The island of Jersey is the largest and southernmost of the British Channel Islands. It lies in the English Channel, northwest of France.
The Bailiwick of Jersey is a self-governing British crown dependency and is not administered by the United Kingdom. The Channel Islands are the last remnants of the Dukedom of Normandy and are considered a separate jurisdiction to the United Kingdom.
This beautiful island is famous for the Jersey Cow, Lilly Langtry and the Bergerac TV series during the eighties.
Understand
High earnings, zero inheritance tax rates and a mild climate make the island a popular offshore finance centre. Tourism, banking and finance, and agriculture, particular dairying, are mainstays of the economy. Produce includes potatoes (Jersey Royals), cauliflower, tomatoes, flowers, beef and dairy products as well as light industrial and electrical goods, and textiles.
History
The island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II.
Jersey War Tunnels (Jersey War Tunnels) , 01534 860808, 10:00 - 18:00, Les Charrieres Malorey, St Lawrence, Jersey, JE3 1FU, Head west from St Helier taking the inner main road. From Bel Royal the attarction is well signposted. Bus No. 8a, Formerly known as the German Underground Hospital, the tunnels were built during the Second World War, and now is an interesting tourist attraction. Cut deeply into rising hills, the site is now a museum telling the story of Jersey as the only part of Britain to be occupied by Germany during the war.
Geography
Temperate, with mild winters and cool summers. Gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast.
History
The island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II.
Jersey War Tunnels (Jersey War Tunnels) , 01534 860808, 10:00 - 18:00, Les Charrieres Malorey, St Lawrence, Jersey, JE3 1FU, Head west from St Helier taking the inner main road. From Bel Royal the attarction is well signposted. Bus No. 8a, Formerly known as the German Underground Hospital, the tunnels were built during the Second World War, and now is an interesting tourist attraction. Cut deeply into rising hills, the site is now a museum telling the story of Jersey as the only part of Britain to be occupied by Germany during the war.
Cities
Saint Helier - the capital of Jersey. About 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier.
Saint Lawrence
Saint Peter
Saint Ouen
Saint Mary
Grouville
Saint Brelade
Saint Saviour
Saint Clement
Trinity
Saint John
Saint Martin
Other settlements within the parishes....
Gorey - this is an area within the parish of Grouville
Saint Aubin - this is an area within the parish of Saint Brelade, otherwise the Island would have 13 Parishes!
Getting there
By plane
Jersey Airport (IATA : JER) (ICAO : EGJJ) - in the parish of St. Peter. Air France, Flybe, British Airways, and Aurigny Airlines offer regular flights from London airports and other UK mainland airports. Aer Lingus offers regular flights from Dublin, Ireland.
From UK Mainland and France try Condor Ferries or HD Ferries
Traveling around
By car
The maximum speed limit on the Island is 40mph, with many narrow 'Green Lanes' having a speed limit of 15mph. With a maximum straight-line journey length of some 11 miles, there would seem to be no point in owning and driving high-performance vehicles on the Island. This does not however stop a surprising number of people on the Island from doing so.
There are many car hire companies on the island, and as public transport is a little restricting, it is probably a good idea to hire from one of these. Most airlines will have a deal where you get money off if you go with their partner car hire company.
By bus
The 2 major bus routes on the island are the 1 and the 15. The one goes to the east of the island and the 15 goes to the west. During the day these run approximately every 20mins. They get less frequent in the evening and stop running at about 11:30. The rest of the routes will not run so frequently, but are a must if you want to explore some of the islands better attractions and do not have access to a car. Timetables for the buses change seasonally and can be obtained from the bus station near town. All busses will go to and from this bus station. Note that if you are not going to or from town, you will probably need to get 2 buses and timing this can be difficult.
How much you pay is dependant on how far you travel, with the maximum fare being £1.60. Students with a valid NUS card should be able to get travel for 50p as should those under 16. The "This is Jersey" website will contain more information as well as up to date timetables.
By taxi
There are a few taxi ranks on the island, mostly in town or outside the airport. These are very expensive, however, they are the only option (other than walking) if you don't have a car and wish to travel after about 11:30PM most nights.
Eat
Jersey has an abundance of excellent restaurants covering most tastes. In particular a lot of French, Italian and Portuguese styles. Chinese, Indian and Thai are well represented too. Only one each of Greek and Sushi and one Mexican, located in Colomberie or Iranian though. There are a few B.Y.O. restaurants (example the Dicq Shack).
Fast food chains, such as McDonalds are in town, although there is only 1 McDonalds and 1 Starbucks..located at the Airport.
There are occasionally themed "food weeks" celebrating the different cultures in the Island. Every October (for a little over a month) there is a Tennerfest where you can explore many of the world-class restaurants.
Vegetarian
Vegetarians will face a limited menu except in one or two very good vegetarian restaurants.
CafeJAC, 01534879482, Phillips St, St Helier, Arts Centre
Drink
The minimum age for drinking alcohol is 18 years. For such a small place there's a lot of bars and quite a few different clubs. Despite duty on alcohol being lower than the U.K. most popular bars set their prices close to what you'd expect in London. Normal pub closing time is 11PM and most clubs have to be closed by 2AM (there is no "drinking-up-time"). There's a few bars with alfresco areas including one with a view over the bay toward Elizabeth castle. Most of the working-men's pubs became trendy wine bars in the early nineties so there's not much chance of finding a pool table in town. There are two bars which sell Absinthe.
There is quite a good music scene, in part due to licensing regulations which allow some bars to stay open till 1AM if they have live entertainment. The bars with a late licence never have a cover charge but all the clubs do.
The main town of St. Helier is compact enough that you can wander from pub to pub and club to club quite easily.
Sleep
Many hotels and guest houses disappeared in the late nineties but there's two new multi-million pound hotels both in town. Jersey Tourism produce an accommodation guide containing all registered establishments, this is available free of charge.
Budget
There is very little budget accommodation in Jersey. The only Youth Hostel, near Gorey Village on the east coast was closed in 2008 due to a police investigation into child abuse that allegedly occured when the building was used as a childrens home. The extensive forensic searches has meant that the Youth Hostel is not reopening and is now housing Jersey's seasonal lifeguards.
There are some restrictions on caravans and motorhomes due to the size of the island's roads, but they are excepted at most of the Island's campsites.
More details can be found on Jersey.com . There are four camp sites, including one in St. Brelade near the west coast.
Buy
The economy is based largely on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes (Jersey Royals) , cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of the economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs.
Talk
Languages: English (official, and majority everyday language), French (official for some purposes), Jèrriais (a variety of Norman language, spoken in country districts). Portuguese is widely spoken.
Etiquette
Some people from Jersey refer to themselves as British (which is quasi-accurate). Some people refer to themselves as Normanic, or some even French! People from Jersey are not English (in the same way the Welsh are the Welsh, the Scottish are the Scottish and the Irish are the Irish). The correct/official way of describing persons from Jersey are 'Jerseymen' and 'Jerseywomen'. Calling them anything else may offend unless you are on good terms.
As a general rule, people from Jersey are very pro-Europe (despite not being a part of the 'European Union'), and would describe themselves as being more a part of Europe than the mainland United Kingdom is - on the basis of geography and French cultures. On the reverse side, people from the UK mainland as a 'general rule' wouldn't refer to themselves as European!
Stay healthy
There is a hospital in St Helier which will be able to deal with most regular injuries. For specialist treatment it is often necessary for patients to be taken to mainland Britain.
It is also worth noting that going to the doctors in Jersey will cost you money, normally around £40 a time. This can vary considerably, as it is up to the doctors surgery to set the price.
Jersey is not covered by the British NHS, however, most emergency treatment is free.
Safety
Jersey law derives from Norman customary law, now supplemented by English law and local statute. United Kingdom law does not automatically apply in Jersey, unless adopted by the parliament, the States of Jersey. Most every day things are the same as in English law, with the exception of some odd laws about marriage and divorce and the legal age of homosexual intercourse for males being set at 18. Attitudes towards homosexuality tend to be very similar to those you would find in mainland Britain.
Learn
Jersey does not have any universities, although there is a college, called Highlands, which offers a very limited selection of university level degrees.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
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The island of Jersey is the largest and southernmost of the British Channel Islands. It lies in the English Channel, northwest of France.
The Bailiwick of Jersey is a self-governing British crown dependency and is not administered by the United Kingdom. The Channel Islands are the last remnants of the Dukedom of Normandy and are considered a separate jurisdiction to the United Kingdom.
This beautiful island is famous for the Jersey Cow, Lilly Langtry and the Bergerac TV series during the eighties.
Understand
High earnings, zero inheritance tax rates and a mild climate make the island a popular offshore finance centre. Tourism, banking and finance, and agriculture, particular dairying, are mainstays of the economy. Produce includes potatoes (Jersey Royals), cauliflower, tomatoes, flowers, beef and dairy products as well as light industrial and electrical goods, and textiles.
History
The island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II.
Geography
Temperate, with mild winters and cool summers. Gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast.
History
The island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II.
Cities
Saint Helier - the capital of Jersey. About 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier.
Saint Lawrence
Saint Peter
Saint Ouen
Saint Mary
Grouville
Saint Brelade
Saint Saviour
Saint Clement
Trinity
Saint John
Saint Martin
Other settlements within the parishes....
Gorey - this is an area within the parish of Grouville
Saint Aubin - this is an area within the parish of Saint Brelade, otherwise the Island would have 13 Parishes!
Getting there
By plane
Jersey Airport (IATA : JER) (ICAO : EGJJ) - in the parish of St. Peter. Air France, Flybe, British Airways, and Aurigny Airlines offer regular flights from London airports and other UK mainland airports. Aer Lingus offers regular flights from Dublin, Ireland.
By boat
To/from Guernsey.
From UK Mainland and France try Condor Ferries or HD Ferries
Traveling around
By car
The maximum speed limit on the Island is 40mph, with many narrow 'Green Lanes' having a speed limit of 15mph. With a maximum straight-line journey length of some 11 miles, there would seem to be no point in owning and driving high-performance vehicles on the Island. This does not however stop a surprising number of people on the Island from doing so.
There are many car hire companies on the island, and as public transport is a little restricting, it is probably a good idea to hire from one of these. Most airlines will have a deal where you get money off if you go with their partner car hire company.
By bus
The 2 major bus routes on the island are the 1 and the 15. The one goes to the east of the island and the 15 goes to the west. During the day these run approximately every 20mins. They get less frequent in the evening and stop running at about 11:30. The rest of the routes will not run so frequently, but are a must if you want to explore some of the islands better attractions and do not have access to a car. Timetables for the buses change seasonally and can be obtained from the bus station near town. All busses will go to and from this bus station. Note that if you are not going to or from town, you will probably need to get 2 buses and timing this can be difficult.
How much you pay is dependant on how far you travel, with the maximum fare being £1.60. Students with a valid NUS card should be able to get travel for 50p as should those under 16. The "This is Jersey" website will contain more information as well as up to date timetables.
By taxi
There are a few taxi ranks on the island, mostly in town or outside the airport. These are very expensive, however, they are the only option (other than walking) if you don't have a car and wish to travel after about 11:30PM most nights.
Eat
Jersey has an abundance of excellent restaurants covering most tastes. In particular a lot of French, Italian and Portuguese styles. Chinese, Indian and Thai are well represented too. Only one each of Greek and Sushi and one Mexican, located in Colomberie or Iranian though. There are a few B.Y.O. restaurants (example the Dicq Shack). Fast food chains, such as McDonalds are in town, although there is only 1 McDonalds and 1 Starbucks..located at the Airport.
There are occasionally themed "food weeks" celebrating the different cultures in the Island. Every October (for a little over a month) there is a Tennerfest where you can explore many of the world-class restaurants.
Vegetarian
Vegetarians will face a limited menu except in one or two very good vegetarian restaurants.
Drink
The minimum age for drinking alcohol is 18 years. For such a small place there's a lot of bars and quite a few different clubs. Despite duty on alcohol being lower than the U.K. most popular bars set their prices close to what you'd expect in London. Normal pub closing time is 11PM and most clubs have to be closed by 2AM (there is no "drinking-up-time"). There's a few bars with alfresco areas including one with a view over the bay toward Elizabeth castle. Most of the working-men's pubs became trendy wine bars in the early nineties so there's not much chance of finding a pool table in town. There are two bars which sell Absinthe.
There is quite a good music scene, in part due to licensing regulations which allow some bars to stay open till 1AM if they have live entertainment. The bars with a late licence never have a cover charge but all the clubs do.
The main town of St. Helier is compact enough that you can wander from pub to pub and club to club quite easily.
Sleep
Many hotels and guest houses disappeared in the late nineties but there's two new multi-million pound hotels both in town. Jersey Tourism produce an accommodation guide containing all registered establishments, this is available free of charge.
Budget
There is very little budget accommodation in Jersey. The only Youth Hostel , near Gorey Village on the east coast was closed in 2008 due to a police investigation into child abuse that allegedly occured when the building was used as a childrens home. The extensive forensic searches has meant that the Youth Hostel is not reopening and is now housing Jersey's seasonal lifeguards.
There are some restrictions on caravans and motorhomes due to the size of the island's roads, but they are excepted at most of the Island's campsites.
More details can be found on Jersey.com . There are four camp sites, including one in St. Brelade near the west coast.
Buy
The economy is based largely on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes (Jersey Royals) , cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of the economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs.
Talk
Languages: English (official, and majority everyday language), French (official for some purposes), Jèrriais (a variety of Norman language, spoken in country districts). Portuguese is widely spoken.
Etiquette
Some people from Jersey refer to themselves as British (which is quasi-accurate). Some people refer to themselves as Normanic, or some even French! People from Jersey are not English (in the same way the Welsh are the Welsh, the Scottish are the Scottish and the Irish are the Irish). The correct/official way of describing persons from Jersey are 'Jerseymen' and 'Jerseywomen'. Calling them anything else may offend unless you are on good terms.
As a general rule, people from Jersey are very pro-Europe (despite not being a part of the 'European Union'), and would describe themselves as being more a part of Europe than the mainland United Kingdom is - on the basis of geography and French cultures. On the reverse side, people from the UK mainland as a 'general rule' wouldn't refer to themselves as European!
Stay healthy
There is a hospital in St Helier which will be able to deal with most regular injuries. For specialist treatment it is often necessary for patients to be taken to mainland Britain.
It is also worth noting that going to the doctors in Jersey will cost you money, normally around £40 a time. This can vary considerably, as it is up to the doctors surgery to set the price.
Jersey is not covered by the British NHS, however, most emergency treatment is free.
Safety
Jersey law derives from Norman customary law, now supplemented by English law and local statute. United Kingdom law does not automatically apply in Jersey, unless adopted by the parliament, the States of Jersey. Most every day things are the same as in English law, with the exception of some odd laws about marriage and divorce and the legal age of homosexual intercourse for males being set at 18. Attitudes towards homosexuality tend to be very similar to those you would find in mainland Britain.
Learn
Jersey does not have any universities, although there is a college, called Highlands, which offers a very limited selection of university level degrees.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
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