The Characters of Town - Historic Walking Tours

30/11/2023

Happy Independence Barbados!!!
We are a proud nation and people, our stories are the essence of who we are!
"Firm Craftsmen of Our Fate".

10/11/2023

Exciting news! The Most Colourful Tours in Barbados are making a comeback! 🎉 Add a touch of culture to your holiday season with us.

🚶‍♀️ EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY, join our walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bridgetown. History comes alive with every step! 🌍✨

🚌 And EVERY LAST FRIDAY, hop on our Bajan Bus Excursion for a blend of food, entertainment, and a dash of history. It's a journey your taste buds won't forget! 🍔🎶

Here are the deets:

🚶‍♀️ Walking Tours kick off at 8:30 am @ Carlisle House Bridgetown. Approx. 2.5 hours of fun!

🚌 Bus Tours start at 9:30 am @ Golden Square. Get ready for a 5-hour adventure.

P.S. Check out our special LOCAL RATES with a Barbados ID! ℹ️

Save 📥 and share 📤 with your friend and family. Hit the link 🔗 in bio for more detailed info on each tour.

Have questions?
📞Call us at 246 537-9123 (Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm)
Or
📨 email at [email protected].

Can't find a date that suits you? No worries! Ask about our SPECIALTY PRIVATE TOURS tailored just for you and your group 🗓️✨

18/08/2023

Comforts, toffees, package of nuts, what ya want young fella?

Nothing at all!... if you were in the Bajan Excursion Bus Tour! We had a fantastic time on Saturday.

Here the Market Vendor meeting us at the BNB Bar on Rihanna Drive. For our first refreshment stop (well technically the second, we make sure you have some breakfast too 😉). We had drinks, fish cakes and bakes and went down by Ri Ri house while learning a little Westbury road history.

So, when's the last time you went an old time Bajan Bus Tour? Stay tuned to learn more about our Bajan Excursion bus tour and upcoming tour dates.

We're The Characters of Town... the most colourful tours in Bim!

And as we say

26/06/2023

Hello Parliament!

We had a great tour on Saturday where we spoke to some of the more unique architecture in Bridgetown.

Did you know our constitution dates back to 1639 but our lovely parliament buildings weren't built until the 1870s. Well where was the house of assembly meeting all that time?

In... RUM SHOPS!

In Bridgetown fact is crazier than fiction (the truth is they only built parliament because they were guilted into it... They were very happy in rum shops)

But as we always say, Learn More on Tour!

📢 CLICK ON the link 🔗 in bio or CONTACT US at 246-8264001 to join our summer tours or to book a special tour your:

🌟 Friend Circle
🌟 Family Group
🌟 Corporate Activity
🌟 School/Study Group

There's so much to learn. Barbados history is world history.

18/06/2023

Happy Father's Day! From our Father of Independence!

Sir Errol Walton Barrow's fight for nationhood over Sir Grantley Adams fight for regionalism was the cause for the spliting of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) party and the eventual creation of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) which lead us to Independence November 30th 1966.

So to the father of our Nation who stands prominently in Independence Square Bridgetown and to all the fathers everywhere, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY from the Characters of Town!

Go to our LINK 🔗 in BIO Learn more about the fathers and mothers of our beautiful nation.

See you on tour

17/06/2023

Jews Coming to the New World...

Would you consider Bridgetown a Jewish City? Well in the 17th and 18th century Bridgetown had a very active and influential Jewish community. It was actually thanks to our Jewish inhabitants that Bridgetown and Barbados rose to the level of wealth, influence and prestige enjoyed at the time.

In today's world their influence is nothing more than a distant memory but their legacy lives on... Sir Errol Walton Barrow our father on Independence has Jewish ancestry based on his last name and many more Barbadians can claim Jewish ancestry..

But as we say... Learn more on tour 😉

Go to our link 🔗 in Bio to book your tour or contact us at (246) 826-4001 for more details.

14/06/2023

It's the Season of Emancipation. The time where we especially love to share the history that built the culture we enjoy at Crop Over.

Walk with us and experience the symbols of modern Barbados and the visit the place where the Emancipation proclamation was signed. 📜

📢 Join us for our summer tours or book a special tour your:

🌟 Friend Circle
🌟 Family Group
🌟 Corporate Activity
🌟 School/Study Group

There's so much to learn. Barbados history is world history.

And as we say.... "Learn more on tour" 😉

09/06/2023

🏝️ SUMMER TOUR SCHEDULE!

Our Summer tour schedule is out now.

Make your bookings via https://linktr.ee/charactersoftown. For more details Call or WhatsApp 1 246 826-4001.

DETAILS:

🚶🏾‍♀️Walking Tours start 8:30am @ The Chamberlain Bridge. Run time approx. 2 hours

🚌 Bus Tours start 9:30am @ Golden Square. Run time approx. 4 hours.

*Prices listed in USD. Ask about our LOCAL RATES available with Barbados ID

**Tours are based minimum bookings.

SAVE 📥 & SHARE 📤

🗓️ Don't see a preferred date in our schedule? Ask about our PRIVATE and SPECIALTY TOURS created for you and your group in mind.

📢 Stay tuned for updates and monthly tour schedules.

02/06/2023

23/05/2023

We love representing Barbados to our international guests! Go follow and check out the article in our link in Bio.

with .repost
• • • • • •
Barbados: Embracing The Past to Build The Future

In a uniquely Barbadian spirit, the island is reshaping itself by incorporating the past into compelling present day tourism offerings.

For our latest article on Barbados visit the link in bio

22/04/2023

Happy Earth Day 🍅🫑🍋🍈
From The Characters of Town!

We love our markets and celebrate the fresh produce that has been traded in Bridgetown for well over 300 years.

Invest in our planet and those seeking to share its abundance with us.

So the next time you're in town take a trip to the markets... You just might find us there on tour 😉

22/04/2023

We love a review!

"Did a walking tour with the Callender sisters. They brought historical Barbados alive; very informative & enjoyable. Highly recommend these tours."

-Roslyn S.

Btw if you didn't know our senior tour guides are actually sisters! Characters of Town is a family created and operated company... History's in the blood.

If you ask them they'll tell you their Grandfather is buried in St. Mary's Church next to Samuel Jackman Prescod, one of Barbados' National Heroes. 😉

09/04/2023

When's the last time you went to Town?

APRIL TOURS ARE HERE! Join Characters of Town for our Walking Tours and BAJAN EXCURSION BUS TOUR - a Foodie lovers delight!

Call or WhatsApp 1 246 826-4001 to reserve your spot or send a message to our page.

🚶🏾‍♀️Walking Tours start 9:30am @ Heroes Square and run for approx. 1hr and 30 mins.

🚌 Bus Tours start 9:30am @ Golden Square and run for approx. 4 hours.

*Prices listed in USD. Ask about our LOCAL RATES available with Barbados ID

**Tours are based minimum bookings.

SAVE 📥 & SHARE 📤

🗓️ Don't see a preferred date in our schedule? Ask about our PRIVATE and SPECIALTY TOURS created for you and your group in mind.

📢 Stay tuned for updates and monthly tour schedules.

01/04/2023

Builders of Barbados Wall in Golden Square Freedom Park, a great place to start a story or find your own.

We enjoyed taking this special group on a storied and tasty journey through Bridgetown on behalf of .

📢 Next Scheduled tour April 15th...can't wait that long? Book your private tour today!

See you on tour!

📷 Credit to Thank you for joining us.

27/03/2023

166 square miles and a smile wide.

Ending our march with these beautiful smiles from our Business school group from .

We love taking our stories and helping students apply them to the current understanding. History is always present with us especially Bridgetown history, it made the world we know today.

📢 Also look out for our BAJAN EXCURSION Bus Tours in April! The very best way to taste Bajan culture.

24/03/2023

This is beautiful shot of Bridgetown, you can really see the History in the City!

Taking in the stunning aerial views of Bridgetown. What a lovely sight to behold!

22/03/2023

Guest Reviews!

"I would highly recommend booking this walking tour at the start of your Barbados holiday. It will give you enormous insight into buildings you'll see, local culture, the history of rum and slavery and so much more that you can't get by merely browsing shops and walking around on your own. It's not difficult effort-wise and takes just under two hours. Our group peppered the guides with all sorts of questions and they were able to answer in great detail. It's their passion, not a job. I attended a conference and chose it as one of our optional excursions and am so happy that I did. You'll love it."

- Katie.

We love when our guests both visitor and residents leave with insights they didn't have before.

Join us on tour!

21/03/2023

The only "Snow" you'll find in Bridgetown...

Last week our Business school group from left the cold behind and enjoyed history with a side of sweetness with the famous Dexter Snowcones.

Characters of Town tours are mix of history and experience because there's more than one way to enjoy history and culture.

Join us on tour, try our version of "Snow" and learn about a city that changed the world.

Hear the History... Taste the Culture!

📢 Also look out for our BAJAN EXCURSION Bus Tours in April! The very best way to taste Bajan culture.

17/03/2023

"Bound for Barbados" ?

is a one of the highlight experiences of for visiting tour reps and journalists. We're always excited to represent Barbados and share our unique history far and wide.

Enjoy an excerpt from Woman's Way Magazine while they were on tour with our senior guide and creator, Dawn-Lisa.

“If you’re talking Barbados, you’re talking the story of sugar, slaves and rum,” says tour guide Dawn-Lisa Callender-Smith in the centre of Bridgetown. “The gem of the British crown.”

Wearing traditional Caribbean dress, Dawn-Lisa provides a concise history of her homeland. We walk along the waterfront, pass the Independence Arch, cross Chamberlain Bridge and stop at an empty plinth in a place known until 1999 as Trafalgar Square. The vacant pedestal, in what is now called National Heroes Square, supported a bronze statue of Lord Nelson from 1813 until November last year.

“Nelson was considered an enforcer of the British law of slavery so, as a black nation, Barbadians questioned why was he still sitting there,” explains Dawn-Lisa.

“Finally, as statues were coming down around the world, he was moved."

- Women's Way Magazine, "Bound For Barbados", February 2022

📷

Are you ready to see town with us?

Book your tour today!

13/03/2023

Have you found your name yet?

We had guests from Panama this weekend! They were so excited to experience the art and find their names on the Builders of Barbados Wall.

Join us in Town and learn how all of our stories connect. Bridgetown and Barbados helped to build the world we know today.

03/03/2023

Characters of Town in Action.

Take a trip in town with us and check out an excerpt from one of our Food & Travel Blogger guests!

Photo and excerpt credit .

"The oldest references to rum, and certainly the oldest licensed distillery in the world, date to Barbados. One story, told on the “Characters of [Town]” history walking tour of Bridgetown, is that rum was invented in a long disappeared tavern run by a Mr. Rumboole, hence the name. The tavern’s location was, appropriately, directly in front of the 21st century Bridgetown Police Dept.
... At first this liquid was called “kill-devil,” possibly because it was invented by the devil, or possibly because if you drank enough of it, it could kill you."

- Real Food Traveler, 5 Reasons to Follow George Washington to Barbados
https://www.realfoodtraveler.com/5-reasons-follow-george-washington-barbados/

01/03/2023

March Schedule!

For the month of March it's all about Bridgetown with weekly Historic Walking Tours.

*Prices listed in USD. Ask about our LOCAL RATES available with Barbados ID
**Tours are based minimum bookings.

Look out in APRIL for the BAJAN EXCURSION BUS TOUR, a Foodie lovers delight!

SAVE 📥 & SHARE 📤

01/03/2023

Guest Reviews!

"We went on the tour on Dec 24 and Georgina is the BEST guide. A great combination of in-depth knowledge, humour and a great personality. She brought the history of Bridgetown to life.
If you can take one of their tours, we highly recommend it."

- Rich B.

We love our guests and we especially love when we can make them this happy.

04/02/2023

February's Schedule!!