Just 30 minutes by plane, and over 3 hours by ferry from the UK, you will find the Islands of Guernsey. Guernsey is a hidden gem in the British Isles, and offers an opportunity to get away and recharge your batteries. So is Guernsey worth visiting? Without a doubt the answer is YES. We have headed to Guernsey three times over the last three years, and we just keep returning. Why? Because Guernsey is easily accessible from the UK, and we love that we can take a campervan to Guernsey. Let me introduce you to the Islands of Guernsey, with its laid back vibe, incredible beaches, and an so many things to do in Guernsey for families.
Things to do in Guernsey for families
Guernsey is the second largest island (after Jersey) and is located in the English Channel, off the coast of Normandy. It is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency. The island has an area of approximately 24 square miles. There are so many things to see and do in Guernsey. We love nothing more than hitting the beach for a day in the sunshine and an opportunity to spend an hour or two out on the water, swimming, surfing or getting out on our stand up paddleboards. There are so many other things to do in Guernsey for families, including guided walks, visiting museums, island hopping, or outdoor adventure activities. Here is a round up of the BEST things to do in Guernsey for families (including a few free things to do in Guernsey too).
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Where to stay in Guernsey and what to do
Before we dive in to all the fun things to do in Guernsey for families, let’s briefly talk about where to stay Guernsey. We love to take our campervan over to Guernsey from the UK, and have stayed at Fauxquets Valley Campsite. We love Fauxquets Valley Campsite with its laid back vibe, and of course the kids love the pool and the farm animals on site.
We have also stayed at The Imperial Hotel, which is an incredible location overlooking the beautiful Rocquaine Bay in Torteval, Guernsey. We stayed in the Lihou Apartment, and this worked for our family and offered an excellent base to explore the Island, another bonus – the hotel is dog friendly too!
There are plenty of other great accommodation options in Guernsey to choose from including;
- The Farmhouse Hotel and Restaurant
- St. Pierre Park Hotel & Golf
- Coco Bay Hotel
- Fermain Valley Hotel
- Fleur Du Jardin
Top ten Things to do in Guernsey for families
Adventure activities in Guernsey – Coasteering
Coasteering in Guernsey is a unique adventure sport where you can experience sea level traversing, rock jumping, swimming in gullies and caves. It offers the opportunity to enjoy the remote parts of the coastlines. If you are looking for adventure activities in Guernsey, then this one is for you!
Outdoor Guernsey offer coasteering for families and kit you out with the necessary wetsuit, buoyancy aid and helmet and take you off to explore the island’s spectacular rocky coastline!
You can read more about our experience of coasteering in Guernsey here, including what you need to pack, and how to book
Surfing, Vazon Bay
Vazon Bay is the perfect place to go for Guernsey as it is a large sandy beach with great surf! There is parking nearby, and there is a nearby Richmond kiosk for light snacks, Vistas offer amazing breakfast or brunch after your surf lesson, and Crabby Jacks across the meal is perfect for a family friendly dinner after a day on the beach!
Our surf lesson was at Vazon Bay in Guernsey and was with Ben Relph at Shore Thing. Ben is a professionally qualified ISA Surf Instructor, RLSS Beach Lifeguard and accredited Surfing England Surf Coach. Ben offers private professional surf coaching and was absolutely brilliant with us all. He was so patient with the children, I can’t recommend him enough it was great fun! If you are looking for surfing tuition in Guernsey then head over to Shore Thing for more information.
Table des Pions – The Fairy ring
A short stroll from the Portelet Harbour you will discover the fairy ring. The walk started straight outside the Imperial hotel, and is a lovely family friendly walk, where you will pass a few historical sights along the way, take in the most incredible views and we were lucky enough to spot a seal along the way!
Find out more about our walk from Portelet Harbour to La Table Des Pions (The Fairy Ring) here
Paddleboarding
Stand up paddleboarding is one of our favourite things to do and we are always looking for the best places to paddleboard and the best campsites with access to water for the SUP. We have two paddle boards; an EZ Shopper paddleboard and a Portofino Paddleboard. You can read our Portofino paddleboard review here.
There are so many incredible bays that are perfect for paddleboarding!!! We love paddle boarding off Grandes Roques beach. If you don’t own a SUP then don’t worry – you can hire a paddleboard or book a SUP lesson with Guernsey SUP school.
La VallettE Bathing Pools
One of our favourite places to visit in Guernsey. La Vallette bathing pools offer a safe and contained area for salt water swimming, and it is suitable for all of the family! It is free to visit. The water in the pool comes directly from the sea at high tide, and the walls stop an excess of seaweed or sea creatures making their way into the pools. There is an indoor cafe, and facilities include changing rooms, hot showers, and a sun terrace. Parking available nearby.
Wild Food Foraging Workshops
We took part in a foraging workshop during our last trip to Guernsey and it was brilliant. Tara at Wild Guernsey provided a foraging workshop wandering around the inter-tidal zone at Rocquaine Bay, near to Fort Grey. Tara was absolutely wonderful with the children, and we learned all about the different types of seaweed, how to forage safely, and how to prepare, cook and store the seaweed for meals, and even for skin treatments!
For more information and to book visit Wild Guernsey
The Little Chapel
You can’t visit Guernsey without stopping by and visiting The Little Chapel. The Little Chapel is one of Guernsey’s most loved landmarks. The Little Chapel was a work of art and labour of love built by Brother Déodat, who started work in March 1914 and the version you can visit today is the third version. The Little Chapel is decorated with seashells, pebbles and broken china and measures 16 feet by 9 feet. It even gives a nod to Staffordshire with broken china from Wedgwood!
There is no charge to enter the chapel.
Island Hopping – Guernsey to Herm
If you are staying on the islands of Guernsey, you really need to island hop, starting with a day trip from Guernsey to Herm. Hope on the ferry from St Peter’s Port, and approximately 20 minutes later you will arrive on Herm Island. You can visit Shell beach, spend a few hours on the secluded and sheltered Belvoir Bay and enjoy a bite to eat at the Mermaid Tavern!
Island Hopping – Guernsey to Sark
Another option is to island hop from Guernsey to Sark. Sark island is approximately a 35-50 minute ferry ride from Guernsey. You van catch the ferry from St Peter’s Port. Visit Sark and you will feel like you have stepped back in time. There are no cars on the islands, and you can explore on bike or horse-drawn carriage. You can hire bikes on the island and there are plenty of places to stop and have a bite to eat too and a few little shops, Sark silver shop is one of my favourites.
Visit the beach – Guernsey best beaches
The beaches in Guernsey are incredible. Think white sands, crystal clear, turquoise waters and secluded coves. There is a beach for everyone. We love that there are plenty of beaches with direct parking, great if you are carrying the paddleboard and all the paraphernalia that going to the beach with kids requires!
Our favourite beaches include;
- Moulin Huet Bay
- Vazon Bay
- Grandes Roques
- Cobo Bay
- Rocquaine Bay
Do check the beaches in the Summer if you are visiting Guernsey with a dog, as there are restrictions on a number of beaches from 1st May – 30th September.
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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Should you click to purchase, this is at no extra cost to you, but I receive a small commission. Some of the activities were provided by Visit Guernsey, however other trips and activities have been organised and paid for by myself. All thoughts are my own
