Antigua is part of the leeward islands and was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. It was was named after Santa Maria dela Antigua church in Seville, and was also a major naval dockyard to the British fleet in the Eastern Caribbean in the late 18th century. In 1632 Antigua was colonized by the English and later the French had a brief period of control from 1666 until 1667, when it was then passed to Great Britain.

From 1958 until 1962 it was a member of the Federation of the West Indies. In 1967, Antigua and Barbuda became a semi-dependent associated state. In 1981, it achieved full independence,but remains a member of the British Commonwealth.

English Harbor:

Once a naval base and now Antigua's most popular tourist attraction, English  Harbour has the richest collection of historic sites on the island. You could easily spend the better part of a day roaming around the sites, which include restored buildings, hill top forts and museums. The harbor's main attraction is Nelson's Dockyard, an 18th-century British naval base named after the English captain Horatio Nelson. Today it's still attracting sailors as the island's most popular yacht haven. Don your gaiters and garden gloves for the 10-minute walk among cacti that brings you to Fort Berkeley, overlooking the harbour's western entrance.

Other attractions include the governor's Georgian-style rural residence and Sandy Heights ,which has scattered  18th-century fort ruins and excellent  views . Buses run between St.John's and Nelson's Dockyard.