The Valley

The Valley is the capital and main town of Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean. Small, low-rise and unhurried, it serves as the island's administrative, commercial and transport hub while retaining the relaxed feel of a Caribbean town.

Anguilla's history runs from Arawak settlement through English colonisation from 1650, when sugar and cotton plantations shaped the island. Landmarks such as Wallblake House, a restored 1787 plantation house, and the distinctive facade of St. Gerard's Roman Catholic Church sit close to the town centre, alongside government offices and the Old Court House. Anguilla became a separate British dependency in 1980, and The Valley remains the centre of its public life.

Around the capital, visitors can browse local shops, small galleries and the Heritage Collection Museum, which covers the island's pre-Columbian past, colonial era and 1967 revolution. Sandy Ground village and nearby beaches such as Shoal Bay, Rendezvous Bay and Meads Bay are short drives away, while Crocus Hill offers views across the island. Boat racing, Anguilla's national sport, and the annual Summer Festival in August reflect a strong local culture.

Tourism, fishing, boat building and offshore financial services drive the economy, with The Valley functioning as the island's government and banking centre. Business travellers come for meetings with public agencies and professional services, while leisure visitors use the capital as a base for the island's beaches and resorts.

Compact and easy to navigate, The Valley gives visitors a genuine sense of island life rather than a resort-only experience. Its location near Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport and the Blowing Point ferry terminal makes it a practical starting point for exploring Anguilla.