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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Travel
Antonia Windsor

Best hotels in Jersey, from luxury manors to family-friendly holidays

iStock/VFKA

With more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the British Isles, Jersey is a year-round destination that is equally appealing in the height of summer as it is in the bleak mid-winter. Whether you head to this corner of the Channel Islands to play around in the sea on paddleboards, kayaks and surfboards, or to explore award-winning museums and attractions, you’re bound to have a memorable holiday.

For those interested in the island’s history, visit the Jersey War Tunnels, where exhibits tell the story of what life was like for islanders at the time of German occupation during the Second World War.

You can also visit Elizabeth Castle, which was commissioned by Sir Walter Raleigh when he was governor of Jersey at the beginning of the 17th century.

But where to stay? You might want to opt for a seaview hotel right on the golden sands of one of the island’s many beaches; a granite manor house surrounded by country walks, or perhaps somewhere in the heart of the cosmopolitan capital, St Helier.

No matter in which part of the island you choose to stay, we’ve found the best hotels in Jersey that will provide a home away from home, whatever the season.

The best hotels in Jersey are:

Best spa hotel: Grand Jersey Hotel and Spa

Neighbourhood: St Helier

There’s still a hint of the golden age of travel at the Grand Jersey Hotel and Spa
— There’s still a hint of the golden age of travel at the Grand Jersey Hotel and Spa

Standing guard over Elizabeth Castle since 1890, this luxury hotel just off the Esplanade in St Helier has played host to royalty and aristocracy. There’s still a hint of the golden age of travel, with porters to take your bag and a concierge on hand to answer questions about where to go and what to see. However, it’s still a thoroughly modern hotel, with a champagne bar, cinema room and soothing spa. The heated indoor pool is complemented by a steam room and sauna, while Elemis treatments include biotec facials and hot-stone massages. After visiting the spa, cocoon yourself in a soft blanket in the low-lit relaxation room. Don’t miss the fine-dining restaurant Tassili, which holds four AA rosettes.

Best luxury hotel: Longueville Manor

Neighbourhood: St Saviour

Staff at Longueville Manor take the time to learn your preferences, so you feel looked after
— Staff at Longueville Manor take the time to learn your preferences, so you feel looked after

The island’s only Relais & Chateaux hotel, this granite manor house with an impressive circular drive oozes luxury from the minute you pull up at the imposing front door (lit by dozens of pillar candles on the stone steps if you arrive at night). With just 29 rooms and suites, the place never feels crowded, whether you are taking a stroll in the kitchen garden, swimming in the heated outdoor pool, walking in the extensive grounds or enjoying the hot tub in the bijou spa. Staff take the time to learn your names and preferences, so you feel looked after throughout your stay. Choose the tower suite to feel like the Lady of Shalott.

Best boutique hotel: Old Court House Inn

Neighbourhood: St Aubin

Dine at the Old Court House’s pub, restaurant or outdoor terrace
— Dine at the Old Court House’s pub, restaurant or outdoor terrace

With just 10 rooms in a building that dates back to the 15th century, this boutique inn is both characterful and affordable. Situated right on St Aubin’s harbour, you can watch the private yachts bob in the marina (or not, depending on the tide) and easily explore the art galleries and antique shops that make up St Aubin’s village. Rooms are all unique, with one boasting a roll-top bath and another an outdoor terrace with whirlpool tub. The menu (dine at the pub, restaurant or outdoor terrace) includes steaks, burgers and battered cod and chips, which you can wash down with the house ale.

Best budget hotel: The Hotel de Normandie

Neighbourhood: St Helier

Hotel de Normandie is within walking distance of St Helier’s town centre
— Hotel de Normandie is within walking distance of St Helier’s town centre

This is a great place to bed down if you’re on a budget. Close to the seawater bathing pool at Havre des Pas, Hotel de Normandie is within walking distance of St Helier’s town centre, from where you can catch buses all over the island (the hotel is also on a bus route into town, if you’re feeling lazy). Rooms in the Victorian gabled building are higgledy-piggledy, with single and family rooms in the mix, and most are fitted out smartly with colourful drapes at the windows and bright prints on the wall. The real boon is the heated indoor pool with whirlpool and sauna, which is unexpected at this price and welcome in the cooler months when the sea is less inviting.

Best hotel for walkers: Château la Chaire

Neighbourhood: Rozel

Château la Chaire is full of charm and luxury touches
— Château la Chaire is full of charm and luxury touches

Perched on a hillside high above Rozel Bay, this dog-friendly country house hotel has an old-fashioned charm and is a luxurious place to stay. Enjoy a glass of bubbly in the residents’ lounge, which is decorated with stucco plasterwork and antique furniture; or a slap-up meal in the wood-panelled restaurant. The gardens are full of botanical plants, and it’s from here you can enjoy panoramic view of the bay. In a matter of minutes, you can join one of Jersey’s most spectacular coastal walks along the cliff path that leads to Bonne Nuit Bay. A shorter walk in the opposite direction will take you to Saint Catherine’s breakwater, from where you can get boats to the outer islands of Les Écréhous.

Best family-friendly hotel: The Merton

Neighbourhood: St Saviour

Families have plenty to keep them entertained at The Merton
— Families have plenty to keep them entertained at The Merton

This is the closest Jersey gets to a resort hotel. Think evening tribute acts and bingo, buffet restaurant and swimming pool with flumes and lazy river. Needless to say, it’s popular with families, who can make use of rooms with bunk beds and the non-stop entertainment. Older kids will love the surf lessons on the flowrider (the only one on the island), too. The position is within walking distance of the town centre, from where you can pick up buses to all the major attractions and beaches, so it’s a good spot for a car-free holiday to Jersey.

Best romantic hotel for couples: The Club Hotel

Neighbourhood: St Helier

Enjoy an indoor and outdoor pool with thermal suite at The Club Hotel and Spa
— Enjoy an indoor and outdoor pool with thermal suite at The Club Hotel and Spa

The finest dining experience on the island is to be found in this unassuming hotel tucked away off a main road leading into the heart of Jersey’s capital St Helier. Having held a Michelin star for the best part of 20 years (despite chefs coming and going), the hotel’s restaurant, Bohemia, has established itself as a reliable destination to return to year after year. Tasting menus are always exquisite and accompanied by surprising wine pairings that take you out of your comfort zone. The celebratory feel of dining here makes it popular with couples looking for a romantic weekend away. You can also enjoy massage and beauty treatments in the compact spa; an indoor and outdoor pool with thermal suite, and a well stocked honesty bar.

Best beach hotel: L’Horizon Beach Hotel and Spa

Neighbourhood: St Brelade

L’Horizon hotel is a stone’s throw from the beach
— L’Horizon hotel is a stone’s throw from the beach

You can argue with locals for hours about which is the best beach but, if you do it often enough, you’ll regularly hear St Brelade being mentioned. It’s got everything you want: a perfect arc of golden sand; watersports such as paddleboarding, kayaking and waterskiing; life guards in the summer, and a promenade of shops and restaurants. Tucked away at the end of the promenade is L’Horizon hotel, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the seaside idyll. An indoor swimming pool is favoured by the cold-shy in the shoulder seasons, while a spa serves up Elemis treatments.

Read more of our Europe hotel reviews:

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