Meads Bay Beach: Anguilla's Powder-White Front Row
Barefoot beachfront stays on one of the Caribbean's most flawless mile-long strands
Why Go
Some beaches you visit; Meads Bay you move into. Staying right on this famous stretch of Anguilla's northwest coast means waking up steps from powder-white sand and water that shifts through every shade of turquoise before breakfast.
The Experience
Meads Bay is consistently ranked among Anguilla's top three beaches ΓÇö long, wide, and smooth, with soft white sand running for roughly a mile between low bluffs. Staying beachfront here puts you in the middle of the island's most walkable resort strip: mornings are glassy-calm and made for swimming, afternoons drift between sunbeds and beach bars, and evenings deliver reliably spectacular sunsets over the open Caribbean. In winter months the swell can build into proper waves, which regulars love for bodysurfing; in summer the bay flattens into a giant swimming pool. Unlike busier Caribbean islands, the beach never feels crowded ΓÇö Anguilla's low-rise rules keep everything at palm-tree height.
What to Try
Walk the full length of the bay at sunrise before the beach loungers come out, then swim the calm eastern end. At lunch, do the classic Meads Bay move: stroll the sand from one beachfront restaurant to the next ΓÇö this single beach is Anguilla's densest dining strip, from casual barefoot grills to upscale beachfront icons. End the day with a rum punch facing due west; Meads Bay sunsets are the island's benchmark.
Insider Tip
Book the shoulder seasons (MayΓÇôJune, November) for the best mix of calm water, open tables, and lower beachfront rates. And check the swell forecast in winter ΓÇö when waves top six feet, head to the protected western corner near the bluff for the calmest swimming, or use it as your excuse to explore Anguilla's sheltered south-coast beaches for a day.
The Practical Stuff
Located on Anguilla's northwest coast near West End Village, about 15ΓÇô20 minutes' drive from the Blowing Point ferry terminal and the airport. A rental car is strongly recommended ΓÇö taxis are pricey and there's no public transit. Beachfront accommodation on Meads Bay ranges from self-catering villas and small beach clubs to five-star resorts, so book well ahead for the DecemberΓÇôApril high season. The beach itself is public, free, and open year-round; bring cash for smaller beach bars.
Pair It With
- Beachfront dining strip on Meads Bay — You can walk barefoot along the sand between some of Anguilla's best restaurants ΓÇö no car needed for lunch or dinner.
- ALAK ART GALLERY — A short drive away, it's an easy dose of local Anguillian art and culture between beach days.
- Malliouhana clifftop bar — Perched above the eastern end of the bay, it's the definitive spot for a golden-hour cocktail overlooking the water you just swam in.