Holidays in the British Virgin Islands 2025/2026

Most views of the British Virgin Islands’ fringes are of dreamy palm-flecked silky beaches. The Baths National Park on the isle of Virgin Gorda is a little bit different, its golden margins seemingly invaded by gigantic granite boulders – some as tall as three-storey buildings – that add breathtaking natural drama. Part of the thrill is getting to this enchanting scene in the first place, where a trail has you clambering over the rocks, wading through tidal pools and squeezing through impossibly tight gaps before you find the landscape suddenly open up on a picture-perfect beach. Shallow pools and grottoes have been formed by the boulders, making for unique snorkelling experiences. But we wouldn’t blame you if you spent your whole time here standing in awe of the wild surroundings.

Jutting just 28 feet above the sea, Anegada’s pancake-flat appearance sets it apart from its volcanic island sisters. With endless pearl-white beaches lapped by turquoise waters, this sleepy atoll is the perfect place to relax on the sands or string up a hammock and take a siesta in the sun. It’s blessed with a plentiful array of kaleidoscopic reefs, each brimming with tropical fish. It rewards those who want to explore further, too, with flamingos speckling its saltwater ponds and vivid frangipani and orchid flowers lighting up the landscape. Don’t leave without trying its signature dish – Anegada lobster features on many a menu across the British Virgin Islands but here it’s best, plucked from the sea in front of your eyes and grilled on the beach. Yum!

Blessed with year-round sun, stable trade winds and millpond-calm azure waters, the British Virgin Islands is a sailor’s paradise. And comprising 60 islands, a sailing holiday in the British Virgin Islands offers a wonderfully relaxing way to experience a handful of them, pit-stopping at sheltered bays and untouched beaches that you’ll likely have all to yourself. Even if you aren’t keen on spending a night aboard, a day’s sailing adventure offers an eye-opening snapshot of some of its uninhabited islands and a chance to enjoy a refreshing drink at a pop-up beach bar. It’d be rude not to!

Famous across the British Virgin Islands, you can’t really say you’ve visited this archipelago without savouring the feel-good vibes of the iconic Soggy Dollar Bar. Drawing its name from sailors who used to swim ashore and spend their sea-soaked money, this method of getting to the bar has become a classic rite of passage for any visitor. It also invented the infamous Painkiller cocktail, a lethal-but-tasty combo of rum, coconut, pineapple, orange juice and nutmeg.

This seems an obvious choice for a tropical archipelago, but gliding around the British Virgin Islands’ reefs really is like exploring another world. Wherever you go, you won’t be disappointed, with variegated coral a playground for a rich collection of marine life. Cooper Island boasts eagle rays, squid and tarpon at Cistern Point, Norman Island’s Angelfish Reef offers epic underwater canyons and ridges and Smuggler’s Cove on Tortola rewards you with straight-from-the-beach snorkelling. To name just a few!

No vaccinations are recommended for the British Virgin Islands but the islands are 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 Beef Island is around 12 hours, including a stop in Antigua.

The currency is the US dollar.

British passport holders don’t need a visa to travel to the British Virgin Islands.