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Jersey City Breaks

Jersey Short Break

Jersey short breaks are ideal for those who wish to explore the beauty of the British Channel Islands, as it is the Channel Island which is located closest to the equator, meaning visitors can expect warm summer days and mild winters. Situated in the English Channel, the small island is only nine miles long and five miles wide and was once a part of mainland France. Home to the Jersey cow and famed for the knitted sweaters known as 'jerseys' worldwide, Jersey has an enchanting rural landscape, with a beautiful coastline of sandy beaches, magnificent cliffs and untouched coves. The island also boasts a vast green-belt area, with a network of 'green lanes' for hikers, horse-riding and cycling.

A distinctly French flavour influences the island, with gourmet cuisine and French street names amidst the Norman farmhouses and narrow lanes. However the island is intrinsically British, with the capital of St Helier offering all the quaint attractions of a British town. Shopping on a Jersey short break is also a treat, with low rates and no VAT charges; visitors can pick up a real bargain in the picturesque towns and villages.

Jersey city breaks in the island capital of St Helier offer the added attraction of the noonday guns being fired from Elizabeth Castle, which overlooks the beautiful St Aubin's Bay. The bay boasts a rich maritime history, which can be explored in the Maritime Museum and by visiting the old castles and relics time has left behind on this unique island

Jersey has seen much of British history on it's sandy shores and is home to an array of historical and unusual attractions, such as the poignant German Underground Hospital or the Jersey Zoo, which is a haven for endangered animals. On a Jersey short break visitors in August can see the Battle of the Flowers parade, which has been an annual event since 1902 and is a magical experience.

 

 


Essential Information on Jersey

Jersey

Largest of the British Channel Islands, Jersey is the most southerly and renowned for its mild winters and long hot summer days. This tiny island in the English Channel measuring nine miles by five (14km by 8km) was once, in antiquity, part of mainland France. Small it may be, but it has been big on influence over the ages, giving the world the Jersey dairy cow and the ubiquitous knitted sweaters known globally as 'jerseys'. Today it offers a wealth of history and sheer scenic beauty, sporting well-kept fields and an unspoilt coastline of majestic cliffs, exposed bays, sandy beaches and rocky coves. Inland the island is criss-crossed by a network of 'green lanes' where walkers, horse-riders and cyclists have precedence over cars. Overall, Jersey provides a perfect environment for weekend breaks and short breaks.

The Channel Islands

These islands have been a dependency of Britain since the Norman Conquest in 1066, and English is the official language, but there is no doubting that the character-filled Channel Islands are also flamboyantly French. Hardly surprising since they are situated just off the north west coast of France, about 90 miles (145km) south of England.

The clutch of five islands is very small, their total area adding up to less than 80 square miles (207 sq km). The largest, and most visited are Jersey and Guernsey. The other three are Herm, Sark and Alderney.

The laid back beach and country lifestyle of the island group reflects the French factor in this unusual Anglo-French fusion, most of all in the cuisine, particularly the seafood dishes, and jolly festivals such as Jersey's annual 'Battle of the Flowers'.

For British holidaymakers, in particular, the islands provide a comfortable 'home from home' vacation station in the sunniest and warmest corner of the British Isles. Apart from lovely, scenic beaches where abundant watersports are on offer, there is plenty of history and heritage to explore and discover in the main towns of St Helier (Jersey) and St Peter Port (Guernsey). Museums, historic buildings and traditional events map out the islands' colourful past, including its more recent military and maritime history as the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by the Germans during World War II.

Hiking, cycling and golf are also enjoyable leisure pursuits well catered for on the islands, adding to the well-deserved reputation of this twin-cultured destination as an ideal choice for a quiet outdoor-oriented holiday.

Currency

The currency is the pound (GBP), which is divided into 100 pence. ATMs are available in all towns and Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted; visitors with other cards should check with their credit card companies in advance. Foreign currency can be exchanged at bureaux de change and large hotels, however better exchange rates are likely to be found at banks. Travellers cheques are accepted in all areas frequented by tourists; they are best taken in Pounds Sterling to avoid additional charges.

Source: www.wordtravels.com