Stanley

Stanley, the capital and only town of the Falkland Islands, is a small, colourful and endearing outpost of British life far out in the windswept South Atlantic. Strung along a sheltered harbour, its rows of brightly painted houses with tin roofs, neat gardens and red telephone boxes give it the feel of a remote corner of Britain transplanted to the bottom of the world. Landmarks include the Christ Church Cathedral with its famous arch made of whale jawbones, cosy pubs serving hearty fare, a fine museum, and monuments recalling the islands' maritime and modern history. Warm, welcoming and quirky, and surrounded by wild moorland and coast, Stanley is a charming base for exploring the Falklands.

What you actually see

• The colourful cottages - the brightly painted harbour houses.
• The whalebone arch - the arch of whale jaws by the cathedral.
• Christ Church Cathedral - the southernmost Anglican cathedral.
• The museum and pubs - the island history and cosy hospitality.

When to go

November to March, the southern summer, is the mildest and most pleasant time to explore Stanley and use it as a base for the islands' wildlife, with long days and better weather; the town is windswept and cool year-round. Summer coincides with the best wildlife season across the Falklands.

Honest expectations

Stanley is a very small, remote capital rather than a bustling city, so its appeal is its quirky charm, warm hospitality and role as a base more than grand sights, and the South Atlantic weather is famously changeable. As a colourful, endearing corner of Britain at the end of the world, surrounded by wild coast and wildlife, though, Stanley is a genuinely characterful and welcoming place.

Nearby

Volunteer Point, the moorland and the coast of East Falkland lie beyond.