The Channel Islands Travel Guide highlights local attractions, places of interest, entertainment and offers useful tourist information for visitors. The Channel Islands are located in the English Channel between the UK and France. They are made up of the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Herm, Alderney and Sark and despite being located closer to France than the UK they are British Crown Dependencies that are legally separate from the UK as they are locally administered. This rather unusual arrangement has meant the Channel Islands are of unique character and have a mix of European cultures.
Overview and Attractions
The Channel Islands have an image of being exclusive and a haven for the wealthy jet set. They have a mild climate throughout the year and makes visiting the islands an attractive proposition especially in the summer months. The peace and tranquillity will greet visitors to the islands, along with sandy beaches, stunning sunsets and whitewashed houses.
Walking and cycling are popular activities here and touring the compact islands is relatively easy, with some great scenery to admire including the wonderful coastline walking and cycling touring can give visitors a great insight in to the beauty and landscape of the Channel Islands. Bird watching and Golf enthusiasts will enjoy it here.
Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and is around 10 miles by 6 miles in size. The capital is St. Helier that has influences from the English, French and the Portuguese that combine to give the place a unique European feel and is blessed with a milder climate than mainland Britain. Elizabeth Castle in Jersey overlooks St Helier and was built by Sir Walter Raleigh when he was Governor of Jersey. The coastline has many Martello Towers that were used to defend against French attack led by Napoleon. Jersey Zoo is a top attraction here and has animals in natural living habitats and is famed for its breeding programmes and conservation work. Jersey is also known for being the setting for the popular BBC detective series Bergerac.
Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands after Jersey and is around 9 miles by 2 miles. It has plenty of sunshine throughout the year making it a hit with visitors. The island has its own unique identity and character. St Peter Port is the capital and its attractions include the Royal Court, Notre Dame du Rosaire church and the market. Guernsey has a number of cliff walks for walking enthusiasts and provides great views of its beaches.
Alderney is one of the smaller Channel Islands and is only 6 miles off the coast of France. It is just one mile wide, the island is a popular place for walkers and cyclists who can enjoy the unspoilt nature of the island and its landscape. For those wanting to get away from it all the sandy beaches here are great places to relax and unwind. The capital is the small town of St Anne.
The Isle of Sark is known for its renowned peace and tranquillity, many visitors will enjoy the scenery that includes sea birds and plenty of wildflowers. Its unusual feature is that there are no cars allowed on the island, leaving visitors to appreciate the scenery, wildflowers and sea birds. Sark has also been referred to as the last remaining feudal state in Europe. The lack of road traffic does give this charming little island a unique feel to it.
Herm Island is a short boat trip from Guernsey, it is a particularly picturesque island boasting white sandy beaches and plenty of flowers. It is a popular holiday spot for tourists including day trippers and campers. The unusual feature of no vehicles also operates here leaving the island as a tranquil haven.
The Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery is located in the pleasure garden in St Peter Port. The museum first opened back in 1978, there are displays showing the history of the island and artefacts from the Victorian collectors, shown in a Victorian inspired gallery. There is a changing programme of temporary exhibitions in the Lukis Room, Brian White Gallery and the Rona Cole Gallery. There is a programme of concerts that take place on the terrace from May to September, if visiting it is best to check the latest times. There is also a gift shop that sells a selection of souvenirs.
Hamptonne Country Life Museum gives visitors an insight into three centuries of Jersey's rural history and heritage, there are characters from history who will demonstrate skill of yesteryear and take visitors on guided tours to learn more. You can explore the buildings and take a leisurely walk around the meadows and kitchen garden. There are stories told about what life was like back in the 16th century. Hamptonne was opened to the public in 1993 after archaeological investigation and restoration of some of the buildings. A number of environmental exhibits are due to be added, there is a woodland walkway, a wildlife pond and a wildflower garden in this picturesque setting.
Elizabeth Castle is in St Aubin's Bay, the castle has defended Jersey for 300 years right from the civil war to the German occupation. The castle is surrounded by the sea for seven hours out of every twelve. The site has several exhibitions and military collections as well as the rocky home of the sixth century hermit, St Helier, after which the capital of Jersey is named. In order to reach the castle visitors can walk across the causeway at when the tide is low or catch the DUKW ferry.
The Shell Garden in Jersey, is a unique attraction that began in 1957 and is currently the largest in the world of its kind and features over a million locally collected mollusk shells. The garden had humble beginnings and has grown markedly since, there is a sense of peace and tranquillity making it a special place to visit. There is an abundance of shells in Jersey, so the garden continues to flourish with the addition of Jersey ormers, emperor scallops, and common cockles among others. There is a shell shop with a wide range of handmade shell gifts, there is also an extensive range of natural shells, both local and from other parts of the world.
Jersey Zoo is one of the most popular attractions on the island. The zoo is called the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (Durrell) after its founder Gerald Durrell. It has been described as a zoo that is not a zoo referring to the natural environment and habitat the animals live. Jersey Zoo has a reputation at being at the forefront of many conservation projects, it has allowed scientists can work with the animals and learn what they need to stay healthy, breed, survive and thrive in their natural habitats.
The zoo aims to place animals in specially landscaped, spacious enclosures which closely resemble their natural homes whenever this is possible. There are a range of animals to see here and makes for a fun family trip.
The Jersey Lavender Farm is a working lavender farm that has a shop and a tearoom. The farm houses a large collection of lavender, the team grow, harvest and distil lavender, for use in their range of products. There are over 50 different varieties of lavender and visitors can see and smell these fragrant fields from June to August. Visitors can also learn more about the process of extracting the oil in the distillery and tour the beautiful garden, which includes a nature trail. In the tearoom visitors can enjoy some tea and cakes that are made from fresh local ingredients. The shop sells a wide selection of bath oils, lotions and even edible lavender products and books.
Arts aficionados will enjoy the Jersey Arts Centre located in St Helier. The arts centre promotes all the arts, from theatre to fine arts to dance. The building contains an air-conditioned theatre, with great visibility. At the Berni Gallery & Bar Gallery you can view an eclectic selection of constantly changing exhibitions, currently this can be viewed for free. Visitors can relax in the bar area with a beverage and be inspired by the art work on show. The Art Centre has a number of rooms for hire these include meeting rooms and an art studio. The Art Centre runs a wide array of art, craft, music, language and theatre courses and workshops and is aimed at all age groups.
Sumas Restaurant is located in Jersey and has gained a reputation as among the most innovative restaurants in Jersey. It serves English cuisine with a Mediterranean flair, and the food is accompanied by an extensive selection of wines, champagnes and cocktails. There is a wide ranging menu offering diners with plenty of choice.
There are big breakfasts to a la carte featuring tapas, quail and aubergine caviar. Visitors can enjoy a traditional Sunday lunch here too, alfresco dining can be enjoyed on the balcony that has panoramic views over Gorey Harbour and across to Mount Orgueil Castle. Suma has gained a fine reputation among diners and critics over the years making it a popular place. Booking is advised to avoid disappointment. The interior décor is bright and paintings and collages of local artist Paul Kilshaw.
Visitors in search of nightlife can try the Liquid & Envy nightclub that is located on the Waterfront in the main town of St Helier. Liquid has a white décor and atmosphere that will get visitors in to the party mood. There is top class sound and lighting to add to the 360 visual projections. Whilst Liquids caters for Jersey’s over 25s venue and features a plush décor. There is a variety of music played that varies from dance to pop to party to R'n'B. There are rooms for hire at the venues for corporate use and private use such as for special occasions. Address: Liquid & Envy, The waterfront, Jersey, JE2 3WF. Tel: +44 (0) 1534 789356.
The Channel Islands offers visitors a place that is tranquil and ideal for those wanting to get away from it all and relax. Its appeal lies in the fact it is an oasis of calm and gives people a sense of isolation helping them get away from it all. The lack of crowds and fine scenery added to the mild weather make the islands a great place for a quick break. There are plenty of flights available to the islands and visitors can also get there by ferry leaving from destinations from the south coast. To UK visitors the Channel Islands are in close proximity making it possible to enjoy a weekend or long weekend break there.
Disclaimer: The information given in on this website is given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. If there are any discrepancies in no way do we intend to mislead. Important travel details and arrangements should be confirmed and verified with the relevant authorities.