Weekend In Jersey, Channel Islands – Enjoy 48 Hours in Jersey

Jersey is a fantastic choice for a mini break or longer stay. On a weekend in Jersey, you can see quite a lot of the island. Jersey is often described as the sunniest place in the British Isles, although it’s actually a country in it’s own right. The largest of the Channel Islands, it has some fantastic beaches, walking trails and an intriguing mix of British and French culture.

A Weekend in Jersey, Channel Islands

Are you looking for a weekend getaway that will give you something exciting and different? Look no further than the beautiful Jersey, Channel Islands! This lovely British Crown dependency offers plenty of opportunities to explore its stunning countryside, soak up its rich history, experience amazing cultural attractions, and enjoy delicious local cuisine.

From rugged coastal walks to historical castles and museums with fascinating exhibits; there’s something here for everyone. Take a trip over the horizon and immerse yourself in this magical place—the perfect escape on your next weekend away.

Day 1 in Jersey

We recommend that you start your exploration of the island in the capital, St Helier. There are quite a few pedestrianized streets in the city centre, making it a great place for an afternoon stroll or spot of shopping.

Take time to admire the many statues, including the Jersey cows. Hopefully you will see some of the real ones in the countryside.

This statue by Philip Jackson in Liberation Square of a group holding the Union Flag symbolizes the liberation of the island from wartime occupation.

There is a regular French market in Weighbridge Square, perfect for picnics.

The fish market is also worth a visit, having been recently renovated. You can wander around and buy some of the delicious local produce.

A short walk or cab ride from the centre, The Mansell Collection was created by renowned racing driver Nigel Mansell, who lives on the island. Housed in a beautiful art deco building, it’s an impressive collection of sporting memorabilia. 

The former Formula 1 and Indy Car World Series winner had it written into his contract that he could keep all the helmets and trophies from his races. He provides the commentary for the audio-guide, and it’s a fascinating insight into his life not only as a race car driver, but also a talented golfer and reserve police officer – the man obviously has bags of energy!

This Beechdean Ginetta-Zytek GZ09S is a Le Mans prototype race car, co-driven with his sons Greg and Leo in certain Le Mans events and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Dining in Jersey

For Michelin starred dining in a relaxed atmosphere in St Helier, we recommend Bohemia and Ormer. For casual dining, Banjo’s and Mark Jordan on the Beach are safe bets.

Samares Manor Gardens

Samares Manor is a must-see – it has the most spectacular herb garden in the United Kingdom, which you can view from a raised platform.

The rock and water gardens are particularly stunning too, in fact there are several lakes in the grounds.

Created in the 1920s by a prosperous ship owner, Sir James Knott, the gardens are open every day from April to mid October.

The camellia plantations were in full bloom when we visited.

There’s a lovely Garden Cafe for salads, sandwiches and a naughty but nice chocolate tiramisu cake.

Day 2 in Jersey

Mont Orgueil Castle has a striking location overlooking the harbour of Gorey. For over 600 years, it protected Jersey against invasion, later becoming a prison and today it’s a tourist attraction maintained by the Jersey Heritage Trust.

Gorey derives its name from Gorroic in 1180 and Gorryk in 1274, as you can see from this boulder on the picturesque walk up to the castle.

The view from the top over the harbour is well worth the effort. There are quite a few dining options in Gorey, including the Crab Shack, which has views of the harbour and the castle.

La Mare Wine Estate

One of the most idyllic places to visit on the island has to be La Mare Wine Estate. Visitors can sample the wines, chocolates and other delicacies produced here.

Our guide talked us expertly through the wine-making process, as well as the distilling of Jersey Apple Brandy, matured for a minimum of four years. Whilst you are there, have a go at tipple dipping, where you try to get the water into the glass without spilling it, and you may get wet in the process!

We tasted three of La Mare’s wines, starting with a refreshing Sainte Marie white. This is a medium dry white wine, made from Orion and Seyval Blanc grapes, and we particularly enjoyed its aromas of citrus and herbs.

We then tried the intriguing Perquage, a rose wine made using the Saignee method of “bleeding” a little red juice from a red wine ferment, then blending with white grape juice. We can see this working really well for barbecues and picnics.

Finally, the red Bailiwick, our personal favourite, with a long finish and soft red fruit accents. This red wine is a subtle combination of Pinot Noir, Rondo and Regent grape varieties.

The vines themselves make a lovely setting for a walk and a bride was having her wedding photos taken whilst we were there. Set over 25 acres, the vineyard was established in 1972.

You might well come across a chicken or rooster enjoying the sunshine. There’s a great shop where you can get some souvenirs to take home. We couldn’t resist some of the estate’s handmade chocolates and don’t forget to try the famous black butter, which isn’t actually a butter but a conserve that goes well with cheese, cold meats, ice cream and apple pies – pretty versatile then!

The latest addition to the vineyard’s products are Royal Gin and Royal Vodka, made from the famous Jersey Royal potatoes. You can eat on the terrace vineyards if the weather is nice, and there’s also a large restaurant area with a private dining room that the manager, Tim, kindly showed us.

St Brelade’s Bay

Jersey is blessed with a multitude of sandy beaches. One of the nicest is St. Brelade, which is very sheltered yet which offers all sorts of water sport activities: banana boat rides, canoeing and kayaking.

There’s a little Fisherman’s Chapel where you can see the perquage, a path from the chapel to the sea. You’ll notice that was the name of the red wine from La Mare Wine Estate.

Ancient laws allowed a criminal to seek sanctuary in the chapel for eight days. On the ninth day, they had to surrender or walk down the path to board a boat, which would take them to permanent exile from the island.

There are a number of Conway towers dotted around Jersey, often mistaken for Martello towers, they are earlier, taller than those and built from local granite. There is a whole stretch of casual cafes and stylish restaurants such as Oyster Box along St Brelade’s Beach.

Where to Stay in Jersey

The Atlantic Hotel is a great base, with the most amazing views over the coast. Alternatively, Longueville Manor is a Relais & Chateaux property and a 10 minute cab ride from St Helier.

Getting to Jersey

There are regular flights to Jersey from a range of airports and you can even take some of the famous Jersey Royal potatoes back with you, there’s an honesty box at the airport! We were invited to try the Blue Islands service from London City Airport, which was incredibly quick and easy, with a dedicated passenger lounge at Jersey airport serving up refreshments.

Getting Around Jersey

It’s best to take a cab or to hire a car, as public transport is quite infrequent. The added advantage of taking a cab is that the taxi drivers are a real mine of knowledge about the island.

Final Thoughts on How to Enjoy 48 Hours in Jersey

All in all, Jersey has great sights to see and is an ideal weekend escape from the city to relax and take in all of the natural beauty. With lovely views of France in St Brelade’s Bay, surrounded by cliffs and sandy beaches, a visit to Jersey in the Channel Islands will be full of surprises no matter what you choose to do.

The intriguing culture, rich history, stunning scenery and delicious cuisine are worth experiencing for at least a weekend! So if you can’t seem to decide on a scenic place for your next weekend trip then why not give Jersey a try.

Check out our guide to the top 10 things to do in Jersey for more tips. For more travel content please check out our other articles – we are sure you will find something that suits your interests. Until then, happy travel planning!

Have you been to Jersey?

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