Holiday Cottages and airbnb in Jersey

At just 9 miles by 5 miles, Jersey is tiny, and yet it packs so much adventure into that space. It's actually the biggest Channel Island; once you arrive it feels a lot bigger than it is – some would say the character of the island is bigger than the island itself, which is why it has such a special feel to it. With endless country lanes to wander along, beaches to sunbathe and build sandcastles, tiny villages to immerse yourself in local culture, and a number of museums dictating the lives of the only Nazi-occupied places in the British Isles, it's not difficult to see why so many tourists are captivated by Jersey's sunny shores every single year. Whether you want to stay in the hustle and bustle of St. Helier or tuck yourself away in one of the many abandoned buildings on the island, you'll find luxury holiday rentals to suit your needs.

Best Time to Visit Jersey

Thanks to its southern location, Jersey's weather is fairly mild for the majority of the year. Like the rest of the UK, it suffers from cool winters, but the warm summers more than make up for it – although beware the cold wind that can blow across from the north Atlantic Ocean, which can bring with it storms, fog, and generally unpredictable weather. This means the winter can generally be slightly damp and raining, and many of the major heritage attractions will close for the winter period – although the deserted beaches and hiking trails along the coast are definitely something to get excited about - perfect for long walks and some scenic cycling with no crowds! The warmest months are by far July and August, although the school holiday period means this is also the island's busiest time of the year. Having said that, if you visit between April and October, you're pretty much guaranteed at least one nice day in which to enjoy the long sandy beaches – just avoid school holidays if you're travelling without children.

How to Get to Jersey

Jersey is a small island off the south coast of England, near Guernsey, which means at the very least travellers need a boat or plane to get to it. Luckily, a number of airports around the UK fly direct to Jersey, including Aberdeen, Belfast, Bournemouth, Dublin, Birmingham, East Midlands, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, London, Humberside, Leeds and more operating on a number of airlines – such as Jet2, easyJet, and Flybe. Outside of the UK, Jersey airport also offers flights to Munich, Dusseldorf, Madeira, Malaga, Majorca, Tenerife, and Zurich. If you're travelling from slightly further afield, such as the US or Asia, the best option would be to fly into any of the main London airports – such as Heathrow or Gatwick – and then join a connecting flight over to Guernsey. Alternatively, Jersey can be reached via a ferry from either Poole or Portsmouth ferry ports, using Condor Ferries. From Poole it takes roughly 4 hours, or Portsmouth will take you 8 hours, and these operate all year round with options to store your car, bikes, surfboards, camping gear, pets and more. If you're travelling from England, Scotland, or Wales, then hop on the M1 and drive straight down to the south coast, and right onto the ferry at the harbour. If you're coming from elsewhere, get a flight in to Bournemouth, Exeter, or Southampton airport if possible and a connection over to the harbours at Poole and Portsmouth, or if you're flying into London then get on a train direct to the coast and from there hop on the ferry.

Where to book a holiday cottage in Jersey

Along the beachfront

For such a small island, Jersey is home to a number of amazing beaches – in fact, you're never more than 10 minutes from the sea no matter where you are on the island! With that in mind, it's no wonder that there are literally dozens of amazing and unique short term apartment rentals in Jersey along the coast, such as the Radio tower, which is a tower first built during the Second World War with panoramic views across the sea and the rest of the island that sleeps up to six people, found near St. Brelade. There's also La Crete Fort, an historic holiday rental along the coast near St. John's that boasts some of the best views in the whole of Jersey.

St. Helier

Jersey's size means that pretty much everywhere can be accessed on foot or using public transport if you haven't come over with a car. Having said that, if you are car-less, the best place to book a cosy B&B holiday rental would be the city centre. Right around the corner from many of the best restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops, it's the ideal spot to use as a base – and from here, you can visit anywhere in the island you want, being just minutes from the nearest beach. Why not stay at The Royal Best Western, offering self-catered apartments and holiday rentals in Jersey since it first opened its doors in the 1840s. Found in the centre of St. Helier, The Royal Best Western is just a few minutes from Millennium Park, and is ideally located for those that want to be fairly central, but aren't enthusiastic about staying on the very main road.

In the countryside

Once you take out the town centre and the beach front holiday apartment rentals, it's surprising there's any space left on the tiny island, but inf act Jersey has some great countryside, inland retreats as well. one of the best holiday rentals that can be found in Jersey is truly unique: the Hamptonne Country Life museum, a 15th century manor house that has been converted into a museum depicting traditional country life on the island. There is an incredible apartment connected to the museum, known as the Stable Apartment, and just a few steps away from the nearby farm that houses free-range chickens.

Things to do in Jersey

Bioluminescence Walk

Most people would prefer to visit a beach during the day and enjoy the warm sunshine, but in Jersey the beaches are just as stunning when its dark – perhaps even more so. That's because the glow-worms that are native to the area light up the beaches thanks to the bioluminescence found in the tiny creatures. There are official walking tours travellers can take part in to see the natural phenomenon, which typically only take place during the darkest nights when the moon is practically invisible – so the glow worms are at their brightest.

Jersey War Tunnels

Probably the best museum in Jersey, the Jersey War Tunnels can be found in a partially underground hospital complex, which was first built by the Germans during WWII in an attempt to fortify the Channel Islands. The museum goes into great detail about the German occupation of the Channel Islands during the Second World War, and in fact the Channel Islands were the only parts of the British Isles to be occupied during the entire war. The exhibits include a number of testimonials and personal, individual stories that tell of the social effects of the German invasion and how everyday life was impacted.

Channel Islands Military Museums

Found in a German-built bunker along the western coast of the island, the Channel Islands Military Museums contain a number of military and civilian exhibits from WWII. A lot less interactive than the Jersey War Tunnels, this is for the true history buffs, and anyone looking to learn more about the fascinating history of the island.

Mount Orgueil Castle

The Mount Orgueil Castle can be spotted from miles away, sitting atop a hill overlooking the village of Gorey. An iconic spot, the best views can be seen from the edge of the Gorey Pier. The castle was first built over 800 years ago, and inside there are a number of fascinating mini exhibits detailing what life was like during the medieval times. There's even a replica of the Wheel of Urine, an ancient device that determined one's illnesses depending on the colour of the urine.

Elizabeth Castle

First built during the 1500s, Elizabeth Castle is actually on an island just off St. Aubin's Bay rather than on the mainland itself. Accessible by foot if you catch the low tide, it's a fantastic little island to wander around and see Jersey from a different perspective.

La Hougue Bie

The tiny island of Jersey is actually home to some of the oldest buildings in the world, which date back to a time before even the great pyramids of Giza were built. La Houge Bie is one of them; dating back to the Neolithic times over 6000 years ago, it's a passage grave that doubles as a small museum, detailing what daily life might have been life all that time ago. There's also a small chapel on the site, built hundreds of years ago during the medieval times.

Plemont Bay

Undoubtedly the best beach in Jersey, Plemont Bay is right on the most north-western point on the island, and it's surrounded by spectacular caves that can be explored during the low tide. With beautiful golden sand beaches and cliffs that range from a dark rust colour to green and steel grey, it's a beautiful place to spend the day – there's even one cave with its own waterfall.

Mansell Car Collection

Nigel Mansell is a famous F1 driver that used to compete during the 1980s and 90s and decided to retire on the sunny little island of Jersey. As a result, he opened up the Mansell Car Collection, essentially a museum detailing his career and showcasing a number of fabulous F1 cars. The museum itself is housed in an Art Deco building, and occasionally lucky F1 fans will be treated to a surprise appearance by Nigel Mansell himself.

Jersey Lavender Farm

The lavender fields are some of the prettiest spots on the entire island – and the Jersey Lavender Farm is the place to go to see them in full bloom. Found along the southwest of the island in St. Brelade, the best place to visit is during late May and early June when the flowers are fully in bloom. On site there's also a distillery, where visitors can learn about how the lavender is used to make essential oils.

La Mare Wine Estate

The island has a very typically mild climate, which makes it the perfect spot to grow tomatoes, potatoes, and even grapes – which means Jersey actually makes its very own wine. The La Mare Wine Estate is the best place to see this in action; having first been created in 1972, La Mare creates its own red, white, and rose wines, as well as various brands of cider, ale, brandy, and gin.