British Isle with Caribbean-like coastline is tipped as top winter destination – as temperatures rarely go below zero
SITTING in the English Channel, just off the western coast of France, Jersey is known for its sandy beaches and rich history.
While the Channel Island is popular with Brits in the summer, it’s been tipped as a top winter destination thanks to the mild temperatures.
As the most southerly of the Channel Islands, Jersey benefits from mild weather in the winter, making it slightly warmer than the UK mainland.
According to the island’s tourism board, temperatures in Jersey rarely drop below freezing, ranging between 5C to 8C in the winter instead.
Because of its warmer winters, the Channel Island has been tipped as a top winter destination by a team of travel experts from the travel booking site, Omio.
The travel booking website researched the best locations where holidaymakers could experience a Euro Winter, with St Helier, the capital of Jersey topping the list.
Google searches of St Helier as a winter holiday destination rose 171 per cent compared to last year.
As the island’s capital, there are plenty of activities to do in St Helier – especially if there’s a chill in the air.
One of those is Chocolate Bar Jersey – an independent shop where holidaymakers can purchase handmade chocolate.
Other places to shop include the Liberty Wharf Shopping Centre, a restored Victorian shopping centre that’s home to top brands and cafes, and Voisins Department Store.
Mont Orgueil Castle is another popular attraction to visit in Jersey in the winter.
Bird watching is another popular pastime in the winter, with the best months for bird watching between October and March.
This is because plenty of birds migrate to the island for the winter.
Jersey is also said to be home to a year-round dolphin population, meaning holidaymakers may be able to spot the aquatic creatures in the winter.
Earlier this year, Jersey was named one of the world’s best islands in the Condé Nast Traveller’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Jersey is known for its wide variety of beaches, with its coastline often being compared to more exotic locations like the Caribbean.
Beauport Beach, which is close to St Brelade’s Bay, is described as a hidden gem.
Arriving at the beach is an adventure, with a steep pathway of steps tumbling down from the cliff face from a small car park.
The south side of the beach is surrounded by granite cliffs and is a well-known sun trap, making it an ideal place for a walk.
Plenty of Jersey’s beaches are surrounded by palm trees, giving the island a tropical feel.
The harbour town of St Aubin’s, located on the southwest side of the island between Portelet Bay and St Helier, is another popular destination on the island.
Originally a fishing village, St Aubin’s used to be the island’s economic centre, with the harbour being central to the town’s history.
Its fort is another highlight, with holidaymakers able to reach the structure at low tide.
Jersey is a paradise for food lovers – with the island making the most of its local produce like Jersey royal potatoes, Jersey milk, and seafood.
Jersey milk is used to make butter and ice-cream, which is available from many of the island’s cafes and beaches.
The Michelin-starred restaurant – Bohemia Bar & Restaurant at The Club Hotel & Spa in St Helier is one of Jersey’s top offerings.
With its chic atmosphere, bright linen-clad tables, dark wood walls, and modern European cuisine made with local, seasonal, and fresh ingredients, the restaurant has held on to a Michelin star for 20 consecutive years.
Other awards under its belt include four AA Rosettes and a place in the top 1,000 restaurants in the world by LA LISTE in 2022.
The island can be a budget-friendly holiday destination depending on the type of accommodation and activities you choose.
There’s a variety of budget-friendly accommodation options, including guesthouses, B&Bs, and Airbnbs.
Holidaymakers can save money by exploring Jersey on foot thanks to the compact size of the island.
The easiest way to reach Jersey is via ferry or plane, depending on where you live on the UK mainland.
Condor Voyager is a high-speed ferry from Poole to St Helier that takes about four hours. A standard car trip for two can cost from £75 per person each way.
Commodore Clipper is a conventional ferry from Portsmouth to St. Helier that takes about 10 hours and 20 minutes. The average price for a foot passenger is £206, and the average price for a car is £436.
And EasyJet offers cheap flights to Jersey starting from £26.99 in November.
What is it like to visit Jersey?
Head of Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire visited Jersey last year, here’s what she thought of the British Isle.
IF I told you there’s an island an hour’s flight from the UK, with a Caribbean-like coastline, that gets summer quicker than England and you don’t need a passport – you’d think I was pulling your leg.
But such a unicorn does exist in the English Channel: Jersey.
When my family and I visited earlier this year, every beach was outstanding, the weather glorious, the food a fantastic hybrid of French and English tastes.
And, perfect when travelling with a four-year-old, almost everywhere could be reached in 20 minutes by car.
Jersey calls itself “curiously Brit . . . (ish)” and it sums up this island, 14 miles from the coast of France, perfectly.
Reached by plane in an hour or by car ferry from Poole in four hours, it is part of the Channel Islands — British Isles but not controlled by Westminster — so you don’t need a passport to visit.
We enjoyed St Ouen’s so much that we returned twice.
Once for some sandcastle-building and a bracing swim — 11C in late April — and again for a hike along the rugged coast towards the bottom of the island, via the 6,500-year-old La Sergente Tomb and up to Britain’s southernmost lighthouse, Corbiere.
Also stunning was St Brelade’s Bay, which regularly features on lists of best beaches in the British Isles, thanks to its white sand, shallow surf and clear water.
The island’s proximity to France means it is full of history.
Jersey and Guernsey were the only part of the British Empire occupied by the Nazis in World War Two, and the Germans built secret tunnels to defend themselves from the Allied Forces.
The island also has fortifications from the Napoleonic Wars and English Civil War, but our favourite was 13th-century Mont Orgueil Castle, where displays reveal tales of life inside its walls over the years.
Our visit was made extra-special by the dress-up room which allows both adults and children to dress up as knights, jesters and princesses to explore the castle.
Pretending to fire a cannon over the ramparts while dressed as a knight was brilliant fun — as in fact, was the entire trip.
When it comes to family holidays, you’d be hard pressed to find better.
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