Around and About Jersey 

Click here for Jersey 2007 events.      lAttractions      Focus on the Jersey Parishes 

Expat Shopping

About Jersey

This page is  aimed at visitors from the UK, Europe and the rest of the world who have visited this site and  subsequently shown interest in the Channel Islands and Jersey.  The information we provide should be particularly interesting for English ex-pats resident in adjacent Brittany and Normandy, who might be tempted to take a day or longer to visit the islands - known in France as Les Isles de la Manche or Les Isles Anglo Normande. 

This page is  a mix of information which is more tourist related than the Channel Islands' French Culture page.  

What does Jersey provide for English (and French) People living in nearby Brittany and Normandy?  I would say beauty and a unique mixture of  French and English cultures, great shopping with many of the English chain stores represented including a decent sized Marks and Spencer, British Home Stores, Etams, Evans, Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins, Accessorise, Boots, Woolworth, Burtons - to name just a few!  Ex Pats resident in France - particularly in Brittany and Normandy can travel quickly and easily to the island for some "retail therapy" should they be a bit "shop sick" or needing items not found easily in France.  Scroll down for Ex Pat shopping. At present the island is VAT free but there is to be a minimal goods and service tax  raised in 2008.  Of course the ferries to the island sell duty free drinks, cigarettes and perfumes so your trip is well worth making! 

The island is beautiful with a varied coastline comprising  long sandy beaches, tiny coves and heather covered cliffs  which slope down to picturesque harbours. The lanes in the countryside run through a mixture of modern and period properties and the older buildings  are  constructed from the rose coloured granite of the island. The evidence of the island's strong French influence is made apparent by the French road and property names. Property owners have become increasingly conscious of the appearance of their homes and the floral displays in the summer and the quality of gardens is high.

The town is a very sharp contrast to the rest of the island of Jersey with an abundance of very modern new builds and older buildings.  This is not one hundred percent popular with the traditionalists among the locals but does generate a feeling of vibrancy and an aura of wealth and sophistication perhaps. The waterfront area is currently being developed and is not far from completion. It has been a source of much controversy as the design is so new however the office buildings that have developed from Jersey's old agricultural depots and warehouses are architecturally pleasing, the Jardins de la Mer well worth a visit, and the area borders on a harbour and marina full of leisure craft.  On leaving the harbour visitors travel along a road which is divided by a flower bed full of a variety of seasonal plants including yellow roses and the deep blue agapanthus which grow in abundance on the island.

The beaches of Jersey are fantastic.  St Ouen is famous for its surf, St. Brelade's is sandy and glamorous, the Bay of Grouville stretches to Gorey Harbour and the Royal Jersey Golf Club borders this. Ouaisne and  Portelet are at the bottom of cliff paths and there are many other beaches, coves and also pretty harbours such as St. Aubin, Rozel, Bonne Nuit and Bouley Bay.

There are many family friendly places to visit such as:

• Durrell - which started as a zoo started by Gerald Durrell and specialises in keeping wildlife species threatened with extinction. www.durrellwildlife.org

• The castles -  Mont Orgueil (Gorey) which dates back to medieval times and towers over Gorey Village and Harbour and Elizabeth Castle, built by Sir Walter Ralegh which is in the bay opposite St. Helier. 

• Corbiere Lighthouse

• The Underground Military Hospital

• The Living Legend - a complex with adventure golf, karting, shops etc. www.jerseyslivinglegend.co.je 

• The Jersey Museum with its restored Merchant's House

• The Maritime Museum www.jerseyslivinglegend.co.je

• Hamptonne - a restored Jersey farmhouse www.jerseyheritagetrust.org/sites/hamptonne/hamptonne.html 

The Parishes

The island is divided into twelve parishes:

Grouville, St Brelade, St Clement, St Helier(capital town), St John, St Lawrence. St Martin.

St Mary, St Ouen, St Peter, St Saviour, Trinity

Focus on Grouville and St Martin

Grouville and St Martin are parishes to the east of St Martin.  The village of Gorey in St. Martin sits under the protection of beautiful Mont Orgueil Castle. The famous Jersey Pottery is located in the village and is well worth a visit to see the hand painted pottery or perhaps to dine at the restaurant or cafe. 

Above a Street in Picturesque Gorey and Mont Orgueil Castle (also known as Gorey Castle which stands above Gorey Harbour

The Jersey Pottery is situated in Gorey.  The pottery is unique to the island and it is possible to see it being manufactured.  All items are hand painted.  Some samples above.  The Pottery is set in a beautifully planned mature garden.  The company also sell gift items and there are three restaurants ranging from cafeteria style to silver service.

Focus on St Lawrence

coming soon .........

EXPAT SHOPPING

There are many English items on sale in France now via specialist English shops and many of the supermarkets having shelves stocked with items such as marmite, digestive biscuits etc.  However there are often other items that one seeks and can only be bought in the larger cities.  A trip to Jersey, whether this be a day trip or longer, can prove useful for stocking up.

Both the islands have many supermarkets - from the large stores such as Checkers and the Co-Op down to SPAR stores.  In Jersey the UK chains including shops as  Marks and Spencer, Boots the Chemist, Woolworths, BHS, Dorothy Perkins, Burtons, Evans, Accesorize, B&Q, Mothercare, Next, Monsoon, Crabtree & Evelyn, The Body Shop, Molten Brown, Vision Express, Specsavers etc. are strongly represented. As regards Opticians there are many local firms as well as the UK Chains.  I am told that many ex pats have been going over to Jersey for eye tests and to purchase glasses and contact lenses because of the waiting list for such tests in France.  The department stores - De Gruchy and Voisin in King Street have plenty of UK Concessions such as Laura Ashley, Burberry, Timberland, Wallis etc.

More to come shortly .......