★ Things To Do In GUERNSEY | Places to Visit, Events & Festivals | UK Channel Island Holiday Review ★

Guernsey is a small island between France and England, and is part of the Channel Islands, which also include the islands of Jersey, Alderney, Sark and Herm (in descending order of size). I have only been to Herm and Sark however, and Sark especially is one of the nicest places i have ever visited, and would recommend it very stongly as a day trip :-)
Sark (and the other islands) can be accessed by a short boat trip from Guernsey. Sark and Herm are the smallest of the islands - so small in fact that there are no cars which adds to the relaxing atmosphere, and makes it extremely peaceful. On Sark, me and my family always hire bikes from one of the bike sheds on the island.

TOP TIP: When you arrive on Sark, there is a steep hill which you can either walk up or be transported up (for a small fee). At the top, if you turn left and make an almost u-turn you will see a dirt road leading to a big shed/small barn. Follow this track and there will probably be someone hanging around. Tell them you want some bikes and he will hopefully lend you some for free. Do not be put off by the fact the place looks like a bike graveyard! When we were there, he told us just to take some bikes and that if we lose them, we should nick better bikes from other people! This just shows the completely chilled out atmosphere on Sark! This was a few years ago though so this the bike shed may not be the same anymore - so check first :-)

The scenery on Sark is just amazing so take your camera! There are some nice cafes and places to eat, and you must go to the chocolate shop where you can see people making chocolate in the workshop..mmm...
Also, my brother wants me to point out that the general store on the island is the only place that he believes still sell the original 'Zoom' lollies in which the different parts actually taste like the fruit they are supposed to taste like. I hope that was useful to you !
I believe that on Herm (or it could be Sark) there is a school and only about 5 children attend!
Anyway, I must get back to Guernsey now:
If you like food, this is the place to go as i seem to come back rather heavier than i when i arrived there. You could eat at a different restaurant for every meal for every day of your holiday and not even scratch the surface. There are many expensive restaurants where I was always taken, with 'Pierre Park' being the best in my opinion, especially the buffet! There is a large grass area behind this hotel/restaurant where there is a small kids park and you can hire clubs for the crazy golf, or equipment for the croquet, OR you can play tennis on the courts. There is also a nice lake with a fountain...all very picturesque. Also, if you go at Easter there is a very enjoyable egg hunt in the grounds!

If you like roast dinners and don't like all the fancy grub, go to 'The Falcon Carvery' at the 'Friquet' hotel. Very good value for money.
If you have children, go to Sausmarez Park which is the best playground i remember going to as a child, especially the giant spinning disc, and stepping stones through a murky stream! And there is also an easter egg hunt here on Easter sunday which is very popular.

The centre of island life is St. Peter Port which is where the main shops are situated, and its got to be one of the most scenic high streets in existence as the shops are positioned along a maze of cobbled streets, with the front looking out onto the dock which is always bursting with yachts. There are several unique craft shops aswell as the usual 'New Look', 'Monsoon', 'Boots' etc. Interesting to explore.
A tip of mine is to go to the saturday car boot at the 'La Mare de Carteret' primary school, as there is a much higher quality of goods available than at UK car boots. I found this especially true for clothes and sold my finds on ebay for about £40 even though i only spent about £7! I think this is because the general quality of shops in Guernsey is much higher - so get spending!

If you like beaches there are so many to choose from. If you like sandy beaches, go to Fermain Bay which is one of the largest and most popular beaches.
Guernsey is quite sport-oriented and has so many sports facilities dotted around the place, with the biggest probably being Beau Sejour leisure centre. This has a gym, badminton/tennis/squash courts and a big swimming pool- everything you woud expect. Also, at certain times of the year, the swimming pool is turned 'fun' and the really cool slides open, tonnes of floats are thrown in the pool, and a giant inflatbale is put in the middle. This is so much fun, as you line up behind the inflatable and one at a time, people jump, crawl and shimmy their way along the very wobbly obstacle course floating on the water, culminating with a slide at the end, and sometimes the lifeguards aim hose pipes at you. This is so much fun, especially when you see other people fall off quite spectacularly!

Another thing to try is the Guernsey milk from the famous Guernsey cows - it's lovely and creamy. The annual flower show is also a good day out and is more interesting than it sounds...beats Chelsea any day!
www.aurigny.com is good for flights (we always travel with them), and no apparently its not pronounced 'Urine - ey'!

To be honest, i could go on forever about my favourite sights and restaurants but i think i better stop now before this becomes an essay...
Therefore, in conclusion, this is a fantastic place for a relaxed getaway and a slower pace of life (not for those seeking a buzzing nightlife), and is quick and easy to get to. And even though it's not far from England, the weather is much nicer too...you can't lose! Just don't forget you camera.
PS. You will probably notice whilst you are there that there is certain (friendly) competition between Jersey and Guernsey, and i only add this fact so that when you hear the people of Guernsey referring to 'the other island', you will know what they mean!

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