What's new in Jersey?

Cycling on Jersey’s quiet country roads. Image credit: Andy le Gresley Photography/Visit Jersey

 

The bunker restoration was a collaboration between Jersey War Tours and Jersey Seafaris, two businesses that should be on agents’ radars. Jersey Seafaris, based next to the bunker, specialises in rib boat tours which take place between late March and early October.

 

Boat trips even explore as far as the Écréhous, a cluster of rocks poking above the ocean six miles from Jersey and eight miles from France, on which a handful of isolated, windblown fishermen’s cottages are perched. It’s a brilliant excursion for wildlife-loving clients; during my two-hour trip, I spotted countless blubbery Atlantic grey seals sprawled on rocky outcrops.

 

There’s plenty on offer for those clients who prefer dry land, including the reopening this autumn of the Jersey Opera House following a £12.7 million spruce-up.

 

The Grade II listed building dates back to 1865 – although a series of devastating fires meant that only its spectacular façade remains from the original structure – while the interior is a near‑exact replica of the Victorian horseshoe‑shaped auditorium. The venue has seen plenty of stars treading its boards, from Charlie Chaplin and John Gielgud to Judi Dench and Eddie Izzard, and played a part in the recent Liberation 80 anniversary celebrations, returning to its role at the heart of the island’s cultural identity.

The restored interior of Jersey Opera House. Image credit: Andy Le Gresley Photography

 

Jersey’s food scene has also been enjoying an upgrade. The island is already renowned for Jersey Royal potatoes, fresh oysters and rich dairy products, and now chefs with a passion for local, seasonal cuisine are driving forward culinary creativity in capital St Helier.

 

Highlights include Pêtchi, opened in 2023 by Great British Menu finalist Joe Baker, where I feasted on Basque‑inspired delicacies including sea bass crudo with blood orange in a Grade II listed former harbourmaster’s office. The historic Central Market, built in 1881, also brings together antiques stores and florists alongside delis, bakeries and boutiques, where my favourite retail therapy spots included Relish deli for French pâtés and Rococo Jersey for souvenirs.

 

What to do in Jersey

 

There are plenty of reasons to explore beyond Jersey’s capital too. The 13th‑century Mont Orgueil Castle, which presides over the fishing village of Gorey, is a glorious maze of tunnels and spiral staircases, with plenty of gruesomeness thrown in. The strangest exhibit is a replica of the ‘urine wheel’, based on diagrams found in a 14th‑century physician’s manual, complete with bottles of liquid in an array of colours once used by castle doctors to diagnose maladies. Apparently, a beautiful golden hue suggested healthy digestion, while purple (perhaps unsurprisingly) indicated imminent death.

 

Reminders of Jersey’s history extend well beyond medieval times. Take La Hougue Bie, a Neolithic burial site dating to 4000BC. It was once a space for ceremonies that celebrated events such as the spring equinox, and the small museum provides brilliant insights into the structure. The site is home to another German command bunker, where walls are lined with profiles of the workers forcibly transported to the island during the Second World War.

 

Recommend clients finish their stay with a visit to another historic institution – perhaps not quite as notable as Jersey’s Neolithic burial site or Mont Orgueil Castle, but an essential stop‑off for visitors to St Ouen’s Bay nonetheless. Le Braye bistro, run by passionate locals Annie and Jo Baker since 2012, has gorgeous sea views, yoga masterclasses on the terrace and delicious twists on seafood classics.

 

Over coconut prawn tacos, I watched instructors from Jersey Surf School lead students out into the waves, on a beach that looked infinitely more spectacular even than ones I’ve seen on California’s coastline. Its other USP? The surf school’s headquarters are, naturally, tucked inside a former Second World War bunker. Beat that, California.

Jersey Central Market. Image credit: Andy le Gresley Photography/Visit Jersey

 

 

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Book it

 

Premier Holidays offers a five-night break, staying at The Club Hotel & Spa in St Helier on a B&B basis and including afternoon tea and flights from the UK, from £949 per person, based on two sharing, for travel between June 1 and September 30. The hotel features a thermal suite and Michelin-starred restaurant Bohemia, famous for its seafood.
premierholidays.co.uk

 

Shearings’ eight-day tour, Jersey – an Island shaped by the Sea, is priced from £999 per person, based on two sharing, including local pick-up, a tour of the island, optional add-ons to visit the Jersey War Tunnels, Mont Orgueil Castle and La Hougue Bie, with three-star accommodation at Norfolk Lodge Hotel in St Helier and dinner, departing on May 8, 2026.
shearings.com

 

 

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Ask the expert

 

Mark Godfrey, commercial director, Premier Holidays

 

“My top tip for agents is to focus on Jersey’s appeal as a destination that combines stunning natural beauty, rich history and a distinctive mix of British and French influences. 

 

For families, highlight the safe beaches and family-friendly attractions. For couples, flag the luxurious hotels and fine dining, and for adventure seekers, talk about the coastal walks, watersports and cycling routes.”

 

Lead image credit: Visit Jersey