Family Holidays
To Guernsey

Guernsey is a great option for families being only a short hop by flight or an exciting ferry ride which all adds to the experience of holidaying on an island. The Bailiwick of Guernsey offers a safe and friendly family environment with shallow beaches and a mild climate allowing you to make the most
of the outdoor playground on your doorstep.

The islands also offer a lot to learn; a new culture in Sark watching sheep racing, to history at Castle Cornet getting into character and learning about the defences for St. Peter Port. For the more adventurous, the island really comes to live and offers something that perhaps you wouldn’t usually experience at home with water at the forefront; surfing, coasteering and - if this is all a bit too much excitement - rock pooling! All this action works up and appetite and we have a few family friendly restaurants to suggest so that everyone can enjoy their eating experience and stay well-fuelled for the adventures to come.

We have listed below our Top 10 pick of enjoyable family activities available in Guernsey, offering something for all families.

One: Beaches

Guernsey is blessed with beaches, they are the perfect natural outdoor playground for children and many of Guernsey’s beaches offers shallow waters, like Petit Port, for splashing off on a hot summer’s day. For those who like to ride the waves rather than swim in them, Vazon Bay houses Guernsey Surf School where you can try your hand at a new skill.

“My Son Logan and I, love running around on the sand on a sunny day. It's the perfect family playground.”

Ness, Reservations Advisor

Two: Outdoor Guernsey

This is for the thrill seeking families! All under safe supervision and with qualified instructors where required, there is an action packed programme including everything from full adventure days to coasteering trips and kayak explorations. For those who seek their thrills on the ground, there are Nerf team games and beach games in the outdoor playground that the island provides.

Three: Rockpooling

When the tide falls a new landscape is revealed and this delight happens twice a day! Get your nets and buckets and see what you can find swimming in the seawater pools and or hiding in the seaweed. If you’re lucky you’ll find crabs, sea slugs, shrimps and sea anemones.

Four: Pirate Bay Adventure Golf

Welcoming pirates of all ages, the 12 hole course sees you battle against erupting volcanoes, skirting round pesky pirates and across troubled waters to reach your loot. The course is fully interactive and great fun for all ages, it is also floodlit at night.

Five: Oatlands Village

Named as the ‘Island’s Family Retreat’, Oatlands is a great family day out rain or shine. Their newest addition, Oaty and Joey’s Playbarn, is for mini-explorers who climb ropes, dive through ball pools and crawl through pipes. For the older ones there is a Bowling Alley, play frames, e-cars and trampolines. Mini-golf, a toy shop, craft activities and ‘oat’ cuisine combine to seal the deal!

Six: La Vallette Bathing Pools

These man-made pools have been entertaining families in Guernsey for more than 150 years. Located on the East Coast within easy reach of the town centre, the sheltered waters are refreshed on every high tide and then provide a safe area for sea swimming and splashing around. There is also a kiosk serving drinks and snacks to refuel.

Seven: Sausmarez Manor

This traditional Guernsey manor house welcomes families throughout the year and makes for a fun filled day amongst beautiful and safe surroundings with plenty of outdoor space to enjoy. One of the highlights is the mini-train which trundles the quarter of the mile through the sculpture park and for the more active, there is a 9 hole putting green on the old grass tennis court.

Eight: Castle Cornet

Castle Cornet has guarded St. Peter Port for 800 years and now welcomes visitors from across the globe. Once inside the walls, the castle offers dressing-up to get into character for the rest of the trip where there are castle trails and activity sheets for all – this makes for both an educational and entraining trip. For the younger children, there are ‘spot-it’ picture board in the galleries to bring the story to life for them as well. It’s also a great spot for a summer picnic, so bring your blankets!

Nine: Sark Sheep Racing

For kids and big-kids alike, this fun weekend is a ride across the water from St. Peter Port to Sark. Sheep, each with their soft toy jockey on-board, race across the finish line in this highly entertaining island tradition. If the racing isn’t enough, there is also a funday carnival with face painting, bouncy castles and parades.

Ten: Family Friendly Restaurants

Crabby Jacks – A well-known family favourite where fun is their speciality! Kids can let off steam in the children’s play area while parents can relax and enjoy their meal. Open for lunch and dinner with a special kids’ menu. It is also a completely smoke-free venue.

The Beach House – Great food right on the beach at Pembroke Bay it is perfect for a family day out serving snacks, drinks and meals for lunch and dinner. They also offer takeaways so you can make the most of your beach time in this beautiful sandy bay.