Discover the Best Jersey Beaches: A Complete Guide From a Local

Jersey is the largest of the British Channel Islands and an idyllic island located just 12 miles off the French coast. The most southerly part of the British Isles, Jersey enjoys an enviably warm climate and plenty of summer sunshine.

I grew up in Jersey and raised my son there too, so I’ve got the inside skinny on the best Jersey beaches!

It’s a tough call to choose the three best Jersey beaches, but this Jersey beach guide includes my three favourite beaches in Jersey (tried and tested for more than 40 years). If you can’t choose your favourite, you’ll find a complete list of all the Jersey beaches here too!

Grey Globetrotters Travel Blog contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more information.

The 3 Best Jersey Beaches

The top 3 beaches in Jersey are all clean and safe with:

• Plentiful, easy parking
• Reliable public transport service
• Clean, well-equipped public toilets
• Catering/retail facilities (ice creams, buckets and spades etc)

1. St Brelade’s Bay

Regularly voted one of the best beaches in the British Isles, the beach and surrounding area at St Brelade (pronounced Breh-lard) is picture-postcard pretty. It’s probably the most photographed beach on the island, and many regard it as the best Jersey beach for families.

Tucked into a natural bay on the South West of the island, St Brelade is blessed with a glorious sweep of white sand, the prettiest little granite church and yachts bobbing away in the ancient harbour.

The pristine white sands are raked clean every morning during the summer season, removing seaweed brought in on the tide. As a result, the sand is clean, soft and perfect for kids big and small to enjoy. Hire sun loungers or grab a bundle of beach towels and head off…

I would argue that nothing is better than a day at St Brelade, watching your kids playing in the surf as the tide rolls in. Or join in with them as I do, then stop for a cheeky ice cream. End your day with a visit to one of the excellent beachfront restaurants (they’re used to sandy feet and small people). I recommend:

• The Oyster Box. Absolute heaven if you love seafood, with the freshest local lobster, oysters and crab. This is fine dining at its best. There’s a lively buzz and you’ll need to book at busy times as this is a popular local haunt. Tel +44 1534 850888
• Pizza Express. Located moments from the beach, this is a local family favourite with a fabulous view. Expect to queue for a table at busy times, but you won’t have to wait long and the food is as good as you would expect from any Pizza Express. Try to get a window seat and watch the surf roll in as you tuck into your meal. Tel +44 1534 499049
• Mid Bay Cafe. Part of the furniture at St Brelade’s, the Mid Bay Cafe has been feeding hungry Jersey beachgoers for donkey’s years! It’s inexpensive and unpretentious and the food is unfailingly good.

2. The Royal Bay of Grouville

Nestled beneath the imposing 13th-century granite castle at Gorey (Mont Orgueil Castle), the Royal Bay of Grouville, also known as Long Beach, is wide, shallow and blessed with fine white sand for those all-important sandcastles. It’s also fun to sit and watch the yachts in the harbour bob up and down as the tide comes in!

Located on the east coast of Jersey, this beach gets great early sun, and thanks to the shallowness of the beach, it’s lovely to swim here as an incoming tide creeps over sun-baked sand. The shallow beach makes it one of the best Jersey beaches for families.

Fun fact: On a clear day, you can even see the beaches on the French coast, about 12 miles away.

3. Greve de Lecq Beach

My son’s favourite of all the Jersey beaches is (still) Greve de Lecq (pronounced grev-duh-leck). Located on the craggy North West coast of the island, it’s accessed by one of two long, steep hills. Cycling to Greve De Lecq is lovely, but pedalling back up those hills is quite challenging!

The best places to eat are:

• Colleen’s Cafe: Locals flock here for the unpretentious but tasty fare at this relaxed, family-friendly cafe on the promenade. Tel +44 1534 481420
• Moulin de Lecq: This former watermill with its ancient water wheel offers tasty, reasonably priced traditional food and a good selection of real ales and wines. Tel +44 1534 48281

You’ll never be short of a beautiful beach to explore in Jersey. Here’s a quick round-up of the other beaches around the island’s coast:

Discover All the Jersey Beaches

East Coast Beaches

Glorious for sunrise, morning swimming and leisurely afternoons, but the sun will disappear earlier than on the Western Jersey beaches. The East coast beaches are often less busy than those on the West, making them a natural sanctuary offering a properly relaxing seaside experience.

Anne Port

An uncrowded and unpretentious shingle beach with lots of rockpools to explore.

The top reason to visit: you might have the beach all to yourself. Perfect for a very zen morning swim.

Archirondel Bay

A little treasure tucked away down a country lane, next to an 18th century Conway Tower and sheltered by a gently crumbling stone jetty.

It’s a pebble beach, so you’ll need sturdy sandals. Both the beach and the beach cafe are highly recommended.

Fliquet

An ‘escape the world’ cove sheltering behind St Catherine’s breakwater. This pebble and sand beach has crystal clear water, panoramic views of France on a clear day and a Martello tower too. It’s heavenly, but be warned that there are no toilets or other facilities!

Le Hocq and La Rocque

Almost non-existent at high tide, Le Hocq and La Rocque become a vast expanse of sand, shingle, rock pools and gulleys as the tide goes out. A favourite with locals wanting a very chilled beach experience.

La Rocque is also the departure point for one of the most unique walks you can experience – a 3-hour walk across the seabed at low tide to Seymour Tower!

A Word of Warning: Tempting though it is to wander out amongst the rocks and rock pools as the tide goes out, it’s perilously easy to get lost. The seabed is not flat, so the tide can race in and cut you off – it happens every year to visitors! Always check the tide times and hire an experienced guide if you fancy an adventurous low-tide walk.

St Catherine’s Bay

Favoured mainly by those with a yacht moored in the harbour, by long-distance swimmers, and by tourists taking a RIB trip to the Ecrehous Reef or around the coast. The sheltered, crystal clear waters here are also home to St Catherine’s Sailing Club and the Jersey Canoe Club.

Lovely to visit at any time of year – on stormy days, you might get to see the sea whipped up over the top of the 700-metre breakwater.

South Coast Jersey Beaches

Belcroute

Catch the early sun at this sheltered little east-facing cove that’s perfect for snorkelling. A real local favourite, but not on the typical visitor’s radar. A bit of a treasure!

Beauport

Surrounded by cliffs on three sides and secluded but quite a walk down a steep hill from the car park. With pristine clear water, this beautiful Jersey beach is popular with families for swimming, snorkelling and rock jumping.

Green Island

A great favourite with kids who love to scramble up onto the ‘green island’ in the bay. Lots of spots to find treasures in rock pools and gulleys, but watch out for the incoming tide and don’t get marooned on the island!

Harve des Pas and Greve D’Azette

Home to Jersey’s refurbished Victorian outdoor swimming pool with terraces for sunbathing and safe swimming for children. There are lots of places to eat and drink within a very short walk, and Jersey’s main town of St Helier is within easy walking distance too.

Portelet Beach

Portelet Bay is a Marine Conservation Society recommended beach (2014) and it’s easy to see why. There’s a sweeping expanse of golden sand with an imposing 18th-century gun tower built to protect Jersey from invading Napoleonic forces right in the middle of the bay. At low tide, you can wander around the tower, or swim out to it for snorkelling in the clear waters when the tide is up.

Park in the public car park opposite the excellent Portelet Inn and take the long, steep stairway down the cliffs to the beach. Bask in the sun all day, then pop into the Portelet Beach cafe for a delicious wood-fired pizza as the sun sets. Portelet is as pretty and romantic as it gets!

Accessibility Note: The steep access path makes Portelet Bay unsuitable for visitors with mobility issues.

St Aubin’s Bay

Sweeping across the South coast from the perennially popular harbour of St Aubin in the West towards the town of St Helier and the imposing 17th century Elizabeth Castle, this Jersey beach is popular with water-skiers, jet-skiers and you’ll often see sailing boats here too.

Leave spare time to amble around the stunning little harbour at St Aubin, as there’s plenty to see, plus excellent places to eat and drink.

West Coast Jersey Beaches

La Corbiere

Jersey’s iconic La Corbiere Lighthouse is located on the extreme southwest tip of the island. Twice a day, at low tide, you can walk along the causeway to reach the lighthouse. The rocky area around the lighthouse and causeway are fascinating to explore but not safe for swimming due to strong currents. A great place to take older children but not safe for little ones.

Ouaisne Bay

The less-visited “sister” beach to St Brelade, which it is joined to at low tide, offers a wide expanse of shingly sand and shallow water to swim in. Pronounced “way nay” by locals who enjoy evening swimming here as the sun sets.

Ouaisne is hauntingly beautiful. End your visit with a drink in the Old Smugglers Inn or eat at quirky but excellent Kismet Cabana cafe. If you’re a winter visitor, the roaring fires at “The Smugglers” are very tempting!

St Ouen’s Bay

The splendid 3 1/2 mile stretch of golden sand running along Jersey’s western coast is one of the best beaches in Jersey for board sports, especially surfing. Pop into Big Verns or El Tico for breakfast or lunch al fresco and you won’t be disappointed.

Wild, windy and wonderful, with a sea wall peppered with old fortifications from the German occupation of Jersey during World War II. St Ouen’s Bay is an unmissable experience. It’s one of the best places in Jersey to photograph the setting sun!

North Coast Jersey Beaches

Bouley Bay

A tiny craggy bay located down a long, winding and steep hill, Bouley Bay was originally a small fishing village. Today, it’s home to the Bouley Bay Dive Centre who can take you paddle boarding, wreck diving or on a trip to the beautiful Les Ecrehous islands to snorkel, and to see seals and dolphins.

Ile Agua

Only accessible today by boat/kayak as the ancient footpath has fallen into disrepair. Ile Agua is a magical, almost untouched spot to swim and explore caves at low tide.

La Coupe

A hidden sand and shingle treasure few ever find and all the better for it.

Plemont Beach

Lovely Plemont narrowly missed out on a top 3 beaches in Jersey spot! Almost hidden away down a long and winding lane, this magnificent large beach is never crowded, but there’s quite a climb down a staircase to reach it.

The best time to visit is at low tide to explore myriad rockpools and Jersey’s largest cave. There’s even a waterfall, so you’ll need a waterproof camera!

Plémont is the one bay in Jersey where you could catch a glimpse of Atlantic Puffins, from March to early August when they visit the island to breed. The craggy northwest cliffs are where you’re most likely to see these beautiful little birds.

Don’t miss out on a visit to the gorgeous Plemont Bay cafe after you’ve schlepped back up those steps – the utterly delicious homemade cakes more than make up for the climb. And the waffles are to die for.

Tip; If you’re a lover of puffins, there are a few other places in the UK to see puffins.

Rozel

A tiny traditional fishing harbour that’s well sheltered when the wind blows from the southwest. Popular with walkers – the cliff paths which run across the entire North coast offer beautiful views over the bay.

Stay for a while and eat at the Rozel pub or indulge at the luxurious Chateau la Chaire hotel restaurant.

How to Visit Jersey

Getting to Jersey

Jersey is less than 1 hour away from most UK airports and 4-8 hours away by car ferry from Poole or Portsmouth. The way I find the cheapest fares is to use MoMondo or SkyScanner. They check prices and availability with all of the airlines flying to Jersey and always offer the best fares.

Getting Around Jersey

This is a small island – just nine miles long and five miles wide. Local bus service Liberty Bus will get you to the more popular beaches, but, if you’re looking for independence when it comes to transport, hiring a car is probably your best option.

Where to Eat in Jersey

You’ll be completely spoiled for choice for places to eat in Jersey. Whether you’re looking for budget meals, fine dining or something in between, you’ll find it in Jersey. Most places are independent, so you know you’ll be supporting the local economy by dining out in Jersey.

PS. If you love seafood, you’ll be in seventh heaven! Jersey has some of the best, freshest seafood in the world.

Where to Stay in Jersey

Jersey has a great mix of accommodation from value B&Bs to Luxury hotels. My favourite places to stay in Jersey are:

• Golden Sands, St Brelade: A stone’s throw from the award-winning beach and within an easy stroll of several outstanding restaurants.
• The Royal Yacht Hotel, St Helier: Located in the heart of the busy main town, close to shopping, restaurants, nightlife and the bus station.

5 Packing Essentials for Jersey

1. Backpack
2. Water Bottle
3. Sunglasses
4. Sandals
5. Beach Towel

Don’t Forget Your Insurance

Visitors from the UK: Jersey is not part of the UK and there’s no NHS! While there is an excellent hospital, if you need any medical treatment, you’ll have to pay for it – up front!

Travel insurance covers you against any cost or losses if something should go wrong when you’re away. It will help you if your holiday plans are disrupted or your accommodation gets cancelled, and it’s essential if you injure yourself or if your possessions are stolen, lost, or damaged while travelling. I buy an annual travel plan from World Nomads because their rates are fair and their service is outstanding.

More tips for your trip to Jersey:

• Where to go: Best Things to Do in Jersey & Best Reasons to Visit Jersey
• Where to Stay: Best Hotels in Jersey With Indoor Pools
• What to buy: The Best Souvenirs From Jersey
• Off The Beaten Path: Hidden Gems in Jersey
• Jersey Attractions: Les Ecrehous, Seymour Tower, Jersey Castles, La Corbiere Lighthouse, The Devil’s Hole & Jersey War Tunnels
• Jersey History: Jersey Heritage Pass
• Seasonal Travel: Best Things to Do in Jersey in the Winter
• Tourist Information: Is Jersey Part of the UK & Currency in Jersey 
• Nearby: Things To Do In Alderney & 1 Day in Herm Island

READ ALSO: How to Get To Jersey From London & Traditional Jersey Food

If you enjoyed this post, why not bookmark it and share it with your friends? If you’re on Pinterest, you can Pin these images!

Beyond Jersey

Exploring the other Channel Islands is a great thing to do when you’re visiting Jersey. One of my favourite places to escape from the world is Herm Island – a true off-the-beaten-path gem! Highly recommended 🙂