Hotels in St. Helier

St. Helier Introduction

As cool as it is cosmopolitan, Jersey's capital is a tantalising blend of English heritage and French flair. Welcome to St. Helier – a hip harbour town where a pedestrianised centre awash with artisan stores and buzzy cafes offers the perfect interlude for time spent relaxing on the sweeping sands of St. Aubin's Bay. For explorers, a jaunt across the water on the town's blue amphibious ferries – the delightfully named Charming Nancy and Charming Betty – is a memorable way to visit the 16th-century Elizabeth Castle.

Hotels in St. Helier

From whitewashed spa hotels serving up 5-star grandeur just steps from the beach to discount digs in the heart of town, St. Helier hotels come in a range of flavours. Middle-of-the-road often means a self-catering stay in a fully-loaded holiday apartment, while smart guesthouses with breakfast and WiFi on the house are a tempting option for those on a tighter budget. Fun-loving families can bed down in resort-style hotels where sparkling pools will have the kids making a splash long after the sun has set at the beach – and probably way past bedtime, too. Gulp!

Where to stay

The mix of trendy boutiques and high street faves found on King and Halkett Streets makes town centre hotels in St. Helier an exciting choice for fashionistas keen to bag some VAT-free finds, although if you have your heart set on soaking up those quintessential sea views, accommodation along the classy Victorian promenade places you right next to the beach. Meanwhile, foodies get the pick of the bunch thanks to a diverse culinary scene that counts artisan delis, Michelin-starred dining rooms and al fresco eateries – not to mention the much-lauded Street Food Thursdays – among its highlights.

What to see

Thanks to an abundance of intriguing historical spots, St. Helier often finds a special place in the hearts of history buffs and the Jersey Maritime Museum, housed in a 19th-century warehouse beside the town's picturesque marina, is a great place to kick things off. Once one of Europe's largest shipbuilding centres, visitors can check out the full-size replica of the Orient Star, get interactive in the Globe Room and face the force of a gale head on. Out of town, history takes on a different slant at the spine-chilling Jersey War Tunnels, an extraordinary underground labyrinth that transports modern-day travellers back to the dark days of Nazi occupation. For something lighter hearted for those with kids in tow, Jersey Zoo – just 4 miles north of St. Helier and open every day except Christmas – is home to everything from teeny, tiny tamarinds to big, burly gorillas.

How to get to St. Helier

Ferry crossings from Poole and Portsmouth to St. Helier run up to 9 times daily, although with direct flights from most UK airports the quickest way to get to St. Helier is usually to fly into Jersey Airport. If you're travelling from London, you can expect to be in the air for less than an hour. Once you've touched down and grabbed your bags, it's a 30-minute ride on the Liberty Bus to Liberation Square. If you're in town for a while and plan to explore the island, skip the return ticket for a Hop-on Hop-off ticket for unlimited travel in St. Helier.