[1] It is about 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of the nation's capital city St. John's, and connected to it by a single road.

The fort was named after British Admiral Barrington, who captured Caribbean St. Lucia island from the French in 1667.

The fort was built during the colonial British Antigua and Barbuda period, mainly as a lookout for any foreign battleships in the area.

[3][4] The village is home to several sportsmen, including Richie Richardson, the cricketer and West Indies region coach.

The University of the West Indies opened its fourth physical campus at Five Islands in 2019, serving Antigua and Barbuda and other Eastern Caribbean countries.