’s Bay, north of town.
How far is Speightstown from Bridgetown?
Speightstown is about 12 miles (19 km) north of Bridgetown.
Who was Speightstown named after?
The town is named after William Speight, an early member of Barbados’s first Assembly and a former owner of the land it stands on.
What is the connection between Speightstown and Charleston?
As sugar cane growing expanded, some planters left Speightstown for Charleston, South Carolina, taking enslaved people with them. The towns have been sister cities since 1997.