English Harbour, where the dockyard sits, is almost completely enclosed by hills on every side. This makes it one of the safest natural harbours in the Caribbean - ships could shelter there from strong winds without being tossed about. Sailors knew exactly where to find calm water.
The old stone buildings are still standing and have been carefully restored. You can see the sail loft where huge canvas sails were repaired, the copper and lumber store, and the old officers' quarters. Many of these buildings are now museums, restaurants, and small hotels, so you can walk right inside them and imagine what life was like on a tall ship.
The dockyard is named after a famous naval officer, Admiral Horatio Nelson, who was stationed there as a young man. It sits inside a national park full of trails, ruins, and lookout points on the surrounding hills - including the famous Shirley Heights, where you can see the whole harbour spread out below.
Every April, some of the most beautiful sailing yachts in the world gather here for Antigua Sailing Week. The race ends right in front of the dockyard, so watching from the historic quayside feels like stepping back and forward in time at once.