Canonical page: /p/st-helena/jamestown/ Collected: 2026-10-18 JSON: /p/st-helena/jamestown/index.json [Ports](/ports/) St Helena # Jamestown [About the port](/p/st-helena/jamestown/)[Timetable](/p/st-helena/jamestown/timetable/2027-03/) Getting ashore Tender to The Wharf Into town Walk, taxi or ship tour Best starting point Tourist office, Jamestown Currency [Saint Helena pound - SHP](https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/?Amount=1&From=SHP) ## Getting ashore Jamestown is a tender port. Ships anchor off the town in James Bay, and passengers are tendered to The Wharf, where landing depends on the weather and the swell. Hapag-Lloyd's Hanseatic Spirit is scheduled on Saturday 7 November 2026, with the tender times yet to be confirmed, so check them with the ship. From The Wharf you walk past old warehouses and what appear to be barracks, then through what was once a narrow, fortified gate into the town, which sits at the foot of a steep valley. Some of these town details date from February 2024, so check before you rely on them. Saint Helena Airport has taken regular flights since October 2017, so flights are an alternative way to reach the island, though they run weekly. ## For walkers and architecture fans The Castle, dating from 1659, houses government offices and archives. St James Church, built in 1774, is the oldest Anglican church in the southern hemisphere. The Museum of Saint Helena, founded in 2002, is in an early 19th-century warehouse at the foot of Jacob's Ladder, and Broadway House is open Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 16:00. The Cenotaph honours the Saints who died in the two world wars, and Castle Gardens and Mundens Battery are also in town. Napoleon was held on the island by the British from 1815 until his death on 5 May 1821. He lived at The Briars for about two months and spent the rest of his life at Longwood, a farmhouse near Jamestown. Longwood House is run as a museum by the French government. It is outside town, so a ship's tour or a hired car is the easiest way there. ## For nature and outdoor fans Jacob's Ladder connects Jamestown with the residential area at the top of the hill. It has 669 to 699 steps and was built in 1829 by the Royal Engineers as a quick route to a battery of cannons. The 21 Post Box Walks are graded trails, with maps in a book from the tourist office. Barnes Road climbs to Francis Plain, about 500 metres above town, so plan the climb with the steepness in mind. The Central Peaks include Diana's Peak, the island's highest point, and High Knoll Fort, built in 1874, stands at 564 metres. The Heart-Shaped Waterfall is 90 metres high. Sandy Bay is the only sandy beach and is too dangerous for swimming, but Lot's Wife's Ponds, natural tide pools reached by a walk from Sandy Bay, are considered the best swimming spot. The night sky has Gold Tier dark-sky status from the International Dark Sky Association. Plantation House, the governor's residence, has Seychelles tortoises, including Jonathan, believed to have been born around 1832. ## For eaters and drinkers Ann's Place, in Castle Gardens, is open from 10:30 to 20:30 and is known for its fish cakes, so call before noon if you want dinner. Cyril's Fast Food on Arch Gate Corner serves takeaway from 11:30 to 14:30. Sally's Sandwich Bar at Association House serves a set daily menu from 09:30 to 14:00, takeaway only. The Saint Helena Coffee Shop in Leisure Park is open from 10:00 to 16:00. Local dishes include tuna, wahoo, fish cakes and pilau. For a drink in town, try the Consulate Hotel, Donny's Place, the Mule Yard or the White Horse Pub. Donny's Place is open-air, with views over James Bay. ## Getting around and money Jamestown sits in a deep canyon, so walking out is hard. Taxis wait at the rank behind the tourist office. Bus service is very limited, often only once or twice on some weekdays, and is designed mainly for locals, so check the timetable, because missing the return bus can mean a long walk back. Car rental costs about £10 to £12 a day, and cars are few, so reserve early. Vehicles drive on the left, and a ship's organised tour is a sensible choice because of the hills. The currency is the Saint Helena pound (SHP), held at parity with sterling, and British currency works on the island. The Bank of Saint Helena has one branch in Jamestown, open on weekdays and Saturday mornings, but no ATM. Few shops take international cards. Mobile coverage is from Sure South Atlantic, with 2G, EDGE and 4G, though speeds are closer to 3G, and calls and data are expensive. Wi-Fi is at the Consulate Hotel and at Ann's Place for £6 an hour. Exchange rates move, so check the xe link for a current rate. ## Accessibility & mobility The archive says the town is hilly and recommends a ship's tour, and Jacob's Ladder has 669 or 699 steps, so the town is not a flat walk. Ask the ship about tender transfers and about a step-free excursion before you book. Plan your call ## Who's in port? 3 calls in the collected schedule. [View timetable](/p/st-helena/jamestown/timetable/2027-03/) ## Maps & transport - [Jamestown port on Google MapsPort and town ↗](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Jamestown+Saint+Helena) - [Wikivoyage: Jamestown (Saint Helena)Town guide ↗](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jamestown_%28Saint_Helena%29) ## Useful links - [WhatsInPort archive guideArchived guide, captured 26 February 2024 ↗](https://www.whatsinport.com/Jamestown.htm) - [CruiseMapper port wikiPort wiki and schedule snapshot ↗](https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/saint-helena-island-port-588?tab=wiki) - [Convert Saint Helena poundsDaily reference rates ↗](https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/?Amount=1&From=SHP)