Stay in Heart of One of North America's Oldest Settlements

Two Centuries of Hospitality. Four Centuries of History.

Standing on one of Annapolis Royal's oldest waterfront estates, Bailey House has welcomed guests for generations. The house, built about 1817, remains a carefully preserved home where historic architecture, antique furnishings, and gardens by the water are part of everyday life rather than a museum exhibit. Those who stay here are invited to enjoy the same cool breezes, quiet surroundings, and sense of continuity that have drawn summer visitors to this shoreline for more than two centuries.

A Historic Waterfront Residence

Hospitality at Bailey House is intentionally understated. We assume our guests value independence and privacy, while knowing we’re nearby whenever needed. The house remains, first and foremost, a carefully preserved historic home that we are pleased to share with those who appreciate authenticity and history.

Explore our history

A Town Where History Lives

In Annapolis Royal, history is not merely observed; it is lived. As the original capital of Nova Scotia, the town has evolved continuously for more than four centuries while retaining one of Canada’s most complete historic streetscapes. Life unfolds much as it always has—at a walkable pace, shaped by the tides of the Annapolis Basin and the rhythm of a small waterfront community.

From Bailey House, twelve nationally and internationally significant historic sites are within an easy walk, along with gardens, galleries, cafés, restaurants, and the waterfront. Visitors can explore Fort Anne, the Habitation at Port-Royal, nearby wineries, and one of Canada’s oldest golf courses before returning for an evening by the water.

Few places in North America offer the opportunity to stay within a National Historic Site while experiencing a community that remains very much alive. Annapolis Royal is not a recreated village or an open-air museum—it is a town where centuries of history continue as part of everyday life.

explore the activities

A Historic Home, Thoughtfully Shared

At Bailey House, guests are invited to experience four centuries of history while enjoying the comforts of a carefully preserved private home. Throughout the residence, art, furnishings, and antiques are not simply displayed—they remain part of the daily life of the house and the story it continues to tell.

Each guest room reflects a chapter of Annapolis Royal’s remarkable past. Guests may stay in the Prince Edward Room, named for the Duke of Kent and father of Queen Victoria, or the Princess Louise Room, honouring the Duchess of Argyll. Other rooms recall figures such as Dame Marie Saint Étienne de La Tour de Belleisle, chatelaine of the estate and one of the earliest holders of a seigneurial grant in North America.

Set directly on the Annapolis Basin, Bailey House offers a waterfront experience unlike any other accommodation in Annapolis Royal. From the gardens to the changing tides beyond, the view remains connected to the same landscape that has shaped Acadian, Indigenous, British, and Nova Scotian histories for generations.

see the inn