As you may know, our Managing Director has been touring the globe this, so far with stops across the UK, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and Germany to name but a few! The other week, she packed her bags again and headed down to the beautiful islands of Guernsey and Jersey in the Channel Islands and returned with a ton of jobs! We thought that we would share with you, our top 10 things to do in these less-well-known accountancy hubs!
1. Explore the surrounding islands
There are a number of small islands that make up the Channel Islands. Full of breathtaking landscapes, a mixture of British and French culture and the best seafood you’ll find in the UK, the Channel Islands are the perfect destination for a spot of island hoping! Ferries are regular between the islands and there is so much to explore. From Herm – the island with no cars, to Jersey and Guernsey – the two most populated islands, steeped in history and vibrant bars.
2. Soak up the history of WW2 in Jersey’s War Tunnels
Learn about the dark history of the German Occupation of Jersey during World War 2. The deep tunnels have been converted into an underground collection of galleries and information about the truly horrifying events that took place in the 1940s.
http://www.jerseywartunnels.com/
3. Don your wetsuit and take to the sea!
Test your resilience at Jersey Seasport Centre where you can choose from a range of activities such as jet skiing, wakeboarding, water skiing, banana rides and many more! The Channel Islands are infamous for their range of water sports. Book your spot here: http://www.jerseyseasport.com/
4. Splurge at the shops!
There are many well-known high-street shops in Saint Heilier and a handful of local shops. There are two main markets in Jersey so there really is something for everyone! You will find souvenir and gift shops on just about every beach with lots of homemade treasure for you to take away.
5. Relax on one of the Channel Islands’ many sandy beaches
Guernsey beaches are said to be the nicest within the British Isles. Vazon Bay has won the title of ‘Britain’s Cleanest Beach’ so is definitely worth a visit. With warm temperatures in the summer, these beautiful landscapes are the perfect locations for building sandcastles and enjoying an ice cream!
6. Indulge in a scrumptious meal in Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo is a walled city, ideally located in the north western corner of France and has one of the highest concentrations of restaurants in Europe! Being a seaport city, the food is mostly-as expected- locally sourced seafood! There are frequent ferries from both Jersey and Guernsey over to this fantastic city in France.
7. Come face to face with Orangutans at Durrell Wildlife Park
This zoological park is a must visit to anyone on the island of Jersey! The park does tremendous work to protect endangered species and is an excellent day out! The zoo is home to a gorilla, lemurs, meerkats, frogs, iguanas, snakes and many more! Find out more here: http://www.durrell.org/wildlife-park/
8. Watch the sunset at Corbiere Lighthouse
Take in the stunning views from Jersey’s most south west coast. At certain times of the year you can experience a guided tour around the inside of the lighthouse which is iconic to Jersey’s landscape. Or, if you’re not feeling brave enough to cross the causeway before the tide comes back in, there is a nearby car park which the locals say is the best place to watch the sunset and get a bag of chips!
9. Party the night away in Jersey
For quite a compact island, Jersey has a surprisingly vibrant array of nightlife, There are plenty of local bars and nightclubs in the island’s capital Saint Helier. Big name DJ’s have been known to visit the islands. One of the most popular hang outs is said to be Chambers Bar which is known for having live music, good food and plenty of wine! http://www.everyoneschambers.com/
10. Pray at the Little Chapel
Guernsey’s Little Chapel is said to be “the smallest functioning chapel in Europe, if not the world”. It was created by Brother Deodat in 1914 and based on the Grotto and Basillica at Lourdes, the Rosary Basillica. This beautiful chapel is decorated with seashells and small pieces of broken china. It’s so small that there is only room for around eight people, it’s perfect for a photo opportunity while exploring the island! http://www.thelittlechapel.org/
