Sightseeing in St Helier, Jersey's Capital

October 31, 2026

Jersey’s capital has sights from four centuries within walking distance, plus one great castle a bus ride east. Entry fees are in Jersey pounds, equal to sterling. Jersey Heritage runs most of the venues below, and its 7-day pass costs £52.00 for adults, £42.00 for seniors, £30.00 for children and students and £136.00 for a family. The pass includes Elizabeth Castle, Mont Orgueil, Jersey Museum, the Maritime Museum with the Tapestry Gallery, La Hougue Bie and Hamptonne.

Two castles, two centuries

Mont Orgueil dates from the early 13th century, and Elizabeth Castle dates from the 1590s. Mont Orgueil was the island’s chief fortress until gunpowder artillery made it obsolete, and Elizabeth Castle was built to take its place.

Elizabeth Castle stands on a granite islet in St Aubin’s Bay, 1.1 km from Westpark Slip. It was named by Sir Walter Raleigh during his time as Governor of Jersey, which lasted from 1600 to 1603. Charles II, the future king, took refuge there twice during the Civil War, and German forces strengthened it with concrete bunkers. Between 18 March and 1 November 2026, the amphibious ferry crosses at any tide. Walkers can use the causeway only at low tide, and they should allow at least 15 minutes each way and check the Ports of Jersey calculator on ports.je . Admission is £19.50 for adults, £18.50 for seniors and £11.45 for children and students, or £24.50, £23.50 and £16.45 with the return ferry.

Mont Orgueil looks down on Gorey harbour in St Martin, 25 minutes from town on route 1 or 1A. It was begun in 1204, and the Tudors added to it. Adults pay £19.50 and family tickets are £55.95. It opens daily, with the last entry an hour before closing. Closing days are 24, 25, 26 and 31 December and 1 January. Details are on jerseyheritage.org .

Museums

Jersey Museum on the Weighbridge covers Neanderthal hunters through to the modern island. Its attractions include a restored 19th-century merchant’s house, the story of actress Lillie Langtry and the photographs of Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore. Adults pay £15.45 and children or students £10.25 since charging resumed on 1 July 2026, and the ground floor is free.

Maritime Museum on New North Quay explores navigation, shipbuilding and tides. It houses the Occupation Tapestry, with 13 panels about island life under German rule, twelve stitched for the 50th Liberation anniversary in 1995 and one added in 2020. The Tapestry Gallery alone costs £6.30. Both museums open daily from 10:00 until 17:00, and from 1 November the hours become 10:00 to 16:00.

Town landmarks

Royal Square has a 1751 statue of George II in Roman dress and is the site of the 1781 Battle of Jersey, in which Major Francis Peirson died. Musket-ball marks are still embedded in the wall of The Peirson pub.

Jersey Opera House, a Grade II listed theatre on Gloucester Street, opened in 1900 to designs by Adolphus Curry. It reopened on 3 October 2025 with 652 seats, and its programme is at jerseyoperahouse.co.uk .

Fort Regent is a Napoleonic citadel from the 19th century that overlooks the town. It is closed to the public while it is redeveloped, and reopening is targeted for the end of 2028.

Occupation history

La Hougue Bie, with the same prices and hours as the museums, has a Neolithic passage grave, a 16th-century chapel and a German command bunker, and it tells the story of the forced workers. For the Jersey War Tunnels, see attraction tours in St Helier .

To compare guided options, try Viator sightseeing in St Helier .