Longwood

Longwood is a district and settlement on the eastern plateau of Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Cooler, greener and more open than the capital, the area is best known as the place where Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final years in exile.

Napoleon lived at Longwood House from December 1815 until his death in May 1821. The house, now a museum maintained by the French government, preserves the rooms and grounds of his exile, while the nearby Valley of the Tomb marks the site of his original grave before his remains were returned to France in 1840. Deadwood Plain, another part of the district, held Boer prisoners of war during the Anglo-Boer War.

Beyond its Napoleonic heritage, Longwood has a quiet, rural character with open plains, walking trails and the Longwood Golf Club, often described as one of the world's most remote nine-hole courses. The district overlooks Prosperous Bay Plain, where Saint Helena Airport now links the island to regional air services.

Longwood's small population and spread-out settlements give it a peaceful atmosphere, while Jamestown, about 16 km away, provides most shops, banks, restaurants and accommodation. The opening of Saint Helena Airport in 2016 made Longwood the island's air gateway and increased its importance for tourism, business and logistics.

For travellers, Longwood combines a compelling piece of European history with Saint Helena's dramatic volcanic landscape, making it a natural focus for heritage visitors, walkers and anyone arriving on the island by air.