If you have never travelled to Jersey from London before you may be surprised by how quick and easy it is.
Jersey oozes so much charm and character from its tiny 45 square mile frame that you will quickly find yourself won over by its unique personality and quirky attractions.
With stunning, clean beaches, fascinating historical sites and incredible seafood there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands; it sits between England and France and is part of the British Isles, but not part of the UK.
Visiting the island is wonderfully simple from London, as it’s in the same time zone, locals speak English and islanders use the British Pound, although the bank notes may look slightly different!
Located just 292km from the UK’s capital, Jersey is really easy to reach from London thanks to the high number of daily connections.
As someone born and raised in Jersey, I am expertly placed to fill you in on all the information you will need to make travelling here a breeze, so let’s get stuck in….
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Flying to Jersey from London
How to Fly from Jersey to London
By far the easiest, quickest and most frequent way to travel to Jersey from London is by air.
With flight times of roughly one hour, it is only a short hop from the capital to “one of the sunniest places in the British Isles”.
London Gatwick offers around 3 flights to Jersey per day with easyJet.
As of 2024, there are also some British Airways flights that service this route.
Prices start from approximately £138 return per person with easyJet’s Essentials fare which allows 23kg hold luggage as well as a small cabin bag.
If you are willing to be more flexible with your flight times the slightly cheaper option is easyJet’s route from London Luton.
With prices for the Essentials fare starting at £126 return per person.
However, there are far fewer flights available to choose from on this route.
London Heathrow provides 3 to 4 flights daily to Jersey, flying with British Airways.
Their Economy Plus fare which allows one 23kg item of hold luggage and a small cabin bag starts from around £129 return per person.
Tips for Flying to Jersey
In terms of paperwork, flying from London to Jersey couldn’t be simpler!
Jersey is part of the UK Common Travel Area (CTA) and as such there is no need for passports or visas.
Essentially, flights to Jersey run in a similar way to domestic flight routes within the UK, so make sure to bring valid photo ID in order to check in.
Driving licenses, National ID cards or passports will all do the job.
When flying to Jersey from London all of the usual rules apply when passing through security; including duty free levels and liquid restrictions.
Security has become simpler at Jersey airport for your return flight too.
The installation of a new CT scanner means that you can carry up to 2 litres of liquid in your hand luggage and that there is no need to remove electronics items and liquids from your bag before it is scanned – hoorah!
All airlines that fly to Jersey advise you to check in 1 – 2 hours before your flight
You will find that there are more flight options during the summer high season, with some routes being stopped altogether during the winter.
Check routes and find the best prices by using my favourite price comparison website Skyscanner.
How to Get Cheap Flights to Jersey
When arranging your flights to Jersey from London, booking early is key!
I would advise looking to book at least 2-3 months in advance to make the most of the deals available.
Flight prices are, predictably, far higher during the high summer season (July and August) and other popular holiday periods such as Christmas and Easter, when locals now living in the UK return home to see family and friends.
If you can, it is far cheaper to book flights from London to Jersey midweek, with Friday and weekend flights costing a premium.
When making your booking, you will notice that the price of flights to Jersey from London can vary a lot depending on the time of the flight.
Red eye flights (i.e. those around 7am) are often way cheaper than those later in the day, but don’t forget to factor in getting to the airport if you’re going for these early options!
If you need to arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick at 5am and there’s no tube or train to get you there, paying for an airport hotel will not make the flight cheaper overall!
Luggage restrictions apply with all airlines flying to Jersey from London.
Both British Airways (BA) and easyJet charge more for hold baggage so remember to factor in this cost before you book too.
If you travel light, BA have a more generous cabin baggage policy, so it is often cheaper to fly with them than to book hold luggage with easyJet.
Also, flying with BA you will be able to collect your Frequent Flyer points if you are a BA Club member or having Avios points at your disposal.
Another easy way to keep costs low when flying London to Jersey is to avoid reserving seats or buying any food onboard.
It’s such a short flight that there is really no need, and I find this a great way to save a bit of cash.
Arriving at Jersey Airport
Jersey has only one small, easy to navigate airport situated in the west of the island, in the parish of St Peter.
Jersey Airport Facilities
Facilities in the Arrivals terminal at Jersey airport are pretty limited; they include toilets, car hire booths, cash machines, and the small ‘World News Café’ for drinks and snacks.
The Departures terminal has far more facilities to offer.
With a café and bar, several small shops and a well-stocked duty-free retailer there is plenty to keep you entertained as you await your flight.
For those travelling with children, if you take the steps up between the duty-free shop and the departures gates you can access a large aerial lounge from where you can watch planes as they arrive and depart, and kids can let off a bit of steam; it has more than enough room to stretch little legs!
Charging Devices and WIFI
Should you need to charge up electronic devices passengers can ‘plug in, power up and relax’ in the airports Charging Zone free of charge.
Complementary WIFI access is provided throughout the Jersey Airport buildings too.
Public Transport from Jersey Airport
If you are staying in the island’s capital, St Helier, I would recommend taking the bus from the airport as this is by far the cheapest option to reach your accommodation.
There is a bus stop located right outside the Arrivals terminal which provides frequent services to Liberation Station in the heart of St Helier.
The number 22, 9 and 15 buses will all get you in to St Helier from the airport within 30 minutes (if you are in a hurry, opt for the 22 which is an express service, arriving in St Helier in 20 minutes).
For those travelling with a lot of luggage, it is worth waiting for a number 15 as this is a double decker bus with luggage racks.
See the timetables for the number 15 bus routes here.
Taxis from Jersey Airport
There is also a public taxi rank immediately outside the Arrivals terminal at Jersey airport and an area at the rear of the Arrivals car park for pre-booked cabs.
Taking a taxi is the most convenient way to get to any accommodation that is not located in St Helier, but doesn’t come cheap!
You can expect to pay around £25 for a taxi into St Helier and all taxis accept card payment.
If possible, book a taxi in advance as the number of public taxis can be limited, especially at peak times.
Private taxi contact information can be found on the Jersey Airport website.
Uber is not an option when travelling around Jersey as they do not operate on the island sadly.
Car Parking at Jersey Airport
There is no car pick-up and drop-off site at Jersey Airport.
However, anyone collecting friends and family from the airport, can use the long stay car park, opposite the Departures terminal, free of charge for up to 30 minutes.
Alternatively, the Arrivals car park situated directly outside the Arrivals terminal is charged by the half hour with rates of £1 per hour.
You can pay for parking as you exit the car park with a contactless card or phone at an exit machine by the barrier, or at one of the machines in the airport terminal building.
Car Hire from Jersey Airport
For a family who have the time to properly explore the island, hiring a car could be a good choice – however, be warned – this can get very expensive!
With prices starting from £170 for a small family car for 5 days it is definitely a wonderful way to see everything the island has to offer.
As a Jersey driver myself, my top tip would be to choose the smallest car you can comfortably fit in, as many Jersey roads are very narrow!
Car rental operators at Jersey Airport are easily accessible in the Arrivals building, with a choice of three rental companies who have a large range of vehicles.
The cars are located a short walk from the terminal building in the overflow car park.
Check out rates here.
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Sailing from London to Jersey
A slower, but more carbon-footprint friendly alternative is to travel to Jersey from London by ferry from either Poole or Portsmouth.
From 28th March 2025, DFDS Ferries will operate the only ferry route to Jersey with both foot passenger and car ferry services should you wish to take your vehicle with you.
This is a great option for families with young children and / or pets.
You can travel with a car, motorbike, motorhome, van, minivan, bicycle, or as a foot passenger.
And with no luggage restrictions, you can just load up with everything you need and go.
How to Catch the Ferry to Jersey
Currently, DFDS offer two ferry routes to Jersey from the UK, with around 10 ferry sailings per week.
All ferries offer duty free shops, cafes and bar areas.
Prices to sail from the UK to Jersey on any of the routes start from around £400 return for a family of four travelling with a car.
But beware – these rise sharply during peak seasons and school holidays.
As a single foot passenger, you can expect to pay as little as £80 for the return crossing.
Security is more relaxed than flying when boarding the ferries, however, you will be asked to show your booking reference number and photo ID as you embark.
Driving licenses, National ID cards or passports will all be accepted.
Something to bear in mind when booking is that crossing times change all the time, as they are dependant on high tides which vary wildly (Jersey has one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world), so double check the timetables on the DFDS website, to find the crossings that work best for you.
Ferry crossings are also affected by the weather, especially high winds (this occasionally means that ferries will sail earlier than originally scheduled so don’t get caught out!)
Plan your journey down to the ferry ports carefully in advance, but also, as the time of your sailing approaches, keep an eagle eye on sailing updates.
Ferry from Poole
The quickest ferry route on offer is from Poole where you can travel the 167km to St Helier in around 4 hours.
There are around 4 sailings a week during peak season with DFDS.
Ferry from Portsmouth
From Portsmouth you can catch DFDS ferries that run around 6 times per week and take around 10 hours 20 minutes to reach Jersey.
If you are travelling overnight, your journey will be far more enjoyable if you book a cabin.
There’s a range of cabin choices, all priced differently, but even a basic one will be comfortable and mean that you may be able to sleep during journey!
Car Ferry + Pets
A huge bonus to taking your car on the ferry from either Portsmouth or Poole, is that your furry friends can come to Jersey with you.
Dogs and other pets can travel in a vehicle on all ferries, although you will need to make DFDS aware that you intend to travel with a pet when you book.
There is no charge for taking your pet in the car and no pet passports or visas are required.
The slower ferry sailing from Portsmouth has a limited number of pet-friendly cabins available to pre-book for those of us unwilling to leave our fur babies in the car.
These cabins fill up very quickly so it is best to book as far in advance as you can.
Should you choose to travel to Jersey from London by ferry in your car then making sure you book the right vehicle size is vital to avoid ‘amendment fees’ at the harbour.
Check the DFDS website for a handy vehicle size guide to prevent any mishaps.
Getting to the Ferry Port from London by Car
The journey by car from London to the ferry port in Poole takes approx 2 hours and 40 minutes (112 miles).
The quickest route takes you down the M25, followed by the M3 and M27.
If you are headed from London to Portsmouth instead, you need to head south down the M3.
This is a journey of about 76 miles and will take just over 2 hours.
When you arrive at either port just follow the signs to ‘Ferries Car Check-In’.
Car check in opens two hours before you are due to sail and closes one hour before your scheduled departure time.
Getting to the Ferry Port from London by Train
Getting to the ferry ports of both Poole and Portsmouth from London by train is both simple and inexpensive.
There are several possible train routes to both ports with the shortest, cheapest and most direct being the SouthWestern services from London Waterloo to Poole and Portsmouth.
Southern Railway also offer a far less regular direct service to Portsmouth Harbour from London Victoria.
As always, I book my UK trains through price comparison site Trainline.
If you are catching an early morning ferry across to Jersey bear in mind that you may need to stay near the port overnight the night before.
This need not prove too expensive though, as there are plenty of budget-friendly hotels (including Premier Inn and Holiday Inn) situated close to each port.
Train to Poole Ferry Terminal
Trains leave London Waterloo half hourly to go to Poole with the first leaving at 4.30am.
The journey is direct and takes an average of 2 hours 35 minutes and ticket prices start at £12 when you book in advance.
The train station in Poole is a 20–25 minute walk away from the ferry terminal, so if you are travelling light this is definitely an option.
There are regular buses from the station to the terminal with a journey time of about 20 minutes.
Make sure you look at timetables for the ‘Ferry Terminal’ and not the ‘Harbour’ or you will end up at Poole’s historic harbour rather than catching your ferry to Jersey!
Taxis are available outside the station, and this is definitely the quickest way to get from the station to the terminal; the drive only takes around 6 minutes, so if you are in a hurry this is the best option.
Train to Portsmouth Ferry Terminal
There are also half hourly direct train services available from London Waterloo to Portsmouth with the first leaving at 4.08am.
The journey will take just over 2 hours on average and prices start as low as £13 when you book in advance!
I recommend you disembark at Portsmouth & Southsea Station as there is a taxi rank directly outside.
With a short (9 minute) drive to the ferry terminal, a taxi is the most convenient option if you have luggage.
For those traveling light, it is a 26 minute walk or a short bus ride from Portsmouth & Southsea station to the ferry terminal.
Again, make sure you don’t confuse Portsmouth Ferry Terminal with the ‘Harbour’ which houses the Historic Dockyard.
This is an easy mistake to make, but will cost you time in the long run as connections are not as good from Portsmouth Harbour train station to the ferry terminal!
Arriving at Elizabeth Harbour in Jersey
When traveling to Jersey from London by ferry you will dock at Elizabeth Terminal in Jersey’s Port of St Helier.
Jersey’s port is small but busy with over 750,000 passengers travelling through it annually.
Facilities inside Elizabeth Terminal include cash machines, toilets, baby change facilities, duty free, drinks machines and a small café (the café is not always open however so bringing drinks and snacks with you is a good idea).
As the name suggests, the port is situated on the outskirts of the island’s capital St Helier and is only a short walk away from the centre of town.
St Helier is small and charming, so if your hotel is located in town, you may well be able to walk to it directly from the Harbour.
Public Transport from Jersey Harbour
The islands main public bus terminal is only a 10 minute walk from Elizabeth Harbour.
Liberty Bus from Liberation Station offer a year-round, island-wide service from the terminal.
Check their timetables here.
Taxis from Jersey Harbour
For those with more luggage, your best option will be to take a taxi.
There is a public taxi rank situated about 50 feet from Elizabeth Terminal.
I would advise you to book your taxi in advance as availability can be limited at times.
Car Parking at Jersey Harbour
The car park at Elizabeth Terminal has 90 spaces.
Physical paycards (bought at newsagents across Jersey) or the Pay by Phone app must be used in this car park daily (including Bank Holidays).
If you are being picked up or dropped off by car, there are plenty of spots where you can pull in without the need to park up properly and pay.
There are no car hire facilities at Jersey Harbour, however if you hire your car in advance the hire company will meet you at the terminal and transfer you to their depot.
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Mini Travel Guide to Jersey
When to Visit?
May through September are the best months to visit the island in my opinion.
How Long to Spend There?
3-7 days is a great amount of time to get a feel for all Jersey has to offer.
Getting Around Jersey
Walking is free and easy across this small island, or there is a good local bus service – Liberty Bus – which has a very cost-effective set of Hop-On Hop-Off passes, perfect for visitors.
You can also rent bikes.
Sadly Uber hasn’t reached Jersey yet, so you’d be better to hire a car if you’re looking for some independence when it comes to transport.
Where to Stay
Check out my top pick for places to stay in Jersey here.
Eating in Jersey
Supermarkets such as Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and the CoOp are found across the island, but if you want to buy local for your picnic, then look out for roadside stalls and farm shops as more ethical options.
Or why not check out Jersey’s Central Market and Fresh Fish Market in St Helier?
Great restaurants can also be found across the island – St Helier, St Aubin and Gorey are the best areas to head for when dining out.
Packing Essentials for Jersey
- Comfy Travel Pillow
- Go Water Filter Bottle
- Floating Dry Bag
- Waterproof Walking Shoes
- Windproof Breathable Jacket
eSIM for Jersey
Most UK phone plans count Jersey as a roaming destination
Check out aloSIM for easy, eSIM connections that won’t incur hefting roaming fees.
Travel Insurance
World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while travelling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
Alternatively, if you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent remote worker seeking travel health cover, check out Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance policies.
Travel Money in Jersey
Jersey uses the British pound (although notes differ and the island still has £1 notes!)
Free ATMs can be found across the island, most major banks have branches here, and you can pay by card or contactless almost everywhere (including some of the small farm stalls!)
I always travel with my Wise card, which makes spending abroad cheaper with real exchange rates and no sneaky transaction or ATM fees.
Wise cards works just like a debit card and it link easily with Google and Apple pay.
Grab yours here.
SAVE THIS ARTICLE TO PINTEREST!
Well, that is all my information about how to travel to Jersey from London.
I hope you have found it helpful!
With the large variety of travel options available, a trip to Jersey is the easily accessible holiday that will still feel as though you are on foreign soil.
In as little as an hour, you can be swept away by long stretches of sandy beach, lost down picturesque country lanes and delightedly confused by the French names for places, roads and houses.
Jersey really is a tiny island with huge amounts to offer.
If you have any comments or questions, then please leave them in the comments sections below and I’ll get back to you…
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