St Brelade's Bay
No passports required for this one.
- Best forFamilies · Beach lovers · Walkers & hikers
- In March11°C · 13 rainy days
- Ideal stay3–4 nights
- Approx. flying time~11h 05m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyGBPPound sterling
- LanguageEnglish
- Local time11:20same time as the UK
- PlugsType GUK plugs fit
- Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
- Dialling code+44
Why go
A wide south-facing curve of pale sand on Jersey's sheltered side, backed by a short strip of cafés and steep green slopes. The bay turns away from the prevailing wind, so the water is usually calm and the sand warms quickly. Rockpools at either end keep children occupied for hours, and the whole place is small enough that nobody gets lost. On a good day it feels Mediterranean.
Jersey is a short flight or ferry from southern England and needs no passport for UK travellers, which makes it an easy first trip abroad that is not quite abroad. Three or four nights covers the bay, the north-coast cliff paths and a wartime site or two. June to September is the reliable window. Tides swing enormously, so check the tables before committing to a beach day.
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- The vibe
- Gentle, sheltered, bucket-and-spade
From our guides
St Brelade's Bay is Jersey's gentlest sweep of sand — south-facing, sheltered and shallow, with rockpools at either end for the bucket brigade. The beachfront cafés do proper crab sandwiches, and the medieval Fishermen's Chapel sits right on the sand. Jersey's tidal range is enormous, so time your swim for the hours around high tide, when the walk to the water shrinks from hike to hop.
Featured in Ten beaches with calm, shallow water for small swimmers
Things to do
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Fishermen's Chapel
A small medieval chapel sitting almost on the sand beside the parish church, with fragments of wall paintings inside. Free, quiet and takes ten minutes.
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Rockpooling at Ouaisné
The neighbouring bay over the low headland, wilder and emptier, with granite outcrops that hold anemones, crabs and prawns as the tide drops.
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Crab sandwich on the beach
Jersey crab is picked locally and served in brown bread at the beachfront cafés. It is the single most reliable meal on the island.
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Cliff path to Portelet
A steady half-hour walk west over the headland to a sheltered bay with an island in the middle, reached by a long flight of steps.
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Corbière lighthouse
At the island's south-west tip, a white lighthouse on a tidal rock reached by a causeway that floods fast. Sunsets here are the island's best.
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Jersey War Tunnels
An underground hospital complex dug during the German occupation, now a museum about the occupation years. Sobering, well done and entirely indoors on a wet day.
Getting there
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Fly to
St. Peter (JER)
The airport is on the doorstep.
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Then
To St Brelade
Jersey Airport (JER) is only about ten minutes from St Brelade's Bay by taxi or bus. Ferries from Poole, Portsmouth and St Malo are the slower alternative.
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On the ground
Getting around
The bay is a single seafront strip with the cafés, the Fishermen's Chapel and the sand all on it, and buses run along the coast road to St Helier in around half an hour.
Public transport: Jersey's bus network is small but reliable and covers the south coast well.
Flights
Los Angeles St Brelade's Bay, Jersey
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Roughly 11h 05m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
Pick your departure date, then your return.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 9°C in January to 19°C in August. Driest April to August; wettest in December, with rain on about 20 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March11° · rain 13 daysCold and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Independent seaside hotels, guesthouses and self-catering apartments, with a couple of long-standing larger hotels on the bay. Almost no chains on the island.
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Best base overall
St Brelade
Right on the bay, where a handful of hotels sit above the sand and the beach cafés and chapel are a stroll away. Limited choice, and rooms with the view cost noticeably more.
Find stays in St Brelade -
Best value
St Aubin
A harbour village along the coast with pubs, restaurants and cheaper rooms, plus the flat cycle track to town along the old railway. A short bus ride to the bay.
Find stays in St Aubin -
Closest to the sights
St Helier
The island's town, with the widest choice of hotels, the market and the buses that reach everywhere. Twenty minutes from St Brelade's Bay and no beach to speak of.
Find stays in St Helier -
Quietest
Portelet and Ouaisné
The next coves round the headland, reached by steps, with a few self-catering places above them. Peaceful, and you will drive or walk for supper.
Find stays in Portelet and Ouaisné
Worth knowing before you book: Jersey's season is short and July and August book out by spring, with many bay hotels closing between November and Easter.
Search everything else in St Brelade by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Tides
- Jersey has one of the world's largest tidal ranges, around 12 metres on spring tides. Swim in the hours either side of high water and never cross a causeway on a rising tide.
- Getting there
- Flights from most UK airports and ferries from Poole and Portsmouth. UK travellers need no passport, but bring photo identification for the airline.
- Driving
- The island speed limit tops out at 40mph and drops to 15mph in Green Lanes, where walkers and cyclists have priority. Lanes are very narrow.
- Cash or card
- Jersey issues its own notes, which are not accepted back in the UK, though sterling is used everywhere on the island. Spend them before you leave.
- Shade
- The bay faces south with almost no natural shade at high tide. Bring an umbrella and strong sun cream for small children.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit St Brelade's Bay?
Daytime highs run from about 9°C in January to 19°C in August. Driest April to August; wettest in December, with rain on about 20 days.
How long should I spend in St Brelade's Bay?
Our suggestion: 3–4 nights.
How do I get to St Brelade's Bay?
Jersey Airport (JER) is only about ten minutes from St Brelade's Bay by taxi or bus. Ferries from Poole, Portsmouth and St Malo are the slower alternative.
Do I need a car in St Brelade's Bay?
No. Jersey's bus network is small but reliable and covers the south coast well.
What currency and language are used in St Brelade's Bay?
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP). Language: English. Plugs: type G.
Who is St Brelade's Bay best for?
Best for families, beach lovers and walkers & hikers. In a phrase: gentle, sheltered, bucket-and-spade.