With its horse-drawn tram rides, 19th-century buildings lining the shore, and independent boutiques, this pretty little seaside resort oozes old-world charm. It is hard to imagine this quaint, rather old-fashioned British resort from bygone times is a capital, but it is! Douglas is the capital of the Isle of Man.
Nestled along the east coast of the Isle of Man, Douglas is the largest settlement on the island, with a population of 26,677 (2021) and an area of 4.1 square miles (10.5 km2). It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas on a sweeping bay of two miles. The River Douglas forms part of the city’s harbour and main commercial port. The island is just over 100 miles from the UK mainland. According to the tourist board visitisleofman.com, it is “easily accessible by air or sea from various locations across the UK and Channel Islands.”
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company offers regular ferry services to North West England year-round and the East Coast of Ireland during the summer.
They add: “Whether you’re part of a cruise ship tour or a seafarer in need of a break, moor at one of our harbors, marinas, or bays and step ashore. Explore charming seaside villages, enjoy local attractions, and soak up the Island’s unique atmosphere before you depart.”
You can also reach the Isle of Man in as little as 30 minutes from UK airports (Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Gatwick, Heathrow, Belfast and Edinburgh) while taking in breathtaking aerial views. Land at Ronaldsway Airport and start your adventure.
The main shopping area in Douglas is Strand Street, which you will find running parallel to Douglas Promanade. Strand Street is the capital’s main shopping area, here you will find High Street names as well as a number of local shops.
Noble’s Park is a beautiful, well maintained park, located in upper Douglas. Five miles north of Douglas is Garwick Beach, a stunning ilittle shingle and rock beach on the east coast of the Isle of Man, located in the valley of Baldrine, can be found at the foot of Garwick Glen, one of the most picturesque Glens on Island.
The Isle of Man, while incredibly peaceful and quiet is not without its fair share of celebrities for its size. The Bee Gees were born there. The Gibb brothers, Barry, Robin, and Maurice, were all born on the island before their family moved to Manchester in the 1950s and later emigrated to Australia.
The comedian Norman Wisdom was a beloeved resident of the island. Other stars from the island include actress Samantha Barks, best known for her broadway role as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Bollywood star Amy Jackson and Joe Locke, kown for his role as Charlie Spring in the Netflix series Heartstopper.
Douglas was a small settlement until it grew rapidly as a result of links with the English port of Liverpool in the 18th century. Further population growth came in the following century, resulting during the 1860s in a staged transfer of the High Courts, the Lieutenant Governor’s residence (actually located in nearby Onchan), and finally the seat of the legislature, Tynwald, to Douglas from the ancient capital castletown.
The city is the island’s main hub for business, finance, legal services, shipping, transport, shopping, and entertainment. But the city itself is probably best known for annual Isle of Man TT motorcycle races start and finish in Douglas.