St. John's Map

Description: This map shows neighborhoods, streets, roads, beaches, rivers, buildings, hospitals, piers, parking lots, and parks in St. John's.

Description: This map shows streets, houses, buildings, cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, museums, parking lots, shops, churches, points of interest, and parks in St. John's City Center.

St. John's is the capital and largest city of Antigua and Barbuda. It lies on the northwest coast of the island of Antigua, on St. John's Harbour, in the Parish of Saint John. The city has a population of about 22,000, making it the country's main commercial, administrative and cultural centre.

English colonists settled Antigua in 1632, and St. John's grew around its natural harbour. During the colonial period it was the administrative centre of the British Leeward Islands. Antigua and Barbuda became independent on 1 November 1981, and St. John's remained the national capital.

The city's best-known landmark is St. John's Cathedral, an Anglican church with two baroque-style towers that stands on a hill overlooking the town. The first church on the site was a wooden building put up in 1681. An earthquake destroyed its successor in 1843, and the current stone building was completed in 1847.

The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda is housed in the former Court House, which dates from 1747. Fort James, built in the 18th century, guards the entrance to the harbour.

Tourism dominates the local economy, and cruise ships call regularly at the harbour. Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay on the waterfront have duty-free shops, restaurants and restored colonial buildings. The city also has a public market, government offices and the country's main commercial district.

The Antigua Recreation Ground in St. John's has hosted international cricket. In 1994 Brian Lara of the West Indies scored 375 there, and in 2004 he scored 400 not out, which remains the highest individual innings in Test cricket. V. C. Bird International Airport, the country's main airport, is about 8 kilometres northeast of the city.

Main sights in St. John's