District · St John's
Dickenson Bay and the north beaches
Beach hotels and grills; a 10 to 20 minute taxi from town.
Key facts
- Suits
- Beach-first trips with a town morning
- Room prices
- $$$
- price band of 5
What it's like
- Suits:
- Beach-first trips with a town morning
- In short:
- Beach hotels and grills; a 10 to 20 minute taxi from town.
About these names
St John's has no formal districts to memorise. Think in four small pieces around the harbour: the two quays on the water, Long Street and the museum one block back, the market and bus stations at the south end, and the cathedral to the east. Everything else, including every beach, is a taxi ride away.
Where exactly
This district is highlighted. Shapes follow this guide's walking areas and places, not official boundaries.
Dickenson Bay and the north beaches
sleepeatPrice $$$
Beach hotels and grills; a 10 to 20 minute taxi from town.
Suits: Beach-first trips with a town morning
District guideSleep: Dickenson Bay (north beaches)In the districts table
Off the map: V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU) (20–35 min by the usual route).
Where’s what, as a list:
- Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay: The waterfront: duty-free shops, restored warehouses and courtyard cafés. Suits: Shops, cafés, cruise-day people-watching.
- Long Street and the museum: The old courthouse museum and quiet streets around it. Suits: A rainy or hot-hour stop. Price band $$.
- Market Street and the bus stations: The public market, bus and taxi stands, cook shops. Suits: Fruit, fish and a local Friday or Saturday morning.
- Cathedral and Newgate Street: The twin-towered cathedral and everyday shops. Suits: Short weekday walks.
- Dickenson Bay and the north beaches: Beach hotels and grills; a 10 to 20 minute taxi from town. Suits: Beach-first trips with a town morning. Price band $$$.
- Sleep area Dickenson Bay (north beaches): suits Beach-first trips with a town morning, price band $$$.
- Sleep area St John's town centre: suits A rainy or hot-hour stop, price band $$.
- V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU), 20–35 min by the usual route.
Stay here?
How this district's sleep area scores for five kinds of traveler, ranked against the other St John's districts that have scores. Scores are this guide's 1–5 judgements.
First visit
2nd of 2
A 10 to 20 minute taxi to town.
Better for this: Long Street and the museum
Families
best of 2
The beach and hotel facilities make this the easy option.
Light sleepers
best of 2
Livelier at night near the beach bars.
Night owls
best of 2
Beach bars and hotel entertainment.
On a budget
2nd of 2
Resort prices, especially in the dry season.
Better for this: Long Street and the museum
Sleep
The usual beach base: hotels and restaurants on the sand, a short taxi to St John's for a morning; better for a first trip than sleeping in town.
Rooms: EC$450-900 (check)
Skip this if: A taxi ride from town: 10–20 minutes each way.
55–70 min walk to Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay · 65–80 min walk to Long Street and the Museum
Drink and nightlife
Lines from the St John's drinking guide that name this district.
- Beach bars at Dickenson Bay · Open-air bars · until Late (check)The main night scene, and a taxi ride from town.
Safety at night and noise
Quiet nights
Livelier at night near the beach bars.
Nightlife
Beach bars and hotel entertainment.
Late arrival
Staffed desks and taxi access at night.
Nearby districts
- Heritage Quay and Redcliffe QuayAbout 2.3 km away in a straight lineAbout 1.4 mi away in a straight line
- Long Street and the museumAbout 3.1 km away in a straight lineAbout 1.9 mi away in a straight line
- Cathedral and Newgate StreetAbout 3.3 km away in a straight lineAbout 2 mi away in a straight line
- Market Street and the bus stationsAbout 3.8 km away in a straight lineAbout 2.4 mi away in a straight line
Built from this guide’s St John's districts table, place, eat and sleep pages, route graph and city notes. Hours, prices and rules change: anything marked (check) is typical, not verified. checked: 2026-09.