The Channel Islands are located just off the coast of France mainly in the Bay of St Malo. Formally they are Crown Dependencies, which means in simple terms they are self-governing in all respects except for Defence and Foreign Affairs, which is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.
Understand
History
The Channel Islands have been inhabited for over 5,000 years and have a long and colourful history. During WWII they were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied and retain many military structures, both from this period and from the time of the Napoleonic Wars.
They count their independence of any ties to France from the year 1204.
Today, the Islands' Head of State is the Queen of United Kingdom who is represented in the Islands by her Lieutenant-Governors. Her role derives from Her status as the successor to the now-defunct Dukedom of Normandy (the Islanders' version of the Loyal Toast, is "The Queen, our Duke". The Islands laws are a mixture of local legislation, customary law (heavily influenced by the English Common Law), Acts of the UK Parliament which have been extended to the Islands and (some) European Union Law in respect of (e.g.) the free movement of people and of goods. The Islands have their own tax systems, currencies (at par with the GBP), banknotes, and individual Parliaments. The relationship with the EU is complex and little understood (they are in the European Community Customs Area, but outside the ambit of fiscal and social legislation for example).
History
The Channel Islands have been inhabited for over 5,000 years and have a long and colourful history. During WWII they were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied and retain many military structures, both from this period and from the time of the Napoleonic Wars.
They count their independence of any ties to France from the year 1204.
Today, the Islands' Head of State is the Queen of United Kingdom who is represented in the Islands by her Lieutenant-Governors. Her role derives from Her status as the successor to the now-defunct Dukedom of Normandy (the Islanders' version of the Loyal Toast, is "The Queen, our Duke". The Islands laws are a mixture of local legislation, customary law (heavily influenced by the English Common Law), Acts of the UK Parliament which have been extended to the Islands and (some) European Union Law in respect of (e.g.) the free movement of people and of goods. The Islands have their own tax systems, currencies (at par with the GBP), banknotes, and individual Parliaments. The relationship with the EU is complex and little understood (they are in the European Community Customs Area, but outside the ambit of fiscal and social legislation for example).
Regions
The Islands fall into two separate Bailiwicks (historic feudal divisions), each of which has its own separate government. Guernsey, Alderney and Sark (comprising the Bailiwick of Guernsey) is effectively a Customs Union with no customs controls between them (despite the fact that Sark levies taxes on alcohol and tobacco at a much reduced rate to the rest of the Bailiwick!)
Bailiwick of Jersey
Jersey - largest and most developed of the islands, with the most to do.
Les Ecrehous - uninhabited islet, there are however, a few buildings which act as holiday homes.
Les Minquiers ("The Minkies") - uninhabited islet.
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Guernsey - smaller than Jersey and pretty, with a smaller town but less open countryside than Jersey.
Alderney - highest number of pubs per head of population in the Islands, and with a lot of accessible open countryside. A centre for e-gambling.
Sark - the last feudal society in Europe.
Herm - a tiny, lovely island off Guernsey where Guernsey people go for a day out.
Jethou a tiny island off Guernsey with a handful of houses on it.
Lihou - a tiny island off Guernsey reachable by a tidal causeway where there are interesting monastic ruins.
Burhou - a tiny island off Alderney. A bird sanctuary where the former farmer's cottage can be rented from the Alderney Government.
Brecquou - a privately owned island owned by two brothers (the Barclays) who are reclusive billionaires.
Les Casquettes ("The Caskets") - small group of rocky islets formerly inhabited by a lighthouse keeper, now uninhabited and the site of an automatic light.
Cities
The larger islands are divided into Parishes. (Alderney is one parish, the Parish of St Anne).
St Helier - Capital of Jersey.
St Peter-Port - Capital of Guernsey.
Town (La Ville) - Main Urban Area on Alderney.
Getting there
Like the UK, the Channel Islands are outside the Schengen Agreement but form a Common Travel Area with the UK, Republic of Ireland and Isle of Man.
By air
Guernsey airport (IATA : GCI) (ICAO : EGJB) - to/from the UK (London Gatwick, London Stansted, Bristol, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Exeter, Manchester and Southampton), France (Dinard and St Brieuc), Jersey, Alderney, Germany (Dusseldorf and Stuttgart) and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Jersey airport (IATA : JER) (ICAO : EGJJ)
By boat
St Peter Port, Guernsey - to/from the UK (Poole, Portsmouth and Weymouth), St Malo in France and other Channel Islands.
Eat
If you are from the United Kingdom most foods will be the same.
Drink
Due to their quasi independent status, taxes on drink are lower than in the United Kingdom, and so prices can be lower.
Talk
English is spoken throughout the islands, but there are still remnants of the old Norman patois.
Safety
A lot of the people here are friendly and will be happy to assist you around the islands.
It is possible to take day trips to ports in France, such as St Malo.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
Some photos courtesy of:
. The photos provided by Flickr are under the copyright of their owners.
This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at View full credits
Ryan HollidayAndy Farrell, Peter Fitzgerald, Tim Sandell, Evan Prodromou and David Le Brun, LateRooms, Voyager, Tatatabot, Vidimian, Episteme, Huttite and Karen Johnson
This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at View full credits
The Channel Islands are located just off the coast of France mainly in the Bay of St Malo. Formally they are Crown Dependencies, which means in simple terms they are self-governing in all respects except for Defence and Foreign Affairs, which is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.
Understand
History
The Channel Islands have been inhabited for over 5,000 years and have a long and colourful history. During WWII they were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied and retain many military structures, both from this period and from the time of the Napoleonic Wars.
They count their independence of any ties to France from the year 1204.
Today, the Islands' Head of State is the Queen of United Kingdom who is represented in the Islands by her Lieutenant-Governors. Her role derives from Her status as the successor to the now-defunct Dukedom of Normandy (the Islanders' version of the Loyal Toast, is "The Queen, our Duke". The Islands laws are a mixture of local legislation, customary law (heavily influenced by the English Common Law), Acts of the UK Parliament which have been extended to the Islands and (some) European Union Law in respect of (e.g.) the free movement of people and of goods. The Islands have their own tax systems, currencies (at par with the GBP), banknotes, and individual Parliaments. The relationship with the EU is complex and little understood (they are in the European Community Customs Area, but outside the ambit of fiscal and social legislation for example).
History
The Channel Islands have been inhabited for over 5,000 years and have a long and colourful history. During WWII they were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied and retain many military structures, both from this period and from the time of the Napoleonic Wars.
They count their independence of any ties to France from the year 1204.
Today, the Islands' Head of State is the Queen of United Kingdom who is represented in the Islands by her Lieutenant-Governors. Her role derives from Her status as the successor to the now-defunct Dukedom of Normandy (the Islanders' version of the Loyal Toast, is "The Queen, our Duke". The Islands laws are a mixture of local legislation, customary law (heavily influenced by the English Common Law), Acts of the UK Parliament which have been extended to the Islands and (some) European Union Law in respect of (e.g.) the free movement of people and of goods. The Islands have their own tax systems, currencies (at par with the GBP), banknotes, and individual Parliaments. The relationship with the EU is complex and little understood (they are in the European Community Customs Area, but outside the ambit of fiscal and social legislation for example).
Regions
The Islands fall into two separate Bailiwicks (historic feudal divisions), each of which has its own separate government. Guernsey, Alderney and Sark (comprising the Bailiwick of Guernsey) is effectively a Customs Union with no customs controls between them (despite the fact that Sark levies taxes on alcohol and tobacco at a much reduced rate to the rest of the Bailiwick!)
Bailiwick of Jersey
Jersey - largest and most developed of the islands, with the most to do.
Les Ecrehous - uninhabited islet, there are however, a few buildings which act as holiday homes.
Les Minquiers ("The Minkies") - uninhabited islet.
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Guernsey - smaller than Jersey and pretty, with a smaller town but less open countryside than Jersey.
Alderney - highest number of pubs per head of population in the Islands, and with a lot of accessible open countryside. A centre for e-gambling.
Sark - the last feudal society in Europe.
Herm - a tiny, lovely island off Guernsey where Guernsey people go for a day out.
Jethou a tiny island off Guernsey with a handful of houses on it.
Lihou - a tiny island off Guernsey reachable by a tidal causeway where there are interesting monastic ruins.
Burhou - a tiny island off Alderney. A bird sanctuary where the former farmer's cottage can be rented from the Alderney Government.
Brecquou - a privately owned island owned by two brothers (the Barclays) who are reclusive billionaires.
Les Casquettes ("The Caskets") - small group of rocky islets formerly inhabited by a lighthouse keeper, now uninhabited and the site of an automatic light.
Cities
The larger islands are divided into Parishes. (Alderney is one parish, the Parish of St Anne).
St Helier - Capital of Jersey.
St Peter-Port - Capital of Guernsey.
Town (La Ville) - Main Urban Area on Alderney.
Getting there
Like the UK, the Channel Islands are outside the Schengen Agreement but form a Common Travel Area with the UK, Republic of Ireland and Isle of Man.
By air
Guernsey airport (IATA : GCI) (ICAO : EGJB) - to/from the UK (London Gatwick, London Stansted, Bristol, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Exeter, Manchester and Southampton), France (Dinard and St Brieuc), Jersey, Alderney, Germany (Dusseldorf and Stuttgart) and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Jersey airport (IATA : JER) (ICAO : EGJJ)
By boat
Eat
If you are from the United Kingdom most foods will be the same.
Drink
Due to their quasi independent status, taxes on drink are lower than in the United Kingdom, and so prices can be lower.
Talk
English is spoken throughout the islands, but there are still remnants of the old Norman patois.
Safety
A lot of the people here are friendly and will be happy to assist you around the islands.
It is possible to take day trips to ports in France, such as St Malo.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
stephane martin, Paul Stevenson, Marilyn Peddle, Jersey Tourism, Nik Sibley
Some photos courtesy of:
. The photos provided by Flickr are under the copyright of their owners.
This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at
View full credits
Ryan HollidayAndy Farrell, Peter Fitzgerald, Tim Sandell, Evan Prodromou and David Le Brun, LateRooms, Voyager, Tatatabot, Vidimian, Episteme, Huttite and Karen Johnson
This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at
View full credits