The Red House

The basics

The Red House is so called because the original buildings were painted red in honor of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Following the Water Riots, the building that you see today, also red, was rebuilt on the same site as the original structure. Tours of Port of Spain often include a stop at the adjacent Woodford Square to visit the exterior of the Red House. Small tour groups can also visit the interiors to learn about the nation’s governance and see the striking Wedgewood blue ceiling in the Legislative Council Chamber.

Things to know before you go

• The Red House is a must-see for those with an interest in Beaux-Arts architecture or Trinidadian and Tobogian history.
• Tours of the Red House are limited to 15 people at a time.
• Accessible features at the Red House include an elevator and a wheelchair ramp at the Saint Vincent Street entrance.

How to get there

The Red House is situated in the heart of downtown Port of Spain, overlooking Woodford Square and about a 10-minute walk from the Port of Spain Ferry Terminal. The area is well connected to the rest of the city by public transportation, and there’s a taxi stand on the opposite side of Woodford Square, on the corner of Hart Street and Frederick Street.

When to get there

The Red House is a year-round attraction, but the best time to visit is during the annual Carnival celebrations, which take place in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday in February or early March. In past years, art shows featuring Carnival-related works have been staged in the Rotunda Gallery of the Red House.

The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival

Port of Spain is at its liveliest during the annual Carnival celebrations, which feature costumes, limbo competitions, and parades—plus lots of steelpan, soca, and calypso music, often blasted into the crowds from sound systems mounted on trucks. Most events are staged on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.