Jersey Area Guide

Our beautiful home is an island shaped by the sea, where some of the most astonishing tides in the world circle the coast and feed the land. An island that is small in size, but big on personality, where country lanes open to cliff-top views and the sea is never more than 10 minutes away.

Relocating to Jersey

While some might look purely at the economic benefits of moving to Jersey, the process involved with relocation requires both a macro and a micro approach, taking in the whole picture.

At face value, Jersey does offer some of the lowest direct taxes in Europe in regards to corporate, individual and property rates and for families, the significant advantage of no capital or inheritance tax is also very attractive.

The main government agency that can assist anyone considering moving here is called Locate Jersey, and their staff are always on hand to help ease the way with the red tape that can be a feature of any future decision.

Most new businesses that move to Jersey are not of the industrial or manufacturing type, but more low footprint in keeping with the gradual pace of how the Island would like to see itself develop. New digital, media, creative skills that are not too labour intensive are welcome as are most activities connected with E-commerce.

Over a number of years, the island has welcomed many high-value net worth individuals (HNWs). Housing laws govern and restrict who can purchase or rent property, however, HNWs can obtain residency permission under the High-value Residency Regime.

Schooling and education

Jersey’s fantastic education system consists of nurseries, pre-schools, primary and secondary schools.

With an array of brilliant and beautiful parish schools, most children are allocated an educational space which fits with the catchment area of their address. These are non-fee-paying primary schools, 22 in total.

As well as the parish schools, Jersey also offers a number of fee-paying primary options. There are two fee-paying state private schools, Victoria College for Boys and Jersey College for Girls Preparatory School. In addition to these, there are seven fee-paying private primary schools, the most popular ones being St George’s Preparatory School and St Michaels Preparatory School.

The standard of schooling in Jersey is high. With Jersey students regularly outperforming their English equivalents.

Highlands College supplies many different vocational options such as adult learning and business centre, and evening classes, as well as opportunities to study to degree level, having developed close affiliations with a number of universities, especially for finance-related qualifications.

Healthcare

Jersey is not part of the NHS and has its own independent healthcare system with rules and conditions that differ from the rest of the UK, many countries and even the other Channel Islands.

Employment packages for those working taking up more senior roles within the finance industry or relocating from elsewhere, normally include private health insurance, but most newcomers will have to pay for most healthcare when they first move to Jersey.

Seeing a GP or a dentist is not free, as they are in private practice. However, prescriptions are free, which go some way to offsetting the cost of a medical appointment.

So for many, it is essential to arrange health insurance to cover any unforeseen costs, including possible travel to the UK for specialist treatment and non-emergency treatment at the hospital.

The best advice is for an individual to check with the Health and Social Services Department to ensure they have the accurate information in assessing their eligibility – either as a resident or visitor – for access to free healthcare and treatment.

Many consultants operate from private rooms based at The Lido Medical Centre, Bon Air and the Little Grove, where referrals will be made either for on or off-island treatment.

Bays and beaches

Jersey residents are very proud of their bays and beaches, many of which have golden or pearly white sand, and are washed clean by the ebb and flow of the island’s alternating tides.

With 43.5 miles of coastline around the island, beach life in Jersey hosts multiple different activities and sports, such as guided coasteering along the rugged north coast, climbing, jumping and swimming across gullies. Scuba divers head for Bouley Bay, a protected marine reserve, whereas kayakers can join a group and explore caves or paddle to some of the outer reefs, and several adventure sports companies operate from St Brelade’s Bay which was voted in the top three best UK beaches in 2019 by TripAdvisor users in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.

Down on the East Coast, you will find The Royal Bay of Grouville, with its wide expanse of golden sand, it is popular for swimmers as the sun warms the shallow waters and the currents are not too strong.

Head up into the North and you will find Bonne Nuit Bay which is a small fishing harbour and picturesque bay nestled between Fremont and La Crete. You will see many a fisherman landing crabs and lobsters from their fishing boats, so it's fair to say this bay may be small, but what is lacks in size it certainly makes up for in character.

Beyond the bigger expanses, there are also plenty of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. A sandy cove, or a bay that’s a little harder to get to on foot like Beauport or Portelet, but provide easy and sheltered anchorages for boating enthusiasts.

Shopping

Both on and off the high street, Jersey packs a small punch when it comes to the diversity of shops.

Our main high street is charming and compact, and although you will see quite a number of main chains, there are plenty of thriving independent boutiques and delis along the network of quaint streets.

Inside and out, the vibrant and colorful fruit, meat and vegetable market is still a hub of commercial life for traders all day long. On the other side of the road is the fish market with numerous stalls.

Occupying one of the prime sites making the whole corner at No 1 King Street, very near to our offices, you will find Hettich, jewelers since 1900, where the leading brand names in the world, Baume et Mercier, Patek, Rolex and Tag Heuer are on display.

Two of Jersey’s largest shops, still referred to locally as department stores, have also stood the test of time and held on to the names of the original families that founded them, de Gruchy and Voisins. The former is the largest retail outlet in the Channel Islands, accommodating Tom Ford, The Sunglass Hut, Hugo Boss and numerous other lines. Voisins nearby has a range of 150 beauty lines, bags and luggage, house and home, men’s and women’s marques overlooking lines from River Island and Miss Selfridge to Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Armani.

A fantastic womenswear boutique which is located on Hillgrove St, is Renaissance. This beautiful store stocks designer brands such as DVF Diane Von Furstenburg, M Missoni & MarcCain.

Outside of the hustle and bustle of St Helier, Jersey offers a variety of hidden gems. Head around the bay to St Aubin where antique shops and art galleries offer plenty of treasure-hunting opportunities. The Vintage Fair runs each Saturday and hosts a variety of products ranging from jewellery to antique rugs and soft furnishings.

Food

As a small island famous for its food, Jersey is bursting with flavour. From abundant local produce to seafood straight from the island’s clear waters. With beach cafes, chic restaurants, farm stalls, and village delis, it is hardly a surprise that many of the island’s most important events and social activities involve food and drink.

Boasting over 30 AA Rosette Awards and the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants per square mile outside of London, the island’s numerous eateries have been recommended by top food guides, as well as known celebrity chefs.

Serviced by the warm Gulf Stream, the clear Jersey waters offer superb fish catches with shellfish, oysters, scallops, lobster and crabs in abundance. Further out to sea, Bass and Black Bream are renowned catches but simply cooked mackerel with fresh Jersey Royals has to be an island favourite dish. All of these delights can be found either in our St Helier Fish Market or The Fresh Fish Company at Victoria Pier.

Carefully gathered seaweed, or vraic, fertilises the soil and leads to the growth of one of Jersey’s best-known commodities, the Jersey Royal potato. However, Jersey Jewel tomatoes are also widely distributed and the island’s apple orchards produce some of the oldest and most unusual products in the form of Jersey Black Butter, a sticky black treacle-looking preserve made from apples.

Possibly the ‘face of Jersey,’ the beautiful brown Jersey Cows service the Island’s food industry more than anything else. Jersey milk, cream, butter, ice cream, yoghurt, fudge and artisan cheeses are just a few of the products readily available on worldwide supermarket shelves.

Enjoying the same latitude and sunny climate as many of the famous wine production areas on the continent has supported the growth of white and red grape varieties on the island and the production of some excellent Island wines.

An abundance of apples, cider and brandy are readily available and keenly celebrated, whilst La Mare Wine Estate has just succeeded with the first Jersey Royal-based vodka.

Family fun

Whether you love being outdoors and exploring, or are a family that enjoys relaxation and a slower pace of life, Jersey is home to a fantastic selection of enjoyable family-orientated establishments, providing something to suit everyone.

During those summer months, our Mediterranean-style climate makes it hard not to want to be outside. There are plenty of activities that are brilliant and free including exploring the sand dunes to the west of the island, taking a bike ride along the cycle track which runs from St Helier to Corbiere, rock pooling at low tide at Green Island beach and woodland explorations in St Catherine’s Woods.

Whatever the season head to ‘aMaizin Adventure Park.’ Located in St Peter, it is a must for families and children of all ages. There is an entrance fee for everyone, but once inside you have access to all indoor and outdoor activities, including crazy golf, tobogganing and giant pillow jumping. To top it all off, there is an interactive farm where you can feed animals such as goats, rabbits and lambs.

Jersey Zoo, now formally known as ‘Durrell,’ will leave the whole family feeling refreshed and inspired. Home to some of the rarest species on the planet, it has many interactive and educational elements such as a recently installed walk-through butterfly sanctuary, an indoor play park, sandpits and plenty of ‘keeper talks’ throughout the day.

New to the island is ‘Jump Jersey’ found at Les Ormes Resort. The Island’s biggest indoor activity centre, it is perfect for those cooler days. With a trampoline park, climbing walls and soft play zone, it is ideal for those who seek some adrenaline-fuelled fun.

Finally, there are a number of public swimming pools to enjoy, Aquasplash and Les Quennevais being the most popular. If you prefer more natural surroundings, head to Harve Des Pas outdoor pool which has a great atmosphere in the early evenings as families congregate to cool off in the sunshine.

The social scene

The majority of nightclubs and bars are situated in the island’s capital of St Helier. We are fortunate to have a great number of trendy bars which offer everything from craft ales, to your most desired cocktail.

Top of your to-do list should be to visit the special gem ‘Locke’s. Serving specialty coffee by day, paired with a fresh, seasonal brunch menu and come the evening they host their very own ‘Locke-in Friday’s’ held on the first Friday of every month. The evenings are free to attend and provide an exclusive selection of the best ‘locktails,’ along with music and the most amazing atmosphere.

Another brilliant and secret find is No.10. The restaurant has a basement bar which is full to the brim of wines, craft beers and infused spirits. If alfresco drinks are on your agenda, head to Quayside or Ce Soir to sit and enjoy a refreshing beverage in the sun.

If you are in search of the local hustle and bustle, head to The Royal Yacht. The hotel has a number of bars and restaurants to choose from, each providing different atmospheres. The Drift is the popular nightclub inside and is the perfect location for an evening of letting your hair down with friends.

The Watersplash at St Ouen’s is a famous surfers' beach bar and has been around for decades. Sit back with a beer and appreciate the beautiful sea views whilst listening to some local acoustic bands.

The summer months are particularly special in Jersey, many music lovers congregate at local festivals such as ‘Sunset Concert’ and ‘Jersey Weekender.’ In August the ‘Jersey Film Festival’ is a must-see outside cinema experience in Howard Davis Park. The giant screen broadcasts an array of family films for a series of four nights. Be sure to get there early as the crowds tend to gather, leaving a small amount of grass to set up your picnic spot.

Lastly, be sure to make a visit Jersey Opera House, our island's theatre, providing some of the best artistic entertainment and acts the world has to offer.