Saint Paul's

Saint Paul's is a rural district and dispersed settlement in the central highlands of Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Unlike a conventional city, it unfolds across rolling pastures, deep green valleys and hillside tracks, centred on the small community around St Paul's Cathedral and Plantation House.

History and architecture are the district's defining features. St Paul's Cathedral was built between 1850 and 1851 and became the cathedral of the Diocese of St Helena in 1859. Nearby, Plantation House has served as the Governor's official residence since 1792 and is known for its resident giant tortoises, while High Knoll Fort, begun in the 1790s, stands high above the valley as one of the island's largest fortifications.

Visitors explore a compact but distinctive set of landmarks: the cathedral's Grade I listed interior, Plantation House gardens and the panoramic views from High Knoll Fort. The Heart Shaped Waterfall, named for its distinctive rock formation, lies along the main road between Jamestown and Longwood, and nearby Lemon Valley leads down to a historic coastal landscape.

Saint Paul's sits at the heart of an island best known for its dramatic volcanic scenery, walking trails, Napoleon-era history and slow, authentic pace. Most accommodation, dining and services are concentrated in the capital Jamestown a few kilometres to the west, making the district a natural base for countryside walks and heritage stops on the way to Longwood.

For leisure and business travellers alike, Saint Paul's offers a window into Saint Helena's heritage and rural life. The island's small visitor economy, government offices and growing tourism sector after the opening of Saint Helena Airport in 2016 make the wider area relevant for cultural travel, research visits and small-scale business trips.