Coastlines, Castles & Crab – Things to Do on Guernsey
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Where is Guernsey?
Guernsey is one of the Channel Islands – a UK archipelago in the English Channel, that is located closer to France than to England, just off the coast of Normandy. It’s nearly 120km from the south coast of England and just 32km from France.
When To Visit Guernsey
The island can be visited all year round, although some attractions are only open during the summer season – usually from April to October. The weather is generally milder than the rest of the UK, but can be as variable as the rest of the country. Although there are lots of outdoor activities, this guide also recommends plenty of things to do on a rainy day.
How To Travel To Guernsey
Many people fly into Guernsey, using the island’s airline Aurigny (pronounced Aur-eeny). You can fly from many regional UK airports.
There are ferries from Poole, Portsmouth and Jersey in the UK and from St Malo in France. If you wish to bring your car, car ferries are available and this will give you the flexibility to drive on the island as well.
How To Get Around Guernsey
Guernsey isn’t a large island so it doesn’t take long to get from location to location. Many of the roads are narrow and driving is slightly different to the mainland. Cars are available for hire. Driving is on the left, as in the UK. You can also hire a bicycle or walk. And there is a bus network if you prefer to use public transport.
Where To Stay in Guernsey
Guernsey has lots of accommodation options. Most of the hotels are located in the capital St Peter Port but there are also some dotted throughout the island. If you are on a budget, there are B&Bs as well as plentiful self-catering accommodation and camping/glamping options.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Beach Time
With gorgeous sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise water and rocky outlets for rock-pooling, Guernsey is the perfect ‘bucket and spade’ destination. The southern side of the island is best for the beaches. Cobo bay is a perfect beach for spending time with the family. Fermain Bay, Port Soif and Ladies Bay are also great beaches that are family friendly. The west side of the island generally has the easiest beaches to reach.
Cliff Top Walks and Secluded Beaches
For those seeking a bracing walk along the clifftops with spectacular views, Guernsey has a wealth of options. The cliffs are mainly located along the southern coast.
There are some lovely beaches to explore and, because they are a littler harder to reach, much more private and secluded. Le Jaonnet Bay and Petit Port (accessible down 270 steps) are great options. Be aware that some of the beaches here won’t have facilities, so bring a picnic.
Saumarez Park
Guernsey’s largest park is a wide open space. It has plentiful grounds and gardens, as well as a lovely lake. There is a child-friendly playground and local events are frequently held here. Rte de Saumarez, Guernsey GY5 7UJ
Guernsey has loads of organised activities to offer.
Explore Guernsey’s History
Castle Cornet
An imposing structure at the entrance to St Peter Port’s harbour this 800 year old castle houses four museums and four historic gardens all showcasing the fort and Guernsey’s military history. If you are around at midday, you will hear the Noonday gun.
Folk and Costume Museum
Located within the grounds of Saumarez Park, this National Trust site has interesting displays showcasing Guernsey’s history, particularly with respect to the fishing and agriculture industries. It also has displays of many local costumes.
Museum of the Occupation
The Channel Islands were the only part of the UK that were occupied during World War 2 and the legacy of the occupation can be seen all over Guernsey and the other islands.
The Museum of the Occupation showcases a variety of exhibits, from an enigma machine to a fire engine. The museum offers a really fascinating insight into life on Guernsey during World War 2. Its address is Les Houards Forest, GY8 0BG.
Underground Hospital
The Guernsey Underground hospital on La Vassalerie (GY6 8XL) is the largest structure built during the occupation. The extensive tunnels – an astonishing 1.4 miles in total – housed munitions stores and also functioned as a hospital.
There are also some WWII Occupation Trails throughout the island where you can see some of the other structures constructed during the war.
Fort Grey at Rue de la Lague on the west coast is known as the ‘Cup and Saucer’ and houses the Shipwreck Museum. The waters around the Channel Islands are notoriously dangerous for ships and this museum showcases artefacts from the many shipwrecks from across the centuries.
The Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery
Located at Candie gardens in St Peter Port, this museum offers multiple exhibitions showcasing Guernsey’s history and folklore.
It also has a small art gallery exhibiting paintings of the island as well as art from local and international artists. And there’s a statue of Victor Hugo in the gardens.
Museums, Stately Homes and Art Galleries
Renoir Walk
Pierre-Auguste Renoir visited Guernsey in 1883 and painted some scenes from Moulin Huet Bay, which is located near St Martins. It is possible to walk in the area and view the scenes that he painted through specially designed frames.
Victor Hugo House
Did you know that French author Victor Hugo was exiled to Guernsey and wrote most his most famous work, Les Miserables, there? You can visit his home in St Peter Port – Hautville House.
Stately Home and Sculpture Park
Sausmarez Manor is a stately home in Saint Martin. It also has a sculpture park to wander around.
You can read more details in our post about art and literature activities in Guernsey.
Quirky Guernsey
Little Chapel
In the Les Vauxbelets valley, Saint Andrew the Little Chapel is one of Guernsey’s most popular attractions. It was constructed by Brother Déodat in 1914, who initially planned to create a miniature version of the grotto at Lourdes. The chapel is decorated in a mosaic style using shells, broken crockery and pebbles, giving it a delightfully colourful appearance.
Despite its teeny dimensions, it is possible to go inside the chapel.
Blue Letter Boxes
Everybody knows about the UK’s red post boxes. Did you know that Guernsey’s letter boxes are blue? Keep an eye out for them around the island.
Visit Some of the Other Islands in the Bailiwick
The Bailiwick of Guernsey comprises a number of smaller islands. You can visit the main ones for a day trip or a longer stay. Despite their proximity to each other, they all have very distinctive charms.
Herm
The lovely island of Herm, visible from the harbour of St Peter Port, is just a short 20 minute boat ride away and is the most easily accessible island from Guernsey. Herm is beautiful – with plentiful walks and lovely beaches. Don’t miss the lovely (relatively) long Shell Beach. If you’re lucky you may also see puffins!
Sark
Sark is a strange little island. Only accessible by sea, once you reach the island you’ll discover that there are no cars for transportation, so you have to explore this rural delight on foot, by bike or by horse and cart. If you are interested in astronomy, Sark is a Dark Sky island due to its lack of street lights.
Alderney
The northernmost island, Alderney is a bit further away. You can reach it by air or boat. Planes fly 2-3 times each day, so although you could visit on a day trip, it would be quite an expensive day trip and the flight times aren’t always convenient, so we recommend staying for a night or two. Alderney is the third largest (or smallest) of the Channel Islands and the second largest in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
It is a beautiful island with gorgeous beaches, stunning clifftops, lovely walks, and the Channel Islands’ only railway, which runs for visitors during the summer season. Yes, those are London Underground carriages!
You can walk around Alderney in a day – you can read our guide to this delightful walk.
Guernsey For Foodies
There are many excellent restaurants all over Guernsey, with a concentration in St Peter Port. Being an island, Guernsey’s seafood is something special. Make sure you grab as much crab as you can! The local crab and lobster are sweet, juicy and huge! These are some of our favourite dishes:
Some restaurants offer a seafood platter: local crab, prawns, crevettes, and excellent smoked salmon, all served with sourdough and marie rose sauce.
Its dairy industry is also thriving – Guernsey cows produce rich, creamy milk, so you can enjoy delicious butter and local ice cream.
Every October the island holds Tennerfest – a foodie festival where many restaurants offer cheap set menus often featuring local produce. Alas, no longer a tenner (£10) these still represent excellent value for money. If you plan to dine at a participating restaurant during Tennerfest, make sure you book in advance.
Final Thoughts
Guernsey is a wonderful island to visit and the most accessible in its Bailiwick. It has such a variety of things to do as well as lots of outdoor activities, so your trip can be as active or relaxing as you like. If you get a chance to visit some of the other islands, we recommend doing so – they are really lovely.
Resources To Help You Plan Your Trip
Find accommodation options in Guernsey
Rent a car to travel around the island.
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I haven’t been to the Channel Islands but they’ve intrigued me enough to want to plan a visit one day. The history sounds WWII occupation is something that would really interest me if I go, the museums especially. Although Castle Cornet looks impressive too, not to mention just some locally walks along the beaches and viewpoints (picnic lunch included, of course). I knew Victor Hugo was French but didn’t know about the Guernsey connection, very interesting.
My cousin worked on Guernsey for several years (working in restoration at Castle Cornet) and I’m very sorry that I didn’t get there during that time. I do need to put the Channel Islands on my list, as you’ve shown me how much I missed. I would love the rambling walks. The Little Chapel looks absolutely delightful, and I *need* a bowl of that lobster mac & cheese!
Scenery, food, and tax haven status wise Guernsey seems very similar to the Isle of Man and yet I’ve never visited any of the Channel Islands. I have a lot of friends who’ve either visited or lived there at some point and I can see why they love it so much (similar to the IoM but with better weather thanks to its proximity to France!).
I’m in love with the Little Chapel – it’s so cool that you can actually go inside it too.
I watched the film The Guernsey Potateo Peal Society and knew a bit about it’s ties to WWII. Guernsey strikes me as a very peaceful island with enough things to do to keep your mind engaged and your fitness, too. I would opt for the bike and cycle to the various spots such as the Victor Hugo residence and the chapel. Alderney with the fortress and the old skool London carriages would be high on my list too. I hear that flights to the Channel islands are popular and can be booked months in advnace so visitors have to be quick and sometimes plan as far in advance as a year. Was this also the case for you?
Carolin | Solo Travel Story