Sunbury Plantation House
Sunbury Plantation House
4
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
The only 17th-century plantation house in Barbados entirely open to the public. Built in 1660 by Matthew Chapman, the house transferred hands through many planters and families who historically relied on the production of sugarcane as its main economic activity, around eight separate families owned Sunbury. The original name of Sunbury was Chapman’s Plantation, and then changed to Branker’s Plantation. During the ownership of the Barrow brothers, the plantation adopted the name of “Brothers Plantation” to Sunbury Plantation, after their home in Britain.
Duration: < 1 hour
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- PawelJZPoznan, Poland593 contributionsCharming Historical MansionVisiting this impressive historical plantation house was one of the highlights of my holiday on Barbados. It houses an impressive collection of beautiful furniture, antiques and artefacts from the bygone times of Barbados, that all give an overall idea of how influential people used to live in the past and how they managed great plantations. Grand reception rooms, dining saloon and a series of bedrooms upstairs allow the visitor to take a step back in time and there’s still more down in the basement. After all these visual attractions I enjoyed a glass of fruit punch included in the price of the admission ticket and bought a couple of souvenirs from the on-site gift shop. It truly was a very enjoyable half a day trip to this beautifully maintained property, considered one of the best in the Caribbean.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 18 November 2023
- LourdesdaisyAscot, United Kingdom460 contributionsInteresting house but rushed tourAlthough a charming house with lots of interesting history our guide rushed us through and often said things like, there’s not much to see in this room. We could easily have spent a bit longer having each room explained to us more fully. Our guides knowledge was also limited and was unable to answer any questions past his normal script. However worth a visit if you are interested in Barbados historyVisited January 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 31 January 2024
- Wedgie27Wells, United Kingdom101 contributionsWorth visitingBeautiful old plantation house full of antiques, with very knowledgeable and friendly guides. Interesting to hear the history of the house and plantation see how people lived. Very good value (entrance fee includes a rum punch!) with lovely gardens to sit and have a drink.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 29 April 2024
- Tom G3 contributionsGreat Tour ; worth the visitSunbury Plantation is a great tourist attraction. Our tour guide Aaliyah was GREAT, she was friendly and her smile was just contagious. She informed our little group about life on the plantation and it was very fascinating to see how the planter class lived. We enjoyed being able to see the bedrooms and the cellar with the buggies and carriages. At the end of the tour, we were given some token in exchange for a cold beverage which was either a rum punch or fruit punch. We were able to walk around the property and the gardens were just Lush. The maintenance for this plantation is Amazing. very well keptVisited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 25 August 2024
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4.0
423 reviews
Excellent
140
Very good
163
Average
88
Poor
16
Terrible
16
AJ123
1 contribution
Mar 2020
On arrival we thought newish outside walls were odd as the impression given was it was centuries old with presumably some original furnishings. Walking around it seemed old in places but just didn’t look quite right and none of the furnishings seemed to have belonged to the House so we went to the plantation shop to learn more and asked if there was a booklet or leaflet about it. The shop assistant said there was nothing in writing which we thought bizarre for this large tourist attraction described as ‘the best plantation house in the Caribbean’.
The only thing we could find on the shelves of the shop was a thick, expensive hardback book about Barbados with a section on plantation houses and one page about the Sunbury Plantation Great House which amazingly revealed the place was burnt down about 20 years ago. This seemed to us to be covered up and perhaps explained why there was nothing in writing. This suspicion was confirmed by the so called ‘history’ of the House written on the restaurant walls with not a word about the fire.
The shop assistant said the fire was confined to ‘just the cellar’ which must have been the official line as when we challenged the Restaurant Manager she admitted this was not true. The fire actually started, she said, in the kitchen and spread throughout almost the whole of the House and it needed to be rebuilt ‘like a Phoenix rising from the ashes’ using her exact words. Also new furnishings had to be scoured from all over the island, and then she dropped the bombshell. She revealed the fire was an act of arson as a revenge attack by a recently dismissed employee although this was apparently never proved.
So beware – it’s not an old plantation house and there’s no original furnishings. Just a 20 year old rebuild which they are trying to cover up by not providing anything in writing. Not even on their website? They just don’t have one – of course not.
We felt misled and do not recommend this sham to others.
The only thing we could find on the shelves of the shop was a thick, expensive hardback book about Barbados with a section on plantation houses and one page about the Sunbury Plantation Great House which amazingly revealed the place was burnt down about 20 years ago. This seemed to us to be covered up and perhaps explained why there was nothing in writing. This suspicion was confirmed by the so called ‘history’ of the House written on the restaurant walls with not a word about the fire.
The shop assistant said the fire was confined to ‘just the cellar’ which must have been the official line as when we challenged the Restaurant Manager she admitted this was not true. The fire actually started, she said, in the kitchen and spread throughout almost the whole of the House and it needed to be rebuilt ‘like a Phoenix rising from the ashes’ using her exact words. Also new furnishings had to be scoured from all over the island, and then she dropped the bombshell. She revealed the fire was an act of arson as a revenge attack by a recently dismissed employee although this was apparently never proved.
So beware – it’s not an old plantation house and there’s no original furnishings. Just a 20 year old rebuild which they are trying to cover up by not providing anything in writing. Not even on their website? They just don’t have one – of course not.
We felt misled and do not recommend this sham to others.
Written 13 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Davidjellis
Lowestoft, UK9,473 contributions
Dec 2021
My wife and I visited Sunbury Plantation House as part of a rum-themed excursion on Barbados. We had visited the house many years earlier so had seen the odd collections before in great detail, but for this visit we spent half of the time in the bell room opposite the great house, where we saw a couple of local rum cocktails being made and had some sampling time.
Following the sampling we had a very quick tour around the house, covering each room and the oddities they have inside (including antique dolls, spectacles, cameras and various carts and farm equipment). It's a popular visitor attraction on the island and can get busy, but fortunately for us we were the only visitors and had the house to ourselves.
Well worth a visit.
Following the sampling we had a very quick tour around the house, covering each room and the oddities they have inside (including antique dolls, spectacles, cameras and various carts and farm equipment). It's a popular visitor attraction on the island and can get busy, but fortunately for us we were the only visitors and had the house to ourselves.
Well worth a visit.
Written 14 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elle
3 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
We were shown around this traditional plantation house by a young man who was an excellent and informative guide, the house is not large but has a very interesting collection of Barbadian furniture and other artifacts from the islands history. We had drinks in the restaurant which is one of the nicest we’ve been to attached to an attraction like this and has views over the gardens. If you enjoy visiting National Trust properties this is a must see.
Written 13 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jan w
4 contributions
Nov 2022
We arrived on a Sunday morning and were warmly greeted. The house is FULL of antiques including furniture and items what were in use from the mid 1600 onward. Dante our tour guide was very informative and knowledgeable about the house and the families that lived in it over 100s of years. Great care has been taken to acquire and display period items. The feeling the tour offered was that you were touring a personal home, no roped off areas, not limited to viewing rooms from a doorway and you were encouraged to return after your tour if you wanted. No restriction on photography.
Written 22 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda T
Fordingbridge, UK40 contributions
Feb 2023
The house is fully furnished and shows how it would have been when people were living in it and running the plantation. We had a guided tour and the guide was very knowledgeable and was able to answer our questions. Lots to see and a nice cafe and gift shop.
Written 18 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen S
Studley, UK133 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
A very interesting attraction. Some of the antiques on show were particularly stunning. The house is set in pleasent well tended gardens. Lunch is highly recommended being great quality and amazingly cheap by local standards.
Written 16 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rhondal519
Topeka, KS18 contributions
Mar 2020
We so enjoyed learning to make Rum Punch and delicious appetizers from the team at Sunbury Plantation House. The home itself is in pristine condition -- such lovely artifacts, furniture, this home is appointed splendidly. The surrounding gardens are gorgeous. Highly recommend this tour.
Written 17 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bunty8
United Kingdom644 contributions
Jan 2020
This is a lovely restored house set in nice gardens. The guide gave a brief introduction/history then left us to wander around. The house is lovely inside and there is also a room with old cameras and optical equipment, down in the basement there are some carriages.
There is a small gift shop and we were given a free rum punch in the restaurant/terrace area.
The garden is also worth a wander around too
There is a small gift shop and we were given a free rum punch in the restaurant/terrace area.
The garden is also worth a wander around too
Written 1 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saint J
London, UK227 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This is a common stop off for coaches on tours. We thought the house rather nice and pretty gardens. I did not like the food particularly and left most of it, to be fair most ate more than i did. The ice cream was good tho. Its a high volume place just be aware of that. Clean toilets and pleasant service
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MamaFig
Schenectady, NY29 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
Fantastic! My guide, Cal gave historical facts and personal insights, adjusting my tour to work around bus tours ensuring that I had a very personalized experience! The house is a treasure trove providing a window into Barbados’ rich history and culture! The rum punch at the end can be savored as you process all that you have seen!
Written 20 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A Tripadvisor member
Florida
Would an hour be enough time to visit the Plantation House?
Written 29 August 2017
Hi Miranda,
I've no idea what you expected to see on your visit to the plantation house?
Your review is beyond measure and is actually an insult to the history of the house.
The house is a treasure trove of information and artefacts that you can actually see and be part of.
Unlike any museum in the UK where you are only allowed to see history from behind a roped off barrier.
It's is not a mish mash as you have said. Maybe you should come back and see this house again.
Written 22 March 2016
Hi Howiebuoy,
As previously stated the house was well below par. I did not know what to expect but I for sure know when there is a 'white elephant' in the room.
The house is not shown to a good or great standard. It is All about the owners. I would advise you to visit Nicholas Abbey if you go back to Barbados
We will agree to disagree. Come back again-I don't think so.
Written 6 June 2016
How much is the Price to go and se Sunbury plantation.?
Written 28 August 2015
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