Top Things to do in Guernsey

Hauteville House on the cobbled streets of St Helier was once the home of the famous author, Victor Hugo. He stayed there for 14 years during his exile from France and the house is now an honorary consul to the French embassy at London, as well as a museum showcasing the life of Victor Hugo, making it one of the most popular St Peter Port attractions. The museum runs over 4 floors with the top floor boasting gorgeous views overlooking the other Channel Islands and St Peter Port. Its garden is also a wonder to explore, filled with trees and flowers that flourish in the mild climate.

The glorious Bluebell Woods are in the south of the capital within walking distance from the town centre. It is a perfect place to soak in the island’s nature without straying too far from the lively streets of St Peter Port. In the spring, the woods’ grounds become a carpet of bluebells underneath the beautiful tree canopy. The woods are a great place to start an exploration of the south east of the island, where you’ll find rugged cliffs and stunning sea views.

Victoria Tower is a breath-taking monument that was built in honour of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s visit to the island in 1846. This royal visit was the first time any reigning monarchs had come to the island, and the royals visited again in 1859 to inspect the tower. The top of the tower is the highest point of the island and is the perfect place to see Guernsey from above, as well as enjoy views over the north, west, and east coasts.

Candie Gardens was once part of a private estate, and now is a beautifully maintained public gardens boasting glorious views over St Peter Port harbour, as well as the sister islands Herm, Sark and Alderney. Within the gardens, you’ll find the oldest known heated glass houses in the British Isles, each filled with wonderful flowers and herbs. You’ll also find ponds, lawns, and an impressive array of flowers beaming out of the flowerbeds all year-round.

Guernsey Museum lies within the beautiful Candie Gardens and is the place to find out more about Guernsey’s heritage and culture. Here, you can learn about the original Guernsey language, Guernesiais, and listen to some traditional phrases and poems in the island’s mother tongue. You can also find out more about the folklore of Guernsey, including the Tables des Pions and the history of witches on the island.

The Bailiwick of Guernsey Millennium Tapestry showcases 1000 years of the island’s history in 10 embroidered panels. Housed in a purpose-built exhibition in an award-winning gallery, the tapestry is a wonder to behold, and a fantastic visual representation of the island’s history. An insightful audio guide is there to talk you through the 10 different panels, and a souvenir shop means that you can grab yourself a little reminder of the fantastic piece of artwork and history.

La Vallette Bathing Pools have been part of Guernsey’s east coast since 1865, and to this day remain a fun, safe and contained place to enjoy saltwater swimming. The pools fill with seawater at high tide, and the pool walls keep a certain amount of water in the pools at low tide, filtering out seaweed and sea creatures at the same time. Its history has seen well-known individuals take a dip in the pools, including Victor Hugo and the famous renaissance artist, Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

The picturesque St Peter Port Harbour is the first sight that greets you as the ship enters the island’s capital and its colourful buildings and quaint cobbled streets are a wonder to behold. The harbour is where you’ll see boats big and small come into the island, and it is a great place for boat-lovers to see the exciting array of ships out there. On the harbour there are multiple kiosks and outlets to grab a drink or ice cream, the perfect accompaniment for sitting and watching the ships gently bob around in the water.

Guernsey Rib Voyages are the best way to experience the beauty of the island’s coast from a different angle. The different expeditions mean you can choose how long and how far out you go, but with all options, you’ll be able to explore caves and bays, as well as spot some of the island’s amazing wildlife including the beautiful bottlenose dolphins. Don’t worry, lifejackets and waterproofs are available to keep you and any youngsters safe and comfortable!

St Peter Port is filled with shops for all styles and occasions. There are, of course, the token chain stores for the essentials such as Next, Sports Direct and M&S. However, there is also a selection of authentic outlets where you’ll find goodies and high-quality products you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

The St James Concert Hall is the place to go for entertainment in Guernsey based in a stunning building which was a former garrison church of St James-the-Less. The hall hosts a variety of different performances to suit all tastes including music, dance, drama and comedy. To compliment the creative buzz, there is also the ‘wall of St James’, where Guernsey artists are able to exhibit and sell their work.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) is a famous impressionist and spent a month on the island in 1883 where he worked on 15 paintings, all depicting the island’s Moulin Huet. 2019 marks the anniversary of his death, and to celebrate his importance to the island, the Art for Guernsey charity commissioned a ‘Renoir walk’. Along this walk, you’ll find 5 steel frames in the exact spots where Renoir worked on his paintings: a great opportunity for art-lovers to try their own versions of the works of art.