The Historic Garrison Tour
5
The Historic Garrison Tour
By The Barbados Garrison Historical Consortium Tours
About
Through extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, find out what connects this Garrison to Oliver Cromwell, George Washington, and the American War of In-dependence! This exciting tour allows you to travel back in time through Barbados’ Historic Garrison; now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back to 1650, the site is thought to be the most intact, and authentic 18th & 19th century British Garrison complex in the world.
Read more
Ages 0-90, max of 45 per group
Duration: 3h 15m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
- A rum punch is available while visiting the Officer's Mess of the Barbados Defence Force. Non-alcholic alternatives are also available.
- Entry/Admission - Barbados Garrison
- Departure details
- Traveler pickup is offered.
- We pick up from any Hotel in Barbados. Depending on the distance from the start point, pick-up can be anything from 15 to 60 minutes before the tour begins.
- Garrison Road, Garrison Rd, Bridgetown, Barbados Head for Garrison Savannah area (horse racetrack). Moving clockwise (Savannah to the right), pass clock tower, turn right at the T-Junction (by monument) and then immediately left into the George Washington House car park. Tour admissions is at far-left corner of car park.
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 186078P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 186078P1
Itinerary
- You'll start atGarrison RoadOr, you can also get picked upSee departure details
- 1Barbados GarrisonStop: 3 hours - Admission includedTour will guide you through the following sites & attractions: George Washington House, The Garrison Tunnels, Charles Fort, St. Ann's Fort, the National Armoury Museum and finally the Main Guard Clock Tower. Throughout, the story of the Garrison and the influence of George Washington and Oliver Cromwell will be revealed.Read more
- You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator
The Barbados Garrison Historical Consortium Tours
98
Bridgetown, Barbados
Joined in October 2014
#50 of 165 Tours & Activities in Bridgetown
- W1908UGmichellec00Walk around the areaSo we were staying nearby and wondered around the area a few times. Fascinating area. With lots of interest
- QueenC7700Disorganized!We paid $20BDS each for entry, sat down and then minutes later were told by one of the staff to move to another section as we were not allowed to sit where we were. We followed the instruction and moved. An hour or so later yet another staff person came over and told us to move from the section we had moved to and said we were not allowed to sit in that section either. So very disorganized!! We left in the end as we could not be bothered with finding new seats. The wait time for food is absolutely ridiculous! One person cooking in a make-shift kitchen. One server. Why? Overall - Not a good experience.
- 207jct201500The best day of the year at The Garrison SavannaThe Sandy Lane Gold Cup is the most prestigious horse race of the season in Barbados. This Saturday afternoon was one of the best and well attended meetings, and the place was alive with many stalls, punters tents, drink and food venders, and lots of very loud music! The roads were clogged for at least a kilometre all around, causing huge congestion. The racing was excellent, The new monument to celebrate 50 years of independence opened recently by Prince Harry,was a new addition for most and proved quite an attraction. Everyone who is anyone goes to the Sandy Lane sponsored Gold Cup race and also has a flutter on the other ten races . A splendid day out and well worth a visit if on the island in early March. Picking the winner could also mean a boost to the finances!!
- Lewis599600Great experience!We firstly went to George Washington house seeing inside different buildings near the house e.g. the kitchen and we got to see the house with the dinning room and George Washington's bedroom and his brothers. It was very interesting hearing about the history. We then did a short walk of the underground tunnels which is great. Crazy how it was constructed. We then were transported to coast talking more about military however I found this talk here too long and it got a bit boring. We then went to the military site and had a short chat about military and looked at weapons but also then was able to see the changing of guards which is lovely to see. It was at times too much information given so you cant remember much as you would like but, great chance to hear about the history of Barbados and quite significant history
- MancJester00Such passionThe worst mistake you could make is dismissing this as an ex British soldier's hobby. Actually a couple of very likeable and knowledgeable local guys (with a good team)who really care. We did both the Thursday morning and Friday evening walks and really enjoyed them -you should also give it / them a go
- kenya25_1000Fab location.Great food at this place & a fab location. You pay $20 dollars for the day & provided with comfortable sunbeds, shade & table & can choose any food/drink up to the value of the $20 & obviously pay more if you want more. The portions are huge & a starter was more than enough for me & hubby, who loves his food. There are also free lockers & showers available & the WIFI isn't bad. Not far from the town if you fancy a walk & braek from sunbathing. Trips are available to swim with the turtles at reasonable prices. There is a jetty with swing/dive platform & big water trampoline to play about on. A great place to spend the day/days.
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David M
Barrhead, UK3 contributions
Loved our tour. James was our guide and he was full of interesting facts and background to what we were looking at. Picked up and dropped off at our west coast hotel without a problem. The driver even found time to take us to the race track to buy tickets for the following day. All in a fantastic few hours and well worth the cost.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnneC2010
Wadebridge, UK131 contributions
Mar 2022
We were a group of three friends, taking this very informative tour.
The whole area has so much history. Our guides knowledge of the area was outstanding. We all felt that so glad that we had booked the tour. On a longer term note it would be amazing if more of the wonderful buildings could be restored.
The whole area has so much history. Our guides knowledge of the area was outstanding. We all felt that so glad that we had booked the tour. On a longer term note it would be amazing if more of the wonderful buildings could be restored.
Written May 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maritimeexplorer
Nova Scotia, Canada3,957 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
If you have any interest in history whatsoever you must visit the Bridgetown Garrison which is part of the designation of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yes most people come to Barbados to relax on the beach, partake of the great cuisine, golf, fish - you name it. Spending a half day touring historical sites might be the last thing on the typical tourist's mind, but trust me, having just come from this tour I can vouch that it is more than worth the time. Here's why.
First the basics. The tour is put on just once a week, every Thursday morning, by the Barbados Garrison Historical Consortium Inc., a not for profit organization dedicated to preserving and publicizing the Garrison and surrounding area. Most people think that getting a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation automatically means that funds will be available to preserve and promote the site. Not so - it's usually up to volunteers like James and Peter, two dedicated Bajans who are proud of their island's history and want more Barbadians and tourists to appreciate the significance of the Garrison and the important role it played in world history. Without it, Bajans may very well have been speaking French, Dutch, Spanish or Portuguese with a totally different legal and political system; unlikely for the better.
The tour costs $96.00 BDS, but that includes admission to the George Washington house which is $20.00 BDS on its own. It also includes pickup and dropoff at your hotel. You are also transported by bus from one major attraction to another. In our case those who were staying on island had a smaller bus with Peter as our guide while those from the cruise ships travelled behind with James in a larger bus. In other words, there is not a lot of walking and our tour had a woman in a wheel chair who seemed to fare quite well.
The tour includes a visit to George Washington House, the Garrison tunnels, Charles Fort and most importantly entry into the Barbados Defence Facility which is otherwise off limits to tourists. The only way you are going to see the sights inside this complex is on this tour. The tour concludes with the very colourful changing of the sentry ceremony in front of the Main Gate Clock tower.
Tour participants gather at the entrance to George Washington house, which is a stand alone attraction that you can visit on you own, but it is much more interesting with a guide like Peter. If you are waiting for the tour to begin feel free to visit the house and get some good photos before too many people get in the way.
Even though I am a Canadian I have always been a great fan of George Washington - he was probably the single most influential person in American history and the fact that he left office voluntarily set the stage for American democracy as we know it today. Compare that say to some other 'Fathers of their country' like Robert Mugabe and Fidel Castro and old George looks pretty good. I even have a copy in my living room of the same lithograph that can be found at Mount Vernon.
Most Americans do not know that Washington only ever left what became the United States once, and that was to visit Barbados with his brother Lawrence for a two month period in 1751. The tour today opens with a 15 minute film about Washington's visit to Barbados and how it influenced his life and indirectly, American history. Usually these type of preliminary warm up films are something you need to suffer through to get to the real deal - not this one. This is actually a fifteen minute drama, well acted and shot on site in Barbados as well as Virginia. When you enter the house you will see the same sets as in the movie. It has, as they say, 'Production value'.
After the movie Peter takes us on a tour of the ground floor of the house including Washington's bedroom. There is much debate about the various places George Washington slept, but not here.
Most of the artifacts in the house date from the time of George's stay, but in the dining room there is a preposterously long dining table that is actually quite new. It was built to seat the guests for what is rapidly becoming on of the most successful sources of income for the Garrison Consortium, Dinner with George which takes place right here. Amidst a candlelight dinner George recalls his time in Barbados and regales guests with tales of his rise to prominence. As Peter noted, if you don't pepper him with questions he never shuts up. Sounds like a hoot.
After Washington House the Bridgetown Garrison tour heads to fabled tunnels that run
underground for thousands of feet between various parts of the garrison. So far 3,000 out of an estimated 10,000 feet of tunnels have been unearthed. The tour gives you a chance to traverse a 206 foot section that runs perpendicular to the George Washington House. Actually these are not really tunnels at all, but deep trenches that were then enclosed with arched ceilings to create the effect of a tunnel. Tunnel or not they are very narrow and by today's standards of body mass a lot of people couldn't get through them and not for the claustrophobic.
Next you get in a bus and head the short distance to Charles Fort which is actually on grounds leased by the Hilton Barbados Resort, but it is open to any member of the public at no charge. Peter explains the history of the fortifications that protect Carlisle Bay. Unlike most forts which are meant to be seen and deter potential attackers just by their menacing appearance, (Halifax Citadel in my home city of Halifax, Nova Scotia for example), Charles Fort has an extremely low profile that is not intended to be seen from the water. I can attest to this personally having been out on Carlisle Bay a few days after this visit. Potential invaders entering Carlisle Bay would find out too late that they had fallen into a trap and were at the mercy of the fort's guns.
On a less menacing note the view of Carlisle Bay from Charles Fort is amazing. Looking over the battlements Peter pointed out the remains of old cannons that are apparently common in Barbados' waters. Salvaging them is not permitted.
The next part of the tour is the one that ordinary tourists do not get to see. You take the bus to the guarded entrance to the Barbados Defence Force where you gain entry and pull up in front of a part of the Bridgetown Garrison that is still in use by the modern Barbados military - the Drill Hall and Officer's Mess.
On the left is the Officer's Mess and apparently the tour is permitted in here only while the officer's are not using it for their meals. It is decorated with ceremonial swords, regimental awards and has a great view of the Garrison Savannah, a huge race track that is the oldest in the Caribbean and still in use today by the Barbados Turf Club.
Opposite the Officer's Mess there is a large room where there are more interesting things to see including the original first flag of Barbados which was raised in the Barbados Garrison in place of the union jack on November 30, 1966.
Moving through the drill hall you emerge onto the grounds of St. Anne's Fort which is substantially larger than Charles Fort and still in use today. There is a small covered bar where you are offered a choice of of rum punch or fruit juice. Sipping the punch you can examine the
dozens of naval crests that have been attached to the walls over the years by visiting warships from other countries.
After some time to explore the interior of St. Anne's Fort you are led along the outside walls of the fort to a doorway marked Barbados National Armoury which opens with an old key. Inside there is a great array of cannons, many of apparent great age. There is also a diorama of Lord Willoughby at the Mermaid Tavern outside Oistins negotiating terms of settlement with
Cromwell's forces in 1652.
James will point out the significance of some of the artillery on display including one of only two known pieces of cannon surviving with the Thomas Cromwell crest embossed on it. By way of explanation, all English cannons since at least Henry VIII were embossed with the monarch's royal crest. Cromwell was no different, but after Charles II regained the thrown he had all traces of the Cromwell markings removed. The one on display here managed to avoid that fate and thus its rarity.
There is also a print explaining in a perfectly rational and believable way how the expression "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" came to be.
The last stop on the tour is one that most people will probably find the most enjoyable - the changing of the sentry (not guard) at the clock tower which takes place exactly at noon. The clock tower is an architecturally interesting building painted in unusual colour that is the symbol of the Bridgetown Garrison. Guarded by two sentries it is an imposing edifice with the British Coat of Arms embossed on its pediment.
The ceremony lasts about twenty minutes and is performed by retired members of the Barbados Defence Force. It is pure pomp and pageantry that mark among the finer remnants of British rule. Colourful and musical, you don't want to miss it on a visit to Barbados.
Thank you Peter and James and all the other members of the Barbados Garrison Historical Consortium Inc. for making this tour possible.
After the tour you might want to make your way back to the starting point for lunch at the restaurant on the grounds. It makes a fabulous pulled beef sandwich.
First the basics. The tour is put on just once a week, every Thursday morning, by the Barbados Garrison Historical Consortium Inc., a not for profit organization dedicated to preserving and publicizing the Garrison and surrounding area. Most people think that getting a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation automatically means that funds will be available to preserve and promote the site. Not so - it's usually up to volunteers like James and Peter, two dedicated Bajans who are proud of their island's history and want more Barbadians and tourists to appreciate the significance of the Garrison and the important role it played in world history. Without it, Bajans may very well have been speaking French, Dutch, Spanish or Portuguese with a totally different legal and political system; unlikely for the better.
The tour costs $96.00 BDS, but that includes admission to the George Washington house which is $20.00 BDS on its own. It also includes pickup and dropoff at your hotel. You are also transported by bus from one major attraction to another. In our case those who were staying on island had a smaller bus with Peter as our guide while those from the cruise ships travelled behind with James in a larger bus. In other words, there is not a lot of walking and our tour had a woman in a wheel chair who seemed to fare quite well.
The tour includes a visit to George Washington House, the Garrison tunnels, Charles Fort and most importantly entry into the Barbados Defence Facility which is otherwise off limits to tourists. The only way you are going to see the sights inside this complex is on this tour. The tour concludes with the very colourful changing of the sentry ceremony in front of the Main Gate Clock tower.
Tour participants gather at the entrance to George Washington house, which is a stand alone attraction that you can visit on you own, but it is much more interesting with a guide like Peter. If you are waiting for the tour to begin feel free to visit the house and get some good photos before too many people get in the way.
Even though I am a Canadian I have always been a great fan of George Washington - he was probably the single most influential person in American history and the fact that he left office voluntarily set the stage for American democracy as we know it today. Compare that say to some other 'Fathers of their country' like Robert Mugabe and Fidel Castro and old George looks pretty good. I even have a copy in my living room of the same lithograph that can be found at Mount Vernon.
Most Americans do not know that Washington only ever left what became the United States once, and that was to visit Barbados with his brother Lawrence for a two month period in 1751. The tour today opens with a 15 minute film about Washington's visit to Barbados and how it influenced his life and indirectly, American history. Usually these type of preliminary warm up films are something you need to suffer through to get to the real deal - not this one. This is actually a fifteen minute drama, well acted and shot on site in Barbados as well as Virginia. When you enter the house you will see the same sets as in the movie. It has, as they say, 'Production value'.
After the movie Peter takes us on a tour of the ground floor of the house including Washington's bedroom. There is much debate about the various places George Washington slept, but not here.
Most of the artifacts in the house date from the time of George's stay, but in the dining room there is a preposterously long dining table that is actually quite new. It was built to seat the guests for what is rapidly becoming on of the most successful sources of income for the Garrison Consortium, Dinner with George which takes place right here. Amidst a candlelight dinner George recalls his time in Barbados and regales guests with tales of his rise to prominence. As Peter noted, if you don't pepper him with questions he never shuts up. Sounds like a hoot.
After Washington House the Bridgetown Garrison tour heads to fabled tunnels that run
underground for thousands of feet between various parts of the garrison. So far 3,000 out of an estimated 10,000 feet of tunnels have been unearthed. The tour gives you a chance to traverse a 206 foot section that runs perpendicular to the George Washington House. Actually these are not really tunnels at all, but deep trenches that were then enclosed with arched ceilings to create the effect of a tunnel. Tunnel or not they are very narrow and by today's standards of body mass a lot of people couldn't get through them and not for the claustrophobic.
Next you get in a bus and head the short distance to Charles Fort which is actually on grounds leased by the Hilton Barbados Resort, but it is open to any member of the public at no charge. Peter explains the history of the fortifications that protect Carlisle Bay. Unlike most forts which are meant to be seen and deter potential attackers just by their menacing appearance, (Halifax Citadel in my home city of Halifax, Nova Scotia for example), Charles Fort has an extremely low profile that is not intended to be seen from the water. I can attest to this personally having been out on Carlisle Bay a few days after this visit. Potential invaders entering Carlisle Bay would find out too late that they had fallen into a trap and were at the mercy of the fort's guns.
On a less menacing note the view of Carlisle Bay from Charles Fort is amazing. Looking over the battlements Peter pointed out the remains of old cannons that are apparently common in Barbados' waters. Salvaging them is not permitted.
The next part of the tour is the one that ordinary tourists do not get to see. You take the bus to the guarded entrance to the Barbados Defence Force where you gain entry and pull up in front of a part of the Bridgetown Garrison that is still in use by the modern Barbados military - the Drill Hall and Officer's Mess.
On the left is the Officer's Mess and apparently the tour is permitted in here only while the officer's are not using it for their meals. It is decorated with ceremonial swords, regimental awards and has a great view of the Garrison Savannah, a huge race track that is the oldest in the Caribbean and still in use today by the Barbados Turf Club.
Opposite the Officer's Mess there is a large room where there are more interesting things to see including the original first flag of Barbados which was raised in the Barbados Garrison in place of the union jack on November 30, 1966.
Moving through the drill hall you emerge onto the grounds of St. Anne's Fort which is substantially larger than Charles Fort and still in use today. There is a small covered bar where you are offered a choice of of rum punch or fruit juice. Sipping the punch you can examine the
dozens of naval crests that have been attached to the walls over the years by visiting warships from other countries.
After some time to explore the interior of St. Anne's Fort you are led along the outside walls of the fort to a doorway marked Barbados National Armoury which opens with an old key. Inside there is a great array of cannons, many of apparent great age. There is also a diorama of Lord Willoughby at the Mermaid Tavern outside Oistins negotiating terms of settlement with
Cromwell's forces in 1652.
James will point out the significance of some of the artillery on display including one of only two known pieces of cannon surviving with the Thomas Cromwell crest embossed on it. By way of explanation, all English cannons since at least Henry VIII were embossed with the monarch's royal crest. Cromwell was no different, but after Charles II regained the thrown he had all traces of the Cromwell markings removed. The one on display here managed to avoid that fate and thus its rarity.
There is also a print explaining in a perfectly rational and believable way how the expression "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" came to be.
The last stop on the tour is one that most people will probably find the most enjoyable - the changing of the sentry (not guard) at the clock tower which takes place exactly at noon. The clock tower is an architecturally interesting building painted in unusual colour that is the symbol of the Bridgetown Garrison. Guarded by two sentries it is an imposing edifice with the British Coat of Arms embossed on its pediment.
The ceremony lasts about twenty minutes and is performed by retired members of the Barbados Defence Force. It is pure pomp and pageantry that mark among the finer remnants of British rule. Colourful and musical, you don't want to miss it on a visit to Barbados.
Thank you Peter and James and all the other members of the Barbados Garrison Historical Consortium Inc. for making this tour possible.
After the tour you might want to make your way back to the starting point for lunch at the restaurant on the grounds. It makes a fabulous pulled beef sandwich.
Written February 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna
Birmingham, UK189 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
I’d been to Barbados three times previously and my boyfriend is Barbadian but we didn’t know these tours existed. I found it by accident after looking up some other tours that included the garrison but I decided to book the Historic Garrison Tour direct with the Barbados Garrison Historical Consortium for the full experience.
After having some problems booking the tour online, I contacted the consortium and Peter was quick to respond and very helpful answering my queries. It was Peter who then greeted us on arrival and we were introduced to James who was leading the tour.
The tour starts at 9am at George Washington House and finishes around 12:15pm, with the Changing of the Sentry. We were actually lucky to see this, as they had a special showing on for some US journalists – the sentries (who are retired) are usually on holiday in September.
We were advised to arrive at 8:45am but as there was an impending tropical storm we allowed more time and got there even earlier (the storm didn't actually arrive until the following day and the tour went ahead as planned). There is a free car park at George Washington House.
After paying our $100 Bds entry, we were allowed to wander around the grounds of George Washington House until the rest of the tour group arrived. There were eight of us in total.
James lead us around the grounds and then into the house, telling us about George Washington, his brother and their history on the island and also how that connects to the history of the Garrison.
We were then lead along one of the Garrison tunnels leading from George Washington House into the car park, where a minibus/taxi was waiting to take us to Charles Fort on Needham’s Point, overlooking Carlisle Bay. We then went through the Military Cemetery.
After this we went inside St Ann’s Fort, where the Barbados Defence Force are based, and were told about the history of the site. We were supposed to be having a rum punch in the officers’ mess but unfortunately the BDF had gone into hurricane mode and had boarded everything up, so we went up to one of the island’s signal stations and then on to the National Armoury Museum (it’s mainly cannons in there, so don’t expect to see lots of weapons).
From there we took the taxi back to the Garrison Savannah and watched the Changing of the Sentry in front of the Main Guard/Clock Tower. It's mainly retired service-men/women taking part. They have very colourful uniforms, dating back to the 19th century, and there is also a band.
James was very informative and he and Peter are obviously very committed to protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of “Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison” and promoting it through the tours – although they probably need to advertise more so people know these tours are available to do.
$100 Bds ($50 US) might seem like quite a lot of money but when you consider it’s a whole morning out and you’re visiting a number of sites it’s worthwhile. Also, there are many other tourist activities in Barbados that cost a lot more for doing/seeing a lot less. This tour will teach you some history of Barbados – even my Barbadian boyfriend learnt something new.
NOTE: There is some walking involved (around each of the places you visit) – some indoors and some outdoors, not always in the shade. You might want to consider taking some water.
After having some problems booking the tour online, I contacted the consortium and Peter was quick to respond and very helpful answering my queries. It was Peter who then greeted us on arrival and we were introduced to James who was leading the tour.
The tour starts at 9am at George Washington House and finishes around 12:15pm, with the Changing of the Sentry. We were actually lucky to see this, as they had a special showing on for some US journalists – the sentries (who are retired) are usually on holiday in September.
We were advised to arrive at 8:45am but as there was an impending tropical storm we allowed more time and got there even earlier (the storm didn't actually arrive until the following day and the tour went ahead as planned). There is a free car park at George Washington House.
After paying our $100 Bds entry, we were allowed to wander around the grounds of George Washington House until the rest of the tour group arrived. There were eight of us in total.
James lead us around the grounds and then into the house, telling us about George Washington, his brother and their history on the island and also how that connects to the history of the Garrison.
We were then lead along one of the Garrison tunnels leading from George Washington House into the car park, where a minibus/taxi was waiting to take us to Charles Fort on Needham’s Point, overlooking Carlisle Bay. We then went through the Military Cemetery.
After this we went inside St Ann’s Fort, where the Barbados Defence Force are based, and were told about the history of the site. We were supposed to be having a rum punch in the officers’ mess but unfortunately the BDF had gone into hurricane mode and had boarded everything up, so we went up to one of the island’s signal stations and then on to the National Armoury Museum (it’s mainly cannons in there, so don’t expect to see lots of weapons).
From there we took the taxi back to the Garrison Savannah and watched the Changing of the Sentry in front of the Main Guard/Clock Tower. It's mainly retired service-men/women taking part. They have very colourful uniforms, dating back to the 19th century, and there is also a band.
James was very informative and he and Peter are obviously very committed to protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of “Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison” and promoting it through the tours – although they probably need to advertise more so people know these tours are available to do.
$100 Bds ($50 US) might seem like quite a lot of money but when you consider it’s a whole morning out and you’re visiting a number of sites it’s worthwhile. Also, there are many other tourist activities in Barbados that cost a lot more for doing/seeing a lot less. This tour will teach you some history of Barbados – even my Barbadian boyfriend learnt something new.
NOTE: There is some walking involved (around each of the places you visit) – some indoors and some outdoors, not always in the shade. You might want to consider taking some water.
Written October 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise A
Barbados18 contributions
Dec 2017 • Family
The night garrison tour is an extremely good tour, and I would highly recommend this tour to locals as well as visitors. As a Bajan, I learned some history that I did not know! It is not expensive considering the length of the tour, all the information and access you get, and the energy which clearly goes into running this tour. The guides and actors are all very knowledgeable, and they provide a very interesting narrative about this important historical site. They have brought their research to life! There are also some newly discovered sites that hopefully will be part of the tours in the future. This is a very engaging tour, and since it is in the evening the temperature is cool so you don't get hot while walking. I would definitely recommend this tour to others. I also plan to go on the other tours that are offered of the Garrison because I was so impressed by this one.
Written January 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SharonJS2016
England, UK59 contributions
Mar 2019
The tour was lead by a professional and enthusiastic team, though in parts some explanations were too detailed and very long for the general tourist however it’s the only way of seeing and gaining access to some parts of the barracks. I booked in advance not sure if it was a busy day you would get a slot if you just turned up. I think they are run just on Thursdays which is also the day of the small re-enactment of the changing of the sentry which is nice to see when the tour ends but the tour did over run and we almost missed seeing the re-enactment. I visited the museum after on my own but in the heat it’s a good ten minutes walk away. The tour is by mini bus and you send various amounts if time at each point along the way
Written October 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SharonJS2016
England, UK59 contributions
Mar 2019
Free pick up to the tour which runs on Thursdays. All staff were enthusiastic but the tour and commentary went on far too long at each stop. If you didn’t go in the tour I’m not sure how you get to see some the places as they are on restricted areas. Also everything is very spread out so impossible to do it all on foot, so tour good from that point of view. We rushed back to see the sentry change at midday arrived half way through as the tour was very long. I then went to the museum on my own afterwards but still a walk. . There is a cafe and toilets near GWH.
Written March 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MichaelO075
20 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
We are long-time visitors to Barbados, but this is the first time we toured the Garrison area. The tour was thorough, including historical details from George Washington's visit as a young man to the wonderful historic buildings and recently rediscovered tunnel system. James was very knowledgeable, and the entire experience was enjoyable and relaxed. Together with the Barbados Museum, which is nearby, this provides an excellent introduction to the history of the island and its strategic importance during the 17th to 19th centuries. Book in advance by phone, but you can pay at tour time.
Written January 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graydondee
UK43 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
We did the Thursday morning tour culminating in the Changing of the Guard at the Garrison. The tour was excellent - both guides had tremendous knowledge and enthusiasm for their subject and we really came away with a better understanding of the history of the island. The Changing of the Guard was done with such reverence and commitment by retired servicemen - thoroughly recommend. At one point of the tour we drove through the military cemetery which looked really interesting so we went back on our own the next day to have a look round.
Written May 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sara Horton
Ottawa, Canada339 contributions
Jan 2018 • Friends
The Friday night tunnel tour was so very well done; excellent guide and “helpers”. Tones of historical information made interesting, with some great stories. Wear good walking shoes and bring a flashlight.
Written January 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
carololley
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK48 contributions
Where is the meeting point for the start of the tour. Thanks
carololley
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK48 contributions
Where is the meeting point for the start of the tour


























