Anguilla is sixteen miles long, flat, and ringed almost entirely by beaches — which sounds like it should make choosing where to stay easy, and instead makes it harder. Every corner has sand. What differs is whether the water is calm enough to swim in, how far you are from dinner, and whether you are on the beach or above it. Here is each area, with the villas in it.
The short version
Meads Bay and Barnes Bay for beachfront with restaurants nearby. Shoal Bay East for the island’s most famous stretch of sand. Rendezvous Bay and Little Harbour for south-coast calm and the St Martin view. Lockrum and the hillside areas for privacy, long views and better value. Everywhere is within about twenty-five minutes of everywhere else.
Meads Bay
A long, calm stretch of white sand on the north-west coast, with some of the island’s best-known beachfront villas and a couple of very good restaurants within walking distance. If you want to step off the terrace onto a proper swimming beach, this is the first place to look.
One example is Kishti Villas (11 bedrooms, Meads Bay).
Lockrum
A quieter pocket on the western end holding the Kamique villas and several private estates. Not beachfront, but elevated with long ocean views and very private — the value tends to be better here than on the beach itself.
One example is Round Rock (6 bedrooms, Lockrum).
Long Bay
A small, protected bay on the north-west coast — less busy than Meads Bay, and home to the Elements group of villas as well as two of the island’s larger properties.
One example is Nevaeh Villa (9 bedrooms, Long Bay).
Shoal Bay West
Not to be confused with Shoal Bay East at the other end of the island. Shoal Bay West is quiet, low-key and holds Altamer, one of the most recognisable estates in the Caribbean.
One example is Altamer Estate (11 bedrooms, Shoal Bay West).
Little Harbour
A sheltered bay on the south coast with big ocean views across to St Martin, and three of the island’s largest villas.
One example is Le Bleu Villa (11 bedrooms, Little Harbour).
Rendezvous Bay
A long south-coast beach looking across the channel to St Martin, with calm water and some of the best sunset views on the island.
One example is Ocean Pearl (6 bedrooms, Rendezvous Bay).
Shoal Bay East
The beach Anguilla is famous for — two miles of white sand and clear shallow water on the north-east coast, with beach bars rather than resorts behind it.
One example is Alkera (5 bedrooms, Shoal Bay East).
Cul de Sac
A quiet central-north pocket, handy for reaching both coasts, with a large private estate and two smaller retreats.
One example is Villa Paradise (7 bedrooms, Cul de Sac).
Sandy Hill Bay
The eastern end of the island, quiet and well away from everything, with wide water views.
One example is Zenaida Estate (7 bedrooms, Sandy Hill Bay).
Limestone Bay
A small north-coast bay, rugged and very private, with a beachfront estate that takes 20.
One example is Sandcastle Villa and Beach House (9 bedrooms, Limestone Bay).
The single-villa bays
One example is Cerulean (9 bedrooms, Barnes Bay).
Beachfront or above it?
This is the real decision on Anguilla, and it is more finely balanced than on most Caribbean islands. Beachfront villas at Meads Bay, Long Bay, Rendezvous Bay and Limestone Bay put you on the sand — which, given the quality of Anguillian beaches, is the whole point for many guests. The hillside and headland properties at Lockrum, North Hill, South Hill and Crocus Bay trade that for privacy, breeze, wider views and, generally, more house for the money.
If there are strong swimmers or young children in the group, beachfront wins. If the group will spend its days between the pool and the restaurants, the elevated villas are usually the better buy. Our guide to Anguilla’s beaches covers which are swimmable and which are for looking at.
How to choose
Three questions. Do you need to walk to dinner? Only Meads Bay and Barnes Bay really allow it; everywhere else you drive, and everyone does. Is the group large? The biggest villas cluster at Meads Bay, Shoal Bay West, Little Harbour and Limestone Bay — see Anguilla villas for large groups. And which coast? The north faces the open Atlantic side and has the dramatic beaches; the south looks across the channel to St Martin and is calmer.
For the island as a whole, start with the Anguilla travel guide, and for the arrival — which is the part people get wrong — see getting to Anguilla.
Book direct
We book every villa directly — no platform fees, one point of contact, and a concierge for chefs, the ferry or flight connection, car hire and reservations. Tell us your group and your priorities and we will tell you which bay fits before sending a shortlist from the Anguilla collection.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of Anguilla is best to stay in?
Meads Bay for beachfront with restaurants on foot, Shoal Bay East for the most famous beach, Rendezvous Bay or Little Harbour for calm south-coast water, and Lockrum or the hillside areas for privacy and value.
Do you need a car in Anguilla?
Yes, in almost every case. The island is small and flat but spread out, and only a couple of areas let you walk to a restaurant. Note that Anguilla drives on the left.
What is the difference between Shoal Bay East and Shoal Bay West?
They are at opposite ends of the island. Shoal Bay East is the famous two-mile beach on the north-east coast; Shoal Bay West is a quiet bay at the western end.
Are most Anguilla villas beachfront?
A good number are, which is unusual in the Caribbean. The rest sit on low headlands and hillsides with ocean views, typically offering more space for the money.
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