Antigua is the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. It is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region. The island is roughly located 17 degrees north of the equator. The island measures 14 miles long and 11 miles wide. It is the largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands.

Antigua's history dates back as far as the 2400 BC with peripatetic Meso-Indians inhabiting the island. Their crafted shell and stone tools can still be found all over the island. European influence began with the arrival of Sir Christopher Codrington in 1684. Codrington arrived at Antigua with hopes of cultivating a large scale sugar plantation. Remnants of this early livelihood still remain evident in Antigua today. At Betty's Hope, which is Codrington's original sugar estate, visitors can see its fully-restored sugar mill. Most Antiguan residents are African in lineage and descendents of slaves that were brought to the island to labor on the sugarcane fields. By the end of the 18th century, Antigua became a strategic port and a valuable commercial colony. It became known as the "gateway to the Caribbean". Another important history of Antigua is marked by the arrival of Horatio Nelson in 1784 and his developments for British naval facilities.

Antigua is now a famous tourist destination, drawing tourists from all over the world. It has warm, steady winds, a complex coastline of safe harbors and protective, nearly unbroken wall of coral reef. The island is home to the world's foremost maritime events, Sailing Week. Its powdery soft beaches and attractive coral reefs are perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. Even the little island of Barbuda is famous for housing one of the region's most significant bird sanctuaries. Residents still celebrate Antigua's Carnival festivities which commemorate the earliest abolition of slavery in the British Caribbean.