Sleep area · Jamestown
Upper Jamestown
Quiet end of the valley by the foot of the Ladder: best for a dawn climb; a longer walk to the seafront.
Rules in force · 12Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Steep kerbs and stairs into older buildings
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- African islands ↗Sleep on the island you fly home from the night before your long-haul departure; inter-island flights and ferries in this region are cancelled or rescheduled often enough to break a same-day connection.
- African islands ↗In the Indian Ocean islands book flexible rates for December to March: a cyclone warning can shut airports, ferries and roads for two or three days.
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha ↗Entry rules are set by each island's government, not the UK: Saint Helena issues a short-term entry permit on arrival (about £20, cash) to visitors with a return ticket, booked accommodation and medical-evacuation insurance of at least £175,000 (check).
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha ↗Ascension has no right of abode; visitors need a visa arranged before travel through the Ascension Island Government, with a return ticket, accommodation and at least £500,000 of medical insurance (check).
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha ↗Tristan da Cunha requires prior approval from the Island Council, and berths on the few ships from Cape Town are limited.
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha ↗Carry travel insurance that includes medical evacuation; hospital facilities are limited and evacuation is long and expensive.
- Saint Helena ↗Flights follow a fixed pattern that can change and can be delayed by wind; keep spare days at both ends.
- Jamestown ↗Steep kerbs and stairs into older buildings: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Jamestown ↗Weather can delay or divert flights: keep a spare day at each end and do not book tight onward travel.
- Jamestown ↗Bring pounds sterling in notes for the stay: card acceptance and cash machines are limited; ask your accommodation before relying on a card.
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Map of this area
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Whether your first night works, and which stay fits
Is this the right area for me?
- Good fit
- First-timer
- Light sleeper
- Depends
- Family
- Budget
- Business
- Look elsewhere
- Night owl
- Late arrival
Why, traveler by traveler
- First-timerGood fitThe Ladder at the door; the seafront 10–15 minutes down.
- FamilyDependsGood for hikers; steep for small children.
- Night owlLook elsewhereNone; walk down for a drink.
- Light sleeperGood fitVery quiet; near the foot of the Ladder.
- BudgetDependsGuesthouses and self-catering.
- BusinessDependsDesk hours vary · quiet 4/5 · bags and transfers 2/5. (combined from several scores)
- Late arrivalLook elsewhereWalk home uphill in the dark; take a torch.
First night
From Transfer drop-off on the road: 40 m (131 ft), stairs_mix surface. Desk until null, no hard lock. 28-inch bags: painful. Morning to Jacob's Ladder and the upper town: 3–6 min.From Transfer drop-off on the road: 131 ft (40 m), stairs_mix surface. Desk until null, no hard lock. 28-inch bags: painful. Morning to Jacob's Ladder and the upper town: 3–6 min.
Take Pre-arranged transfer or taxi to the door at 23:30. Bed by ~00:25 (+1) (p90).Take Pre-arranged transfer or taxi to the door at 11:30 PM. Bed by ~12:25 AM (+1) (p90).
Open the arrival contract →Take Pre-arranged transfer or taxi to the door at 22:30. Bed by ~23:25 (p90).Take Pre-arranged transfer or taxi to the door at 10:30 PM. Bed by ~11:25 PM (p90).
Open the arrival contract →Your first-night card
First night in Upper Jamestown, Jamestown
- Area
- Upper Jamestown (Upper Jamestown), Jamestown
- Get off at
- Transfer drop-off on the road, then about 40 m on foot (2–5 min)
- Taxi drop-off
- street le 100m
- Morning route
- Transfer from the airport to the guesthouse door · 0–0 min
Check the hotel’s own confirmation for its address and hours; this card covers the area, not one property.
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Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Arriving late, bags and steps, the walk at night, and who it suits
Arriving late
- Reception
- Desk until a set hour. Not printed until verified: ask each host about arrival arrangements.
- If you land late
- Call or message the hotel with your landing time; ask for the bell or door code
Luggage and steps
- Big cases
- painful
- From the stop
- 40 m (131 ft) from Transfer drop-off on the road131 ft (40 m) from Transfer drop-off on the road
- Taxi drop-off
- street le 100m
- Surface
- stairs mix
- Steps
- 3 up, 0 down
Desk and extras
- Package forwarding
- Not accepted
Who it suits
- MixedFamily · Good for hikers; steep for small children.
- YesLight sleeper · Very quiet; near the foot of the Ladder.
- NoLate arrival · Walk home uphill in the dark; take a torch.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where this area is, the stations and sights near it, and where to eat
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Prices, comparisons, checks before you book, and the small print
Times to sights and the airport
How far is everything
- Jacob's LadderWalk to the foot of the Ladder5–8 minwalk
- Museum of St Helena≈ 15 minwalk · est.
- St James’ Church≈ 14 minwalk · est.
- Castle Gardens≈ 16 minwalk · est.
- The Wharf and landing steps≈ 17 minwalk · est.
- Saint Helena Airport (HLE)from the arrivals curb35–50 min
≈ est.: straight line from the area center ×1.3 for streets; walk at 5 km/h (3 mph)3 mph (5 km/h) under about 1.9 km (1.2 mi)1.2 mi (2 km), otherwise a ride with 8 min to find it. Other rows are routed times from our city graph.
Airport to this area
- Landing to curb (immigration, bags)55–125 min
- 1.Pre-arranged transfer or taxi to the doorSHP 2035–50 min
- Curb to bed35–50 min
First service 00:00, last 30:00 (check the live timetable).
Landing after 22:00
- Last resort: Overnight near the airport if arranged, otherwise ask your host to hold the room
- Arrange the transfer before you fly and share your flight number with your host; do not count on a taxi appearing.
- Flights can be delayed or diverted by wind: message your host early if the flight moves.
- Keep spare days at both ends; entry conditions, insurance and proof of accommodation may be checked on arrival.
Compare areas and find a stay
Compare with another area
- Price
- SHP 60–90SHP 100–160
- Quiet at night
- 4/53/5
- Main noise
- Very quiet; near the foot of the Ladder.Quiet at night; some pub noise on weekends.
- Night safety
- cautionok
- Walk to sights
- Jacob's Ladder and the upper town 3–6 min · Main Street 6–10 minMain Street 2–4 min · Castle Gardens and Grand Parade 6–9 min
- Suits
- familyfamily
- Skip if
- ——
- Airport
- Saint Helena Airport: 35–50 min after the kerbSaint Helena Airport: 35–50 min after the kerb
Commute to my trip
Prices, stay types and scores
What a room costs
Typical nightly rates by room type across the city, the band this area mostly sells, and the months when rates jump.
- Budget guesthouse bedSHP 35–80per bed
- Budget doubleSHP 70per room
- Mid-range doublemost common hereSHP 110per room
- Upper-range doubleSHP 200per room
- Family room or apartmentSHP 100–280per unit
Rates by month
- Janpeak
- Febpeak
- Marmid
- Aprmid
- Maymid
- Junlow
- Jullow
- Auglow
- Seplow
- Octmid
- Novmid
- Decpeak
Peak rates: Jan · Feb · Dec.
- Book early: beds are limited and fill when a flight is scheduled.
City-wide desk estimates, checked: 2026-09. Month levels come from our month ratings, not live prices; check the rate for your dates.
Night, noise and late arrival in full
Nights here: safety and noise
- Quiet
- Very quiet; near the foot of the Ladder.
- Nightlife
- None; walk down for a drink.
- Street lighting
- unknown
- Main Streetnight: okQuiet after 21:00; walk home in pairs if you can.
- Upper Jamestown and the Laddernight: cautionSteep, unlit steps; do not climb at night or in wet or windy weather.
Late check-in, bags and drop-off
- Reception
- Desk until a set hour. Not printed until verified: ask each host about arrival arrangements.
- If you land late
- Call or message the hotel with your landing time; ask for the bell or door code.
- Taxi drop-off
- Car stops on the street, within about 100 m (330 ft); the walk in from the stop is about 40 m (130 ft) over stairs mix.Car stops on the street, within about 330 ft (100 m); the walk in from the stop is about 130 ft (40 m) over stairs mix.
- Dragging big cases
- Painful; 3 steps up, 0 down.
- Luggage storage
- No public lockers; guesthouses hold bags.
- Check-out day
- Departure day: the airport transfer follows the flight; ask your host to hold bags until it.
Will you get in on time?
Use the local time. Times from 00:00 to 03:59 count as the night after check-in day.
Enter a time to see when you would reach the door.
Check before you book
Check before you book
Questions this area's data says are worth asking a hotel in Upper Jamestown before you pay.
Ask the hotel before you book
Ticked items become a short message. Paste it into the booking site’s chat or an email; how fast and how clearly they answer is a signal too.
Search this area
- Booking.com ↗Map view: check the pin sits inside the area.
- Agoda ↗Strong in Asia; compare the final price with taxes.
- Hostelworld ↗City-wide dorm search; filter by the area on the map.
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Area facts, cons and small print
Area facts
- Reception
- unknown · forwarding not accepted
- Walk to clusters
- Jacob's Ladder and the upper town: 3–6 min · Main Street: 6–10 min
- Night lighting
- unknown
- Taxi drop-off
- street le 100m
- Fits
- family
- Lodging tax
- —
Cons
- Steeper walk back from the seafront.
- Fewer places to eat within a few minutes.
Compare prices
- HotelsCompare hotel prices in Upper Jamestown ↗Search results for this sleep area; check the exact street before you book.
- DataData eSIM for this trip →Voykit's eSIM desk: compatibility check and data sizing.
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Source: Price band
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
A band from $ to $$$$ set by us for the area, not a quote. Check live rates for your dates.
Source: Reception hours
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Typical desk hours from our research. Ask the hotel for your landing time.