Lady’s Guide to Things to Do in Guernsey

Today I want to bring you my guide to things to do in Guernsey. This jewel in the Channel Islands is worth a visit for its stunning coastline, rich history, and great food.

Things to Do in Guernsey

Flying into Guernsey, it’s hard to believe I’m on an island off the coast of Normandy. The water is so turquoise that if it weren’t for the fact that my flight from London took less than an hour, I would think I’ve landed in the Caribbean.

The same goes for the beaches. Nestled in little coves at the base of the island’s stunning cliffs, they bear such a resemblance to the ones I saw in Tobago a few weeks ago that I have to keep confirming with my friend that we’re actually in the English Channel and not the Caribbean Sea.

When I turn inland from the beaches, I find myself on an island that is part British, part French, and all impossibly beautiful.

Picturesque stone farmhouses sit along narrow lanes overgrown with green hedges peppered with wild flowers.

The hedges will grow until the end of May, our guide, Elizabeth Gardener-Wheeler from VisitGuernsey, tells us. Then they’ll be trimmed and spend the summer growing back.

Explore Guernsey’s Hedge Veg Stands

While showing us the hedges, she takes us along a pretty lane to one of Guernsey’s many “hedge veg” stands.

The island is covered in farms, and excess produce is left out in wooden stands where passers-by can pick up fresh vegetables, eggs, flowers, and other produce on an honor system, leaving payment in a box before moving on.

Driving around the island and spotting the hedge veg stands is one of the most unique things to do in Guernsey.

Eat at the Best Restaurants in Guernsey

The hedge veg is our first introduction to the food in Guernsey, which is both abundant and fresh.

I was expecting local seafood—and find it in delicious abundance in a dinner at my hotel, the stylish Duke of Richmond, when I have amazing scallops and sea bass—but I didn’t realize how much other local food was produced on the island.

Like butter. The golden Guernsey cows produce a bright yellow butter with a rich flavor that I can’t get enough of. Tasting it is one of the best culinary things to do in Guernsey.

It soaks into my scones at the classic afternoon tea that I’m invited to by The Old Government House Hotel & Spa in St Peter Port.

The tea also has a plate of beautiful sandwiches that range from chicken and mayo to ham and sweet mustard, and a healthy assortment of pastries, including a pistachio cupcake and a brownie with white chocolate.

In addition to the cakes and pastries in St Peter Port, Elizabeth introduces us to the ones at Mint Brasserie near the airport, which serves local cuisine and tea and cake in the afternoons.

Dive into Guernsey’s History

Beyond the food in Guernsey, we discover the island’s history. I was first introduced to it in the charming novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which revolves around the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II.

In fact, the day before our arrival, Guernsey celebrated the anniversary of its liberation, an important annual occasion on the island.

And signs of the occupation still exist throughout Guernsey. From concrete bunkers along the coast to deep tunnels in cliffs and museums dedicated to Guernsey’s wartime past, there’s no shortage of military history here.

Going even farther back in time, Guernsey’s Castle Cornet sits at the end of a pier off the coast of St Peter Port.

Home to five museums, the 800-year-old castle was originally a fortification built to defend the island from the French, who were a threat for centuries. Exploring it and learning about the past is one of the best things to do in Guernsey.

Perhaps the oldest history in Guernsey is the Neolithic passage grave of Le Dehus, which Elizabeth takes us into. Dating back thousands of years, the tomb has a rock on the ceiling with a carving in the form of a human face.

Visit the Little Chapel in Guernsey

Back outside, the island continues to draw us in with its lush greenery and picturesque buildings. The most unique is the famous Little Chapel, a diminutive structure covered in seashells, pottery fragments, tiles, and other pieces of memorabilia.

It’s one of the island’s most beloved attractions, and its many nooks and alcoves shelter an abundance of stories and histories. Visiting the Little Chapel is one of the most popular things to do in Guernsey.

Stay at One of Guernsey’s Best Hotels

Even our hotel is pretty, with bold patterned designs on the wall of our room, and a bright, sunny dining room where we have breakfast every morning.

Explore the Guernsey Coast

But the real beauty in Guernsey lies back on the sea. Up north, we visit Vale Castle, a historic fortification surrounded by yellow wild flowers and the blue waters of Bordeaux Harbour.

In the south, we hike along the coastal trail above the stunning waters of Moulin Huet and Saints Bay, and go to the beach at Petit Bot. And in the west, we watch the sunset off Cobo Bay while eating fish and chips.

Pick Up Souvenirs

As the sun sets on Guernsey, it also sets on our time in the Channel Islands. But as we make our way to the airport for our flight back to London, we can’t help but take a piece of this lovely place home with us.

Around the corner from the airport is a grocery store selling all kind of local produce, and I pick up some of the famous Fort Grey cheese to go along with some previously acquired Guernsey butter and a fruit bread called Guernsey gache.

Best Things to Do in Guernsey

As we lift off, I stare down at the turquoise water again. I can’t help but think that with Guernsey’s beautiful coastline, great food, rich history, and proximity to London, I might not have to fly all the way to the Caribbean again to enjoy my own personal island paradise.

There are so many amazing things to do in Guernsey (not to mention nearby Sark and Alderney) that I could easily come here over and over again. If you visit, I hope you’ll find the same is true for you.

Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!

New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.

Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links. At no cost to you, I earn a small commission when you click on them and make a purchase. It doesn’t affect the way you shop, and it’s a great way to support the A Lady in London blog.

Pin it!