Sunbury Plantation House with kids
Key facts: St. Philip · Varies · Ages: all
Sunbury Plantation House was built around 1660 by Matthew Chapman, an Irish-English planter among the first settlers on the island. It sits in St. Philip in the south-east of Barbados, about 15 minutes from the airport and 25 minutes from Bridgetown.
About Sunbury Plantation House
Sunbury Plantation House was built around 1660 by Matthew Chapman, an Irish-English planter among the first settlers on the island. It sits in St. Philip in the south-east of Barbados, about 15 minutes from the airport and 25 minutes from Bridgetown.
The house has passed through many hands over three and a half centuries. Its original name was Chapman's Plantation, then Branker's Plantation, then Brothers Plantation under the Barrow family, and finally Sunbury, named after the family's home in Britain. The core structure survived each change of ownership and today it is one of the oldest plantation great houses in the region fully open to the public.
The interior is filled with mahogany antiques, old prints, antique porcelain, and a collection of horse-drawn carriages. A 270-year-old mahogany dining table that seats 30 is one of the most remarked-upon objects in the house.
Please note: Sunbury Plantation House is temporarily closed for renovations until 20 October 2026. Check sunburyplantation.com before visiting.
Why Families Go
Sunbury is one of the few plantation houses in Barbados that allows visitors to walk through rooms kept largely as they were, rather than cordoned off behind barriers. The collection of horse-drawn carriages is unusual and tends to hold children's interest longer than furniture alone.
Guided tours are available and the guides are knowledgeable about the house's history, including its connection to the pirate Sam Lord, whose mirror signalling system was reportedly coordinated from a turret on the roof.
What to Know Before You Go
Location: Sunbury, St. Philip. About 5km from Grantley Adams International Airport, 15km from Bridgetown.
Hours (when open): House tours from 9AM to 4:30PM daily. No booking required.
Admission: BDS$30 per person. Local rate with ID: BDS$25. Children aged 4 to 12: half price. Children under 4: free.
Phone: +1 246-423-6270
Family Fit
Sunbury suits families with children aged eight and above who have some interest in history. Younger children can visit but the interior requires patience and supervision. The grounds are spacious enough for children to move around between house visits.
Worth combining with a drive along the south-east coast toward Bottom Bay Beach, about 10 minutes away.
Questions parents ask
Is Sunbury Plantation House currently open?
Sunbury Plantation House is temporarily closed for renovations until 20 October 2026. Check sunburyplantation.com or call +1 246-423-6270 before visiting.
How old is Sunbury Plantation House?
The house was built around 1660, making it over 360 years old. It is one of the oldest plantation great houses in Barbados fully open to the public.
How far is Sunbury from Bridgetown?
About 15 kilometres, or roughly 25 minutes by car. It is 5 kilometres from Grantley Adams International Airport, making it a practical stop on the way in or out of the island.
What is the connection between Sunbury and the pirate Sam Lord?
According to local history, Sam Lord used mirror signals from Sunbury to arrange meetings with the then-owner Sir Thomas Daniel. A turret on the roof of the house served as the signalling point.
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