I recently visited Jersey in the Channel Islands again after 3 years. It used to be an annual trip with my Mum before the pandemic and now we’re hoping to continue it! This was my 4th trip there as an adult so I feel like I know the place pretty well by now. It feels comfortingly familiar every time we arrive and see St Brelades Bay stretching out ahead of us, yet also like we’ve travelled further away than we actually have done, if that makes sense?
So here is my run down of the top 10 things to do in jersey in my experience. I have added a few extra options at the end (so it's more like 15 things to do in Jersey!) because of course there are way more than 10! I also recommend picking up the ‘visitors guide’ and ‘what’s on’ at the airport when you arrive, if you’re staying at a hotel they may have some too.
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La Corbière Lighthouse
One of my favourite things we did on this trip to Jersey was to have dinner by the picturesque Corbière Lighthouse and watch the sunset. We actually went back twice because we enjoyed it so much! We ate at Corbière Phare which is completely glass fronted giving you the most amazing view whilst you eat.
Of course you can take a trip down there to view it without going for dinner. You can even walk right along the causeway to the lighthouse at low tide. Just make sure to keep an eye on the tide times if you do though, it’s easy to get caught out there!
La Mare Wine Estate
La Mare is Jersey’s only wine estate and the only company to make Jersey’s signature Black Butter as well as an array of other genuine Jersey produce. The Black Butter is like a jam made of apples, fresh cider & spices - it’s really good! As well as vineyards La Mare also has orchards a winery, distillery & estate kitchens.
You can book a guided distillery & vineyard tour or just go for lunch, check out the gift shop full of local produce & soak up the views. We had lunch outside overlooking the vineyard and it was wonderful! I had the Jersey Black Butter cheesecake and would highly recommend.
Note: Open from March-October.
Mont Orgueil Castle
Set in Gorey fishing village Mont Orgueil Castle (also know as Gorey Castle) is medieval fortress is a fantastic site! You can admire the castle from the outside or go and explore all the staircases, towers & secret rooms from over 800 years ago inside. You can even get a guided tour in there. It is a castle hence there are a lot of steps, so be warned!
Visit Jersey Heritage for more info: https://www.jerseyheritage.
Note: my view here is shot from Grouville Harbour a lovely stretch of beach opposite Gorey Castle.
Try The Local Produce
One thing you can’t miss out on enjoying when you come to Jersey is the local produce! The food really is amazing over there. Make sure you try Jersey dairy products made from the famous Jersey cows. The butter, the cheese, the cream and most of all the ice cream is the richest & creamiest I’ve ever tried! You should also try Jersey Black Butter (as mentioned in the paragraph on La Mare Wine Estate), Jersey Royal Potato’s & the local Seafood.
The local produce is of course served at all the wonderful restaurants, hotels & cafes around the island but you can also head down to Central Market in St Helier, something to experience in itself as it’s an iconic part of Jerseys heritage, where you can pick up local produce & goods.
Look out for produce carrying the ‘Genuine Jersey’ mark as they have all been grown, caught, reared or created in Jersey by the islanders.
Jersey Pearl
Every time we are in Jersey we have to stop by Jersey Pearl. It’s a whole experience! The St Ouen’s store is the biggest and the one we tend to go to. In the showroom they have a workshop you can view, read about their history and of course you can see their entire range of Pearl jewellery available to buy. I particularly love the bracelets myself! You can also do the ‘pick-a-pearl’ experience where choose a freshwater mussels, they then open it in for you & reveal your very own Freshwater pearl! Either keep it as a memento or have it set in a piece of jewellery.
Make sure you stop by Jersey Pearl Cafe for lunch or some cake, it’s lovely especially the terrace area.
Plèmont Bay
You will find this delightful sandy cove on the north west part of the island and it’s truly a photography dream! Just be prepared for a lot of steps down and back up again. Do If you go at low tide you can find hidden rock pools, clear shallow waters, a fresh waterfall and caves to explore! Make sure you check the tides before you go though as they come back in very quickly.
When you get hungry you can visit Plèmont Bay Beach Cafe, which is halfway down the steps overlooking the beach, for lunch or a snack. They do a great soft serve ice cream here and, although I haven’t tried them yet myself, I am told fantastic homemade waffles!
Along the headland of Rue de Petit Plémont you will find the giant willow Puffin Sculptures I captured in the photo above. They were created to highlight the dwindling numbers of Jersey Puffins on the island and the need to protect them.
The Hungry Man
This café in the harbour of Rozel Bay is famous! Mostly famous for its bacon rolls, burgers and relaxed vibe, it’s somewhere to add to you Jersey Bucket list. The Hungry Man has been around since 1947 and offers outside seating with cosy rugs for when it gets chilly where you can sit by the harbour and enjoy watching the world go by.
Samares Manor
I love visiting National Trust Gardens at home and Samares Manor is one of my favourite places to visit on our trips over to Jersey. These 14 acre botanical gardens have so much to enjoy from the rose, lavender and herb gardens as well as a beautiful Japanese inspired garden plus the water garden to wander through and explore. They have a children's play area if you’re visiting as a family and lots of fun activities to keep them busy.
Their Cocorico cafe offers French classics, coffees and snacks including crepes, galettes and quiches. Plus there is also a great gift shop to check out and maybe pick up souvenirs!
Outdoor Lido
The Lido in Jersey is a tidal bathing pool that replenishes with each incoming tide. Located at Havre des Pas, not far from St Helier, it’s a really lovely spot for a dip in the sea with panoramic views and a platform you can swim out to. Offering safe swimming with lifeguards on hand as well as it’s own beach kiosk/café, toilets and changing rooms. I loved the retro art-deco style of the boardwalk structure, all in blue and white colours.
St Brelades Bay Beach
This beach is directly opposite the hotel we always stay at (St Brelades Bay Hotel) and is the first thing we see when we round the corner to arrive at the hotel so for that very reason it has my heart!
You can stroll along the promenade and take a seat in the beautiful gardens there that are always filled with colour and look out across the beach, grab an ice cream from Midbay Stores (the pineapple & coconut one is delicious!) or some lunch at the Crabshack. There are lots of activities & water-sports going on to keep you entertained. If you’re there in the evening you’ll get to see the magical sight of St Brelades Church being lit up every night too!
St Brelades Bay Beach is probably one of the most popular beaches in Jersey and hence also one of the busiest especially during peak summertime but I’ve experienced it really quiet & peaceful as well (when we’ve been in June). One of the big plus points for me is that it is accessible for me to get down onto the sand as there is a big ramp off the promenade directly onto the beach. So if you can’t manage lots of steps or need to use a wheelchair (I believe you can hire special beach wheelchairs as well) then this is a great option!
Extra Options:
Railway Walk
If you’re into walking or cycling you can enjoy a lovely woodland walk following the route of Jersey’s old railway line. It’s a four mile walk from St Aubin to Corbière. Stop off at Off The Rails Café for something off their delicious pizza and tapas menu! Due to my physical limitations I haven’t managed to do this walk but I did visit Off The Rails Café and have a little walk around the surroundings and it is beautiful.
Jersey Zoo
Jersey Zoo was opened by Gerald Durrell opened in 1959 however it’s focus is much more on conservation, welfare, breeding and protecting endangered species. You won’t find animals in cramped cages and out on display for entertainment here! Endorsed by Sir David Attenborough this 32 acres of park and woodland is a sanctuary to some of the rarest creatures in the world.
Coastal Walk
The landscape of Jersey is stunning so it’s perfect for a walking holiday to really take in all its natural beauty. The coastline would be my choice as I love the sea and all the beaches and bays in Jersey have difference characters to them. From rocky cliff top pathways to seaside promenades and soft sandy beaches.
You can also book guided walking tours if you prefer.
Boat Trip
You can book a boat trip on one of Jersey Seafaris and they offer so many options from Dolphins Spotting, to coastline tours, lavish picnics on quiet beaches to popping over to France for lunch! I haven’t done this before (as I have the worst motion sickness you could imagine!) but I’ve heard that it is a fantastic experience.
Visit the White House
Also known as Le Don Hilton, is a little bit iconic in Jersey! It’s a tiny little white house which stands out against the contrasting blue sea of St Ouens Bay behind it. It’s somewhere you can rent out and stay in (but it’s very basic apparently) or just go and view it.
Stay
I can’t recommend St Brelades Bay Hotel highly enough! It’s where I’ve stayed each time I’ve visited Jersey. From the location with stunning views of St Brelades Bay Beach, beautiful gardens with outdoor pool, spa, fabulous food and the wonderful staff who have always gone above and beyond to make our stays as happy & comfortable as possible!
Tip: go for a sea view balcony room if possible and you’ll pass many happy hours enjoying the view & watching all the activities on the beach each day.
If you would like the details for the taxi driver we had, a local who knows the island like the back of his hand and can give you a personalised guided tour for an hourly rate then drop me a message! He’s really lovely and someone we’ve known since our first trip back in 2017. He also has a wheelchair accessible car.
Let me know if you're planning a trip to Jersey or have ever visited before, what were your favourite things to do?
