Jersey travel guide: what to know before you go

Where is Jersey?

Jersey is located in the English Channel, but is closer to the coast of France than to the UK, around 14 miles off the coast of Normandy, to the west of the Cherbourg peninsula (also called the Cotentin peninsula) and north of St Malo. The island lies slightly south of Guernsey.

Is Jersey in the Channel Islands part of the UK?

No, Jersey is not part of the United Kingdom. It is a British Crown dependency, a self-governing possession of the British Crown. The British monarch is also head of state. While English is the national language (along with French), you’ll also find some signs in Jèrriais, also known as Jersey Norman, the language spoken here when the Norman kings of England ruled here and Normandy in France.

Getting to Jersey from mainland UK

You can reach Jersey by plane and by ferry from mainland UK. Ferry routes run from Poole in Dorset to St Helier, with high-speed ferries taking as little as four hours, plus longer routes from Portsmouth which take between around eight and a half hours and 10 hours. Jersey is very well-connected by air, with a string of direct flight routes from the majority of airports around the UK, including several London airports, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and some smaller airports in the south of England such as Bristol, Exeter and Southampton. Flights take as little as 50 minutes from the south coast, or around 90 minutes from Scotland.

How big is Jersey in the Channel Islands?

Jersey is the biggest of the Channel Islands at around 45 square miles in size, stretching nine miles long and five miles across. It’s almost twice as big as Guernsey, which is only 24 square miles in size, but still only a third of the size of the Isle of Wight, which measures around 147 square miles.

Do you need a passport to get to Jersey?

No, Jersey is part of the Common Travel Area (CTA), which includes the UK, the Isle of Man, Ireland and the Channel Islands, so you don’t need a passport to travel there. However, you must have a valid form of photo ID; check with your airline or ferry company as to what they accept. If you are arriving into the Channel Islands from outside the UK or Republic of Ireland, you must have a valid passport, regardless of your nationality.

Mont Orgueil Castle

What is Jersey most famous for?

Jersey is an enticing mix of fabulous scenery and fascinating history, from its gorgeous golden beaches to its Norman and Elizabethan castles. The Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles which were occupied by the German army during the Second World War, and it’s possible to explore the Jersey War Tunnels, created using slave labour during the Occupation, and now home to exhibits on this dark wartime chapter of history.

The island is also known for its emphasis on sustainability; not only can you expect pristine beaches, but there’s a network of cycle trails across the island and electric bikes to hire if you don’t fancy pedalling the whole way. It’s also home to Jersey Zoo, part of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, which was opened by naturalist and writer Gerald Durrell in 1959.

And you shouldn’t leave without indulging in some of Jersey’s famous food and drink, from the thick cream and dairy products courtesy of the coffee-coloured Jersey cows to wine, cider and gin made on the island. Look out for Jersey Royal potatoes too, which have their own Protected Designation of Origin guarantee.

What’s the weather like in Jersey?

Jersey is slightly warmer and drier than the UK on average, with temperatures dropping to around 5C in January and hitting 23C in July, and less than half the amount of rainfall across the year. The island can be foggy at times, with mists drifting in off the sea, but the climate is generally mild and sunny.

Is Jersey in the same time zone as the UK?

Yes, Jersey is in the same time zone as the UK, operating on GMT. The Channel Islands also observe daylight savings like the rest of the UK, switching to British Summer Time on the last Sunday in March and reverting to GMT on the last Sunday in October.

Explore Jersey on our Jersey's Joie de Vivre escorted tour