10 things to do in Jersey and Guernsey

By Kingfisher Visitor Guides

Visit a castle

Elizabeth Castle has been a familiar sight on Jersey’s coastline for more than 300 years, and is now one of more than 4,000 historical places that are to get legal protection to safeguard the island’s architectural heritage. You can lose yourself for hours exploring the battlements and rooms.

Step back in time at Elizabeth Castle

Shop until you drop

The compact size of Jersey’s St Helier and Guernsey’s St Peter Port town centres makes them easy for tourists to navigate. Both centres have pedestrianised high streets, which means you can amble along at your own pace. But it’s also worth meandering down the side streets, as it’s here you’ll find charming independent and family-run stores selling anything from jewellery to antiques, quality clothing and homewares.

Enjoy a drink with a view

The Watersplash is the place to go for a coffee and to enjoy the view over St Ouen’s Bay during the day, and somewhere to unwind after hours with live music and DJs. A magnet for Jersey’s surf crowd, this spot hosts some of the best gigs on the island. The Slaughterhouse bar and eatery on Castle Pier boasts a prosecco bar, raised private terrace with stunning views over Havelet Bay, and one of the biggest ranges of wines, beers and spirits in Guernsey.

Have a bike adventure

Exploring Jersey and Guernsey by bike couldn’t be easier. The varied terrain of Jersey offers steep climbs and exhilarating drops and smooth strips of cycle-friendly highways. Guernsey also has a selection of 11 official cycle routes – 10 of which are circular – ranging from flat western and northern coastal rides to quiet country lanes and leafy valleys.

Tunnel through time

Jersey was occupied by the Germans for five years during World War II. You can find out about this dramatic period of history in the Jersey War Tunnels in St Lawrence. This compelling attraction unravels the complexity of the occupation with historical reconstructions, film footage and oral history.

Discover the Fisherman’s Chapel

Next to St Brelade’s Church in Jersey is the Fisherman’s Chapel which is unique in the Channel Islands in having one of the very few surviving medieval chapels.

Sample the seafood

Jersey and Guernsey have some excellent fish restaurants. Soy Seafood and Sushi Bar in the centre of St Helier serves seafood and modern Japanese fusion. Christies Brasserie is a St Peter Port institution. Try the octopus and baby squid casserole stuffed with chorizo and pine nuts, and the aromatic duck curry from the main menu.

Explore the beach

Whether you want to explore with a bucket and net, or simply relax on blissful golden sands, Jersey and Guernsey have a beach that’s right for you. You can’t beat the well-serviced St Brelade’s Bay in Jersey for a family day out. Saints Bay, in Guernsey, is a beautiful sandy cove with a pebble bank at the top of the beach, surrounded by sheltering cliffs.

Visit some of the islands wonderful beaches

Take the train

For something completely different, Petit Train is a fun way for all the family to get to know Guernsey better. Running between Easter and the end of October, the train (affectionately known as Victor) takes passengers on a 40-minute commentary-led tour of Guernsey’s picturesque capital, St Peter Port, including Castle Cornet, the parliament and court buildings, and the harbour and seafront.

Visit beautiful gardens

Sausmarez Manor in Guernsey is a visitor attraction for all of the family – with guided tours, beautiful gardens and activities for children to enjoy. The sub-tropical gardens feature in the RHS Garden Finder as well as the 1,001 gardens to visit before you die. There are shrubs, giant geraniums and banana trees as well as birds of paradise plants.

Read more about Jersey and Guernsey