Jersey is the largest and most southerly island of the British Isles. Located some 100 miles (160 km) south of mainland Britain yet only 14 miles from the coast of France. Jersey boasts neat towns, lush valleys, well-kept fields and an unspoilt coastline. It has mild weather all year round and is great for family holidays as there are loads of great beaches, which are safe, and clean -- one is five miles long! There are lots of water sports in the Summer, everything from surfing to sailing.
There are some memorable sights, ranging from the Jersey War Tunnels (previously called the Underground Hospital) which is now a Museum about the German occupation of Jersey in WWII to sunsets on the Five Mile Beach at St Ouens. Jersey Tourism has a fantastic list of things to do and there are often specialist festivals during the year such as the Autumn Walking Week, Open Gardens in the spring . The two castles of Elizabeth Castle and Mont Orgueil are fascinating and the views of France from Mont Orgueil on a clear day are truly amazing. Jersey Zoo is a centre for conservation and well worth a visit to see how far around the world it reaches. On a rainy day, the Maritime Museum is a hands-on experience that is hard to beat.
Jersey Tourism has maps of local walks and there are organised walking tours, too, which give fascinating insight into the history and ecology of the island.
Things to see and do
* Elizabeth Castle
* Jersey Museum
* The Hermitage
* Jersey Opera House
* St Aubin’s Bay
General information
Cruise Season – March to Nov
Currency – Jersey Pound(JDP)
Language – English & French
Land Area – 78 sq km’s
Population – 85,000
Electricity – 2 round pins European style
Time –GMT plus zero hours
International Country Telephone Code – +1481
Port Location – The Port is located in St Helier harbour within walking distance of the town.
Transport Links –Jersey can only be reached by plane or boat. Guernsey airport has flight links to Jersey. There are a number of airlines offering regular scheduled service from the UK and a range of tour operators also organise charter flights to Jersey from a wider selection of airports and often at highly competitive rates. Condor Ferries operate a car and passenger service from the south coast of England to St Helier. You can choose to travel by fast car-carrying catamaran or the more leisurely, but comprehensively equipped, conventional car ferry.
Buses are available for getting around Jersey, but a rental car is recommended. Car parking can be difficult in St Helier but outside town, it isn't usually a problem. There are several bicycle hire companies.