Nelson's Dockyard at a glance
Nelson's Dockyard is the restored heart of the naval base at English Harbour in the south of Antigua. UNESCO inscribed the "Antigua Naval Dockyard and Related Archaeological Sites" in 2016 under criteria (ii) and (iv), covering 255 hectares. The national park and the UNESCO area are not the same thing. Deep, narrow bays, the hills around them and their fortifications formed the base together.
Horatio Nelson served on Antigua from 1784 to 1787 as captain of HMS Boreas. The present name of the dockyard came later. Today the Dockyard is also a working marina, so you walk between historic stone buildings and yacht masts. The National Parks Authority looks after the park. This guide is independent and not run by the authority.
Tickets and opening hours
What the sources say, and where they disagree.
| Item | What is listed | Source and year |
|---|---|---|
| Park ticket | $15, together with Shirley Heights, the Dow's Hill Historical Centre and the Dockyard | Park advert, 2025 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday and Saturday 08:00–17:00, no Sunday listed | Park authority website, no date |
| Hours | Monday to Saturday 09:00–17:00, Sunday 08:30–16:30 | Park advert, 2025 |
| Passes | Day $15, week $45, week deluxe $80, season $100 (1 October to 31 May) | Tariff sheet, 2020 |
| Resident passes | Day EC$10, year EC$50, family year for up to 6 people EC$200 | Tariff sheet, 2020 |
No tariff dated 2026 is published, so treat $15 as the most recent advertised figure, not a guaranteed price. The 2020 passes are historical. The hours are the park's listed hours, and the museum desk may differ. Ask at the ticket office about child and senior rates, whether the museum is included and whether you can re-enter on the same day. Older prices such as $8 are out of date.
Our picks: Nelson's Dockyard tours
Each card says whether entry fees are included, because the tours handle them differently.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Full-day island tour with lunch
A guided island tour with entry fees, lunch and refreshments included, plus pickup and return. Only the tip is extra.
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Nelson's Dockyard and Shirley Heights tour
An air-conditioned ride with a guide to the Dockyard, Shirley Heights, the Blockhouse, Devil's Bridge and Valley Church Beach. Entry fees, including Nelson's Dockyard, are not included.
Check availability →
Half-day island tour with a beach stop
A guide, a drive around the island, national park entries, water and transport, with pickup and return included. Souvenirs and tips are extra.
Check availability →Dockyard tours and Antigua excursions
Guided visits and day trips from the English Harbour area, with live prices and availability.
History, including the enslaved workforce
The dockyard was built and run with the labor of enslaved Africans. The park authority says 130 enslaved Africans were forced to build it and that historically more than 75% of the workers were enslaved, including in skilled trades. UNESCO also notes that the base rested on the knowledge and work of enslaved Africans.
The "8th of March Project" researches and honors the enslaved and free Africans of the dockyard and the harbour communities. It is a reason to read the site as more than a story about Nelson. The park authority's own page gives two dates for the end of the naval use, 1889 in one passage and 1899 in another, so treat the end date as unsettled.
What to see
Allow time to walk the grounds and the nearby sites.
The Dockyard Museum
The museum sits in the former Senior Officer's or Clerk's House. An older nomination file describes collections on Nelson and other people of the dockyard. Do not rely on a house called "Admiral's House" as Nelson's residence.
The marina and the grounds
Sailing yachts line the quay, and stone storehouses and lawns surround it. The marina is active, so do not count on access to the docks.
Fort Berkeley
A fortification at the harbour entrance. The Middle Ground path leads from there to Pigeon Point. See hiking.
Clarence House and Dow's Hill
Clarence House is a historic house museum above the harbour, visited on a guided tour with a reservation. The Dow's Hill centre is part of the 2025 ticket. Check opening before you go.
Shirley Heights
The best-known view over both harbours is a short drive up. The park advert includes it in the same ticket. See Shirley Heights.
A hotel inside the Dockyard
The park authority describes the Copper & Lumber Store Hotel inside the historic Dockyard. Room prices are not published here. See where to stay.
Around the Dockyard
On the other side of the harbour, one lodging on Freeman's Bay describes a water taxi link to the Dockyard. No schedule or fare is published, so ask your hotel. For the Classic Yacht Regatta, listed for 14–19 April 2027 at the Dockyard, see Antigua Sailing Week. Larger yachts and the bars are in Falmouth Harbour, a short way along the coast.
The park authority asks commercial photo and video productions to agree terms with it. Check the rules if your shoot is for a client.
Nelson's Dockyard: frequently asked questions
How much is the ticket for Nelson's Dockyard?
A 2025 park advert lists $15, covering the Dockyard, Shirley Heights and the Dow's Hill centre. No 2026 tariff is published. Ask at the gate for current prices and for child and senior rates.
What are the opening hours?
Sources differ. The park authority website lists Monday to Saturday 08:00–17:00 with no Sunday, while a 2025 advert lists Monday to Saturday 09:00–17:00 and Sunday 08:30–16:30. Check on the day before you travel.
Who built Nelson's Dockyard?
Enslaved Africans. The park authority names 130 who were forced to build it and says that historically more than 75% of the workers were enslaved.
Is Shirley Heights included in the ticket?
The 2025 park advert lists one $15 ticket for the Dockyard, Shirley Heights and Dow's Hill. Do not assume it covers the Sunday party or its food, and ask at the gate. See Shirley Heights.
Can I swim at the Dockyard?
It is a working marina, so look for a beach instead. The nearest beaches are Galleon Beach and Pigeon Point. See Galleon Beach.