Stanley

Introduction

JCR arrives in Stanley

© DrPaul

Stanley is the capital of the Falkland Islands and is in fact the only real city in the country with around 2,100 people living here. It is located in the far east of the country on East Island. Although it is the cultural and economical centre, nothing much goes around here and the true sights in the country are mainly outside the capital. But the city has a few decent places to sleep and has in fact a number of sights which keeps the interested travellers busy for at least a day or so, before going out and explore the quiet landscapes.

Sights and Activities

• The Jetty Visitor Centre - Summer (Oct - Mar): Weekdays 9:30am - 5:00pm, Sat 9:00am - 5:00pm, Sun 10:00am - 4:00pm, On some cruise ship days these hours are extended; Winter (Apr - Sep) Mon-Sat 10:00am to 3:00pm, Sun 11.00am - 3:00pm. Information centre and shop.
• The Falkland Islands Museum - ☎ +500 27428. Extensive information about the 1982 conflict, as well as history of the Falklands and some exhibits on Falkland Islands flora & fauna.
• Christ Church Cathedral - daily 8:00 - 17:00, Sunday services 10:00 and sometimes 8:00 & 19:00. This cathedral is the southernmost cathedral in the world. The cathedral was built in 1890-92, on the site of an earlier church destroyed in an 1886 landslide.The much-photographed arch in front of the cathedral is made from the jawbones of two blue whales, and was made in 1933 to celebrate 100 years of British rule on the islands.
• St. Mary's Church, 12 Ross rd. The wooden cathedral from 1899 is the only Catholic church on the Falkland Islands. On the western wall there are oil murals by the local artist James Peck.
• Government house - The mid 19th-century residence of the governor is listed on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, and was also where the explorer Shackleton stayed during his Trans-Antarctic Expedition. This is the private home of the governor.
• 1982 memorial - Falklands War memorial, erected to the memory of the British troops. There are several other Falkland War memorials around the town.
• 1982 Memorial Wood - Watson Way. A wood planted by the local scouts. Each tree represents a British serviceman killed in the 1982 conflict.
• Stanley Cemetery - The final resting place for islanders who died in both World Wars and British Falklands War casualties. Also features a war memorial.
• Gypsy Cove - A fifteen-minute drive from town that can be easily arranged by taxi, Gypsy Cove is often the first place that visitors to the Falklands will encounter penguins. edit
• 1914 Battle Memorial - A memorial erected in 1927 commemorating a World War I naval battle in which a British squadron sank 4 German cruisers resulting in 1,817 German and 10 British fatalities. A ceremony is held here every 8 December.

Events and Festivals

New Year’s Eve

One of the calendar’s most exciting evenings sees people spilling out of bars and house parties around Stanley and Camp as they celebrate the past twelve months and welcome in a new year. Stanley’s locals are out in full force and firework displays are often held in the camp areas.

Camp Sports Week

Traditionally celebrated at the end of the sheep shearing season, Camp Sports Week in February is a time when the local Falkland Island families get together, relax and host barbecues for a few days. Numerous events, such as horse racing and dog trials are held annually and it’s a great way to experience rural life.

Standard Chartered Bank Stanley Marathon

For a more active event, head over to the Falkland Islands during March and sign up for the world’s most southerly marathon. The course offers some fantastic scenery to keep runners occupied along the way and while it’s known for being fairly challenging, it is not only a great workout, but a fantastic way to discover the Islands.

May Day/May Ball

For centuries, May Day, which falls on the first of the month, has been celebrated by the British emigrants on the Falkland Islands. While not quite as popular as it once was, the locally-orientated festival is centered around the symbolic Maypole and includes Morris dancing and the crowning of a May Queen as one of the highlights. The festival dates back to the pagan beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons.

Liberation Day

A proud and symbolic day for Falkland Islanders, June 14 celebrates the end of the Argentine occupation of the archipelago. A memorial service is held at Christ Church Cathedral, followed by a military parade and ceremonial laying of the wreath at the Liberation Monument.

Falkland Day

Although it is no longer a public or national holiday, Falkland Day, held on August 14, celebrates the first noted discovery of the islands by John Davis in 1592. It also celebrates the noisy return of the elephant seals and black-browed albatross to the islands to breed.

Halloween

Similar to celebrations held in the US, Halloween is the perfect excuse to dress up and act like a child on the night of October 31. Plenty of the local establishments throw costume parties and a wide range of themed baked goods are available in all of the local bakeries.

Weather

The weather is mild but warm days are rare and temperatures of 20 °C are not very common. It is also one of the wettest places in the country. That said, temperatures are not that cold in winter either, but the constant wind doesn't feel that nice for that matter.

Getting There

By Plane

Mount Pleasant Airport (MPN IATA). Most international flights arrive here, which is also a military base. The only international carriers to use this airport are LATAM on a weekly flight from Santiago de Chile via Punta Arenas (Chile), Rio Gallegos (Argentina) (monthly) and the UK Royal Air Force who carry commercial passengers direct from RAF Brize Norton (BZZ IATA), Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom. Flights from the UK lasted eighteen hours including a stop on Ascension Island en route. This connection has been disrupted by infrastructure problems on Ascension Island, which is expected to be without regular flights until at least 2019 because of potholes on the only runway. The RAF contracts two flights per week which are subject to military priorities. For tickets, you should call the Falklands Island Government Office in London at +44 207 222 2542. RAF Mount Pleasant (Q2071294) on Wikidata RAF Mount Pleasant on Wikipedia edit

There is also Stanley Airport (PSY IATA) but it has a smaller runway and is used primarily for flights within the Falklands.

It is expensive to get off the islands and a return flight to Santiago (the nearest airport interchange hub) costs approximately £800 per person and is a 7-hour flight. It costs £1600 for a return ticket to the UK if you are eligible for discount (you need to be a Falkland Islands Government employee) otherwise it costs £2100. Veterans of the 1982 conflict and widows of those killed can get a very generous discount on RAF flights, with tickets costing as little as £150. However, passengers flying with this "indulgence" have the lowest priority on place allocations; serving military personnel, islanders and fully paying customers (in that order) have higher priority on seat allocation, which is often only definitive on the day of departure.

The Mount Pleasant airport is 56 km (35 miles) from Stanley. Falkland Island Tours & Travel (Tel: 21775, [email protected]) operates a shuttle bus that meets all flights and that can take visitors to and from the capital for £15 per person (one-way). Taxis also take passengers to and from the airport - these must be booked.

By Car

You can rent a car in Stanley and travel onwards across East and West Falkland.

By Boat

There are no regular passenger services other than expensive cruiseliners and expeditions vessels that travel to and from the Falkland Island. Often, such a trip combines the island with Antarctica and the South Orkney and South Georgia Islands. Sometimes, ships even continue to Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena and Ascension Island.

Getting Around

By Car

There are two taxi services operating within Stanley that service the town and the surrounding area.

• Bonners Taxis, Tel: 51126
• Town Taxis, Tel: 52900

By Foot

Stanley is a small town, so walking is probably the best option for seeing the sights.

Eat

• Malvina House Hotel, 3 Ross Rd (across the street from Government Jetty), ☏ +500 21355. Dinner reservations may be required, especially during weekends.
• Shorty's Diner, Davis St East, ☏ +500 22855. 1000-2030 weekdays; 1000-2000 weekends. Chargrilled burgers, steaks, curries, local fish and chips, local organic produce, homemade desserts. Also has an adjoining motel.
• Tasty Treats, John Street (Waverley House). Snack bar and bakery serving breakfast, fast food and snacks.
• Woodbine Cafe, 29 Fitzroy Rd, ☏ +500 21002. Fish & chip shop, also offering pizzas, burgers, chicken, empanadas, and a selection of beers.

Drink

• Deano's Bar, 40 John Street. Reportedly a Stanley institution since over 20 years, with a wide range of bottled beers. On Friday and Saturday nights it becomes a night club.
• Globe Tavern, Crozier Pl, ☏ +500 22703. Located one block up the hill from the public jetty, offering beers as well as pub food such as fish and chips. Ask to meet all the lovely ladies that often pop in, and also go for the Karaoke on a Sunday night which is always good fun.
• Victory Bar, 1A Philomel Hill, ☏ +500 21199. Beer as well as hot food.
• The Narrows Bar, 39 Ross Road. Pub and restaurant.

Sleep

Compared with nearby South America lodging in Stanley can be quite expensive. If you are on a strict budget inquire about pitching a tent; if allowed by the land owner the costs are often considerably less than paying for a room.

• Kay McCallum's B&B, 14 Drury St, ☏ +500 21071, ✉ [email protected]. Clean and cozy, and Kay is very helpful with travel information and arrangements. 1 twin and 1 double room. Her gnome garden is a locally-famous attraction that includes one intrepid garden gnome who disappeared in 2004, but whose travels around the world were chronicled in photos sent anonymously to the local newspaper.
• Malvina House Hotel, 3 Ross Rd (across the street from Government Jetty), ☏ +500 21355, ✉ [email protected]. Top-end accommodation including sauna room. Accepts credit cards. Rates vary by season and room type with prices from £84-£220.
• Lookout Lodge, Keil Canal Road, ☏ +500 22834. Accommodation mainly for groups. Also has the Chandlery restaurant.
• Waterfront Hotel, 36 Ross rd, ☏ +500 21462, ✉ [email protected]. Upscale hotel with 8 rooms. Rooms are equipped with TV and WLAN (separate fee charged for use), the cheaper rooms have shared bathroom. £75-£150, rates include breakfast.

Keep Connected

Internet

Several hotels, as well as the visitor centre offer computers that accept Cable & Wireless internet cards and there are an increasing number of Wi-Fi hotspots.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

For all emergencies, including Police, Fire, Ambulance and Bomb Disposal, dial 999 free of charge.

The country code for dialling the Falklands is +500.

The local phone company, Cable & Wireless, sells phone cards which can be used throughout the territory but international calls cost £0.90 per minute. Broadband internet access now exists island-wide although speeds are much closer to dialup, 56 Kbps or less. Both phone and internet cards can be purchased from the Cable & Wireless office in Stanley (located on the hill past the War Memorial), as well as in some of the stores in town. The larger lodges will also sell phone cards and may have internet cards. More recently a GSM cell phone network has been made available but works only for Stanley, Mount Pleasant and a few other locations on East Falkland.

Post

The postal service in the Falklands is reliable and letters can be mailed easily from Stanley and most settlements. The main post office is located in Stanley town centre across from the FIC West store.

External Links