Road Town, located on Tortola island, is the capital of the British Virgin Islands. It is situated on the horseshoe-shaped Road Harbour in the centre of the island's south coast. The town's population is about 9,400 (as of 2004). United Kingdom - British Virgin Islands Commonwealth Secretariat
The name is derived from the nautical term "the roads", a place less sheltered than a harbour but which ships can easily get to. A area called Wickhams Cay was reclaimed from the sea and is the center of tourism. The oldest building in Road Town, the old HM Prison on Main Street, dates from the 1840s.
The town is one of the principal centres for bareboating (self-hire yacht chartering) in the Caribbean. Road Town is the headquarters of Tortola Marine Management located in the Road Reef Marina and the Moorings which are two of principle charter boat companies operating out of Road Town/Road Harbor.
