Jersey travel guide

French and British influences

Jersey lies in the Bay of Mont St Michel, just 14 miles (22km) from the Normandy coast. Airport and harbour greet you with Seyiz les beinv’nus a Jèrri (Welcome to Jersey) in the French Norman patois, street and place names are still written in French, islanders are known as crapauds (toads) and every restaurant has a plateau de fruits de mer.

Yet although it’s not truly British, it has been linked with the British Crown for over 900 years, the official language is English, you drive on the left and cash machines dispense sterling. In other words, Jersey has the best of both worlds.

Size and climate

Jersey may be the largest of the Channel Islands, but it is still a tiny island, measuring 9 miles (14km) long and 5 miles (8km) wide. The most southerly of the British Isles, Jersey has more daily hours of sun than anywhere else in Britain. The best months to visit are from May to September.

Jersey's coast

Tilting southwards, the island basks in the sun like a vast solar panel. The coastline offers a remarkable range of scenery from the vertiginous craggy cliffs of the north, to the Atlantic rollers of the windswept west, and the sweeping flat sands of the south.

Along with its French flavour, the island offers all the ingredients of a traditional British seaside holiday: sandy beaches, crab-filled rock pools, big tides for beachcombing, picturesque fishing ports and ample family attractions.

The Jersey sands are washed by clean blue seas and the island has one of the largest tidal movements in the world. Twice a day waters retreat to reveal large expanses of golden sands or lunar-like seascapes, pierced with rocks and reefs. At low tide the island almost doubles in size – then the sea comes galloping in.

Jersey's attractions

In the unlikely event you tire of the coast Jersey packs in plenty of other attractions. Its tempestuous history has left a mark in monuments ranging from Neolithic tombs to castles, coastal towers and wartime tunnels and bunkers.

With walkers and cyclists in mind, Jersey has developed a network of Green Lanes where traffic is restricted to 15 mph (24kmph). Even on main roads the pace is slow, with a maximum speed limit of 40mph (64kmph). Inland Jersey is lush and pretty with wooded valleys, leafy lanes and pastures of doe-eyed cows. 

But Jersey is no sleepy backwater. St Helier is a buzzing capital and haven of high finance; former grand hotels have been given multimillion facelifts, with swish spas added; forts and follies have been converted to stylish self-catering complexes; and beach resorts have seen a surge of adrenalin-fuelled sports in recent years.

On the culinary scene Jersey has made quite a name for itself, with restaurants producing exceptional, freshly caught seafood. And the sedate speed limits don’t deter the multimillionaires from driving around in plush Porsches.

Read more about our top places to visit in Jersey