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5 Reasons to visit St Helier

St Helier

st helier marina

St Helier in Jersey

St Helier is the capital of Jersey and home to the island’s ferry port and marina, as well as a third of the population of Jersey.
A cycle path follows the beach at St Aubin’s Bay all the way from Havre des Pas to Corbiere Lighthouse.
Here are five reasons why you should visit St Helier:

 

BARS IN ST HELIER

The area around Weighbridge and Liberty Wharf, near the bus station, is the centre of weekend nightlife in St Helier.
From real ale pubs to wine bars and the best cocktails in St Helier, [here…] are our favourite town bars and pubs.

bars and pubs in St Helier
The Blind Pig St Helier
The Cock & Bottle Jersey

CAFES IN ST HELIER

With a lot of the town centre pedestrianized, allowing alfresco coffee mornings, cafe culture is strong in St Helier. [Our favourite cafes in St Helier…]

The Good Egg Beach Cafe
The Lookout Beach Cafe beach view
Locke's St Helier

CENTRAL MARKET

A beautiful Victorian market with an original fountain in the centre of St Helier. Great place for fruit, veg, and meat, and some of our favourite places in town to refuel.
[St Helier Market…]

Market St Helier
Casa Paco Spanish food Central Market
La Bouche Central Market

HAVRE DES PAS

On the seafront, a short walk from the centre of St Helier,  Havre des Pas is a predominantly residential area with a Victorian Lido, a large sea swimming pool, and a small sandy beach. Small bars and restaurants are always busy in summer, and this is a good place to socialise away from the town centre.
It is also on the cycle path, so you can cycle all the way from Corbière via St Aubin’s Bay.

sunrise Havre des Pas
Havre des Pas
Havre des Pas

SUNSETS IN ST HELIER

St Ouen’s Bay on the island’s west coast is the sunset spot in Jersey; there are some places in St Helier to enjoy stunning sunset skies. Our pick would be from the Freedom Tree at the Marina.

freedom tree sunset
st helier sunset
Sunset at Elizabeth Castle in Jersey

Secret St Helier

Beyond the main shopping streets and finance district, St Helier hides intriguing history and local secrets:

  • Victor Hugo’s exile: French writer Victor Hugo lived at 13 Marine Terrace (Havre des Pas) from 1852–1855, holding séances and experimenting with early photography before moving to Guernsey.

  • The Hermitage Rock: At low tide, a small chapel sits on an islet off Elizabeth Castle, linked to Saint Helier, the 6th‑century hermit martyred by Saxon raiders in 555 AD; the islet is reachable at low tide, but tides rise very quickly.

  • Royal Square battle marks: Royal Square was the site of the 1781 Battle of Jersey; local tradition says marks from the fighting can still be seen in some surrounding buildings.

  • Hidden nuclear bunker: A former Cold War command centre, preserved by Jersey Heritage, lies behind ordinary houses in a quiet residential area, with 1960s equipment intact; access is by guided tour booked in advance.