The Valley and Heritage

The Valley, the tiny capital of Anguilla in the centre of the island, is a small, sleepy and relaxed town, more an administrative village than a bustling city, reflecting the low-key character of this quiet island. Its modest heritage sights offer a glimpse into Anguilla's distinctive history: Wallblake House, a rare surviving eighteenth-century plantation great house, the Heritage Collection Museum, which tells the island's story from its indigenous past through its unusual history of independence-minded rebellion against being federated with St Kitts, and old churches and the salt ponds that once underpinned the economy. It is a quiet, cultural counterpoint to Anguilla's world-class beaches.

What you actually see

• Wallblake House - the historic eighteenth-century great house.
• The Heritage Collection Museum - the island's distinctive history.
• The old churches - the historic island churches.
• The salt ponds - the ponds of the old salt-raking economy.

When to go

December to April, the dry season, for the most pleasant weather; The Valley and its heritage sights are easily seen in a half-day, a gentle cultural interlude between beach days. The town is quiet year-round, and its modest sights are best combined with exploring the island's beaches and coast.

Honest expectations

The Valley is tiny, sleepy and low-key, with only modest heritage sights, so it offers a brief cultural interlude of a few hours rather than a destination in itself, and Anguilla's real draw is emphatically its beaches. As a quiet glimpse into the island's distinctive history and character, though, from its plantation great house and heritage museum to its salt ponds and its proud story of rebellion, The Valley is a pleasant and worthwhile counterpoint to the sand and sea.

Nearby

The beaches, the offshore cays and the coast of Anguilla surround it.