Exploring the Channel Islands

The Channel Islands are an archipelago in the English Channel.

They comprise four main islands, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark, with lesser islets and a labyrinth of rocks and reefs.

The current population of Channel Islands is 177,941 (2023).

Jersey is the biggest of the Channel Islands with a pouplation of 107.8 thousand (2022).

Top Attractions of the Channel Islands

A good time to visit the channel islands is during the five-week long Channel Islands Heritage Festival running from April through May.

Here are some of the interesting attractions and places to visit in the Channel Islands, these include:

The Guernsey Museum
The Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery is located in the pleasure garden in St Peter Port. The museum first opened back in 1978, there are displays showing the history of the island and artefacts from the Victorian collectors, shown in a Victorian inspired gallery. There is a changing programme of temporary exhibitions in the Lukis Room, Brian White Gallery and the Rona Cole Gallery. There is a programme of concerts that take place on the terrace from May to September, if visiting it is best to check the latest times. There is also a gift shop that sells a selection of souvenirs.

Victoria Tower
Victoria Tower stands in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, and was erected in 1846 to commemorate a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Today, it is a major attraction in the area, and you can climb to the top of the tower to get a panoramic view of the west, north and east coasts, viewing vast horizons of the ocean and the entire surrounding city and islands.

Elizabeth Castle
Elizabeth Castle is in St Aubin's Bay, the castle has defended Jersey for 300 years right from the civil war to the German occupation. The castle is surrounded by the sea for seven hours out of every twelve. The site has several exhibitions and military collections as well as the rocky home of the sixth century hermit, St Helier, after which the capital of Jersey is named.

Roman Fort
Located near Longis Bay, the Roman fort is the best preserved small Roman fort in Western Europe and is the first evidence of military construction on the island. Open daily 10-4.30

The Shell Garden
The Shell Garden in Jersey, is a unique attraction that began in 1957 and is currently the largest in the world of its kind and features over a million locally collected mollusk shells.There is an abundance of shells in Jersey, so the garden continues to flourish with the addition of Jersey ormers, emperor scallops, and common cockles among others. There is a shell shop with a wide range of handmade shell gifts, there is also an extensive range of natural shells, both local and from other parts of the world.

La Grande Greve
La Grande Greve is your source for outdoor adventures and a beach holiday in Guernsey that the entire family will love. This island inlet features a wide sweep of soft, white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters that are ideal for swimming due to a relatively calm surf.
It's known for being among the loveliest beaches in all the Channel Islands and is a hidden gem of the area, isolated from the surroundings by high cliffs. When you're here, it's like time stops and you're lost in it.

Jersey Zoo
Jersey Zoo is a must-visit if you're looking for family fun on your travels to the Channel Islands. This zoological park was opened in 1959 by the famed author and naturalist Gerald Durrell. Today, it's sponsored and maintained by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
The Zoo hosts over 1,400 animals representing over 130 species and is an exciting and educational experience for adults and kids of all ages.

The Jersey Lavender Farm
The Jersey Lavender Farm is a working lavender farm that has a shop and a tearoom. The farm houses a large collection of lavender, the team grow, harvest and distil lavender, for use in their range of products. There are over 50 different varieties of lavender and visitors can see and smell these fragrant fields from June to August. Visitors can also learn more about the process of extracting the oil in the distillery and tour the beautiful garden, which includes