St Helier

St Helier is the largest of Jersey's twelve parishes and the main town of the island in the English Channel, which is a Crown Dependency answering directly to the British Crown but is not part of the United Kingdom. A trip to St Helier combines harbor atmosphere, a castle in the sea, and traces of the German occupation during World War II. The parish is also the island's financial center and its top shopping destination.

Location and Townscape

St Helier lies on Jersey's south coast on the wide expanse of St Aubin's Bay, where the tidal range is among the largest in the world; at low tide, the sea retreats for miles. Besides the town center, the parish includes districts such as Georgetown and Havre des Pas, home to a historic tidal swimming pool. In the center you'll find the Royal Square with the parliament, the States of Jersey, and the Victorian Central Market with its cast-iron fountain, where vendors sell fruit, flowers, and fish. The pedestrian zone King Street is known for tax-free shopping.

Sights in St Helier

Elizabeth Castle stands on a tidal island in the bay and can be reached on foot over a causeway at low tide or by amphibious vehicle at high tide. The 16th-century fortress was later used by British troops and, during the occupation from 1940 to 1945, by the Wehrmacht. The Jersey Museum and the Maritime Museum at the harbor tell the story of the island, and Liberation Square commemorates the liberation on May 9, 1945, which is celebrated every year. In the neighboring parish of St Lawrence you'll find the Jersey War Tunnels, an underground hospital dug by forced laborers for the occupiers; in St Helier itself, Fort Regent towers on a hill above the harbor.

Food, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

Jersey is known for Jersey Royal potatoes, which are harvested in spring, oysters and lobster from the tidal waters, and dairy products from Jersey cows. St Helier has pubs, seafood restaurants, and cafés at the harbor. Jersey Airport is located in the neighboring parish of St Peter and has connections to the UK and, seasonally, to Europe; ferries run to Saint-Malo in France and to Poole and Portsmouth. The best time to visit is May through September.