Holidays in Anguilla 2024/2025

Anguilla has become a haven for foodies and there’s no end to the ways you can sample its delicious cuisine. A day’s sail to Prickly Pear Cay is among the most unique, where you can spot dolphins and turtles on your way to this pair of palm-topped golden droplets floating in the Caribbean Sea. Build your appetite by snorkelling among kaleidoscopic fish-filled reefs straight off the beach, spying the rocky nesting grounds of brown boobies, or simply strolling the powder-soft sands. Then, make a beeline for the beach restaurant and sip on a refreshing rum punch or cocktail as you tuck into a platter of fresh Caribbean lobster, a meal likely plucked from the same stretch of water you cruised to reach this idyllic setting.

Dining on sumptuous seafood right on the beachfront is the Caribbean dream for many. The restaurant Straw Hat delivers this in spades, claiming a prime position on the sleek sands of Meads Bay – one of the finest beaches in Anguilla (quite the accolade for an island packed with fabulous beaches). Straw Hat’s charming staff are on hand to compliment these flawless views with an ice-cold drink as you sit there mesmerised. The menu is brimming with authentic Anguillan cuisine, too – the red snapper ceviche with plantain chips is one of our favourites.

A tiny sliver of sand in the azure Caribbean Sea, Sandy Island is a dreamy lunch spot. It’s somewhere you imagine Robinson Crusoe might have dined, speckled with vegetation and driftwood. While you could argue most food here would taste great given the location, the island’s restaurant is a treat for your tastebuds. Don’t miss the shrimp kebabs, marinated in a signature Sandy spice, and wash them down with a Sandy margarita, before toasting your spellbinding views with a classic rum punch.

With gin-clear waters lapping the velvety crescent of Rendezvous Bay, every hour at SunShine Shack is happy hour. A real toes-in-the-sand experience, sample sizzling snacks (the Creole snapper is our personal pick) straight from the grill on the beach to the soundtrack of reggae beats. It’s a beach bar full of feel-good vibes, so much so you’ll find it hard to leave.

As well as informal beach eateries, Anguilla also has some of the finest dining establishments in the world. Some of the planet’s top chefs flock here to showcase their cooking skills in front of A-listers and Veya Restaurant is one of many leading the charge. Its treehouse-inspired setting is a platform for a feast of global fusion food, including lobster fritters and jerk-spiced tuna. Nightly live music performances from a variety of artists add to the authenticity of a place that seamlessly blends in with its surroundings.

No vaccinations are recommended for Anguilla but the island is regarded to have a risk of contracting the Zika virus. However, please consult your GP at least four to six weeks prior to travel for current advice.

The time difference is GMT -4 hours.

The flight time from London to Anguilla is around 11 hours, including a short stop in Antigua.

The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, although US dollars are also widely accepted.

UK nationals don’t need a visa to travel to Anguilla.