The charming UK island only an hour’s flight away that feels just like the French Riviera
- UK Hidden Gems
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Imagine a place where British charm meets a touch of French style. This island, full of history and character, offers a mix of both worlds that makes it truly unique.
This small island is just nine miles long and five miles wide. While it is British, it has the feel of being in France.
That’s not surprising when you realise Jersey sits only 14 miles from the French coast at Brittany and the port of St Malo, yet over 80 miles away from mainland Britain.
Often described as a “piece of France that fell into the sea and was picked up by England,” Jersey is full of French influences.
From place names and food flavours to traces of the Norman language, it blends seamlessly with familiar British traditions.
Despite the French touches, Jersey is not part of France. It is a Crown Dependency, which means it governs itself with its own parliament but still pledges loyalty to the British Crown.
Jersey was once part of the Duchy of Normandy. The Norman dukes became rulers of England in 1066, and when England later lost Normandy in the 13th century, Jersey chose to remain loyal to the English Crown, though it was never part of England itself.
In later years, Jersey stood on the frontline during wars between Britain and France. It was invaded several times, leading to strong fortifications such as Mont Orgueil Castle being built.
The island also saw plenty of smuggling. During the Second World War, Jersey was occupied by Nazi forces for five years before being freed on May 9, 1945, a date still marked as its national day.
Today, Jersey still feels very British. English is the main language, the pound is the currency, and visitors will find left-hand driving, British TV and newspapers, schools following England’s curriculum, and favourite sports like football and cricket. Many people also know it thanks to the hit BBC series Bergerac from the 1980s.
According to Visit Jersey, around 400,000 visitors from the UK travelled to the island in 2024, playing a big role in supporting its tourism sector.
One English couple, Steve and Vanessa Butcher, have been so taken with Jersey that they have visited 75 times since winning a day trip in 1985.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Butcher said: “From the first time we came, we wanted to come back, and we came back, and we wanted to keep coming back, so it’s gone on from there.” They described the island as “scenic, friendly and homely” and vowed to continue returning.
Remember - LeaveNoTrace!
As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
Download the official APP!
Gain access to over 1,600 hidden gems and their co-ordinates all over the UK when you download our app. Add gems to your bucket-list and tick them off as you go along, as well as earn rewards/badges when you visit a certain amount.
Users will also have acess to over 9,000 parking spots across the UK as well as over 1,600 staycations in the UK.
