A historic B.C. village has restored its 19th-century buildings and transformed for the holidays

Situated 10 minutes from Squamish, Britannia Beach is a former mining town-turned-heritage site with a recently revamped village that you’ll want to check out over the holidays.

Complete with an award-winning museum and national historic site, restored 19th-century buildings, and festive decor, Britannia Village is the ideal stopover destination for any trip along the Sea to Sky.

The village is home to art galleries and a trading post, where visitors will find a diverse spread of artwork by leading contemporary Northwest Coast Native artists.

There’s also a general store and the local Chatterbox Cafe, in addition to a handful of eclectic restaurants and local shops. The latter includes an oyster bar, famous ice cream at Kawartha Dairy, and tasty pastries from Beaucoup Bakery.

As for the Britannia Mine Museum, visitors can expect to explore an old haulage tunnel on a guided underground tour, as well as check out a historic, 20-storey mill, and an interactive gold panning exhibit.

About the village

The community of Britannia Beach dates all the way back to 1888 upon the discovery of copper in the area. After 70 years of operating (between 1904 and 1974) and the arrival of over 60,000 immigrants from more than 50 countries, the mine became what was then the largest copper mine in the entire British Commonwealth.

Newly opened in August 2025, Britannia Village is the result of 25 years of work to restore the original Britannia Mine townsite and the shops set in nine historic buildings, all of which have been renovated and restored.

Visitors can wander at their leisure through the original mine site school, church, community centre, and bunkhouses, all of which are now blanketed in twinkling holiday lights.

Over the holidays, the village square has transformed with a giant Christmas tree and selfie station, perfect for capturing a holiday snapshot.

Whether you’re going on a ski trip or returning to the city after a day trip to Squamish, there’s never been a better time to take a bite of the local history scene at Britannia Beach.

How to get there: Drive 45 minutes from Vancouver to Britannia Village via BC-99 N.

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