Getting to Jersey
Under an hour's flight from London, or an overnight bag and a ferry from the south coast. Here is every way onto the island, and what to do the moment you land.
Short answer: fly. Jersey Airport (JER) has direct flights from more than 20 UK and European airports, and London to Jersey takes roughly 50 minutes. If you want to bring a car — or you would rather not fly — Condor Ferries sails from Poole and Portsmouth, and from St Malo in France.
Jersey is a British Crown Dependency in the Channel Islands, 14 miles off the Normandy coast. It is outside the UK and outside the EU, so travel there always counts as an international journey even from the UK — bring a passport.
Direct flights to Jersey
Jersey Airport sits in St Peter, about 15 minutes from St Helier. Airlines serving the island include British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Blue Islands and Aurigny; the route map is widest between April and October, and several regional routes are summer-only.
| From | Typical flight time |
|---|---|
| London (Gatwick, Heathrow, City, Luton, Stansted) | ≈ 50 min |
| Southampton | ≈ 40 min |
| Exeter | ≈ 45 min |
| Bristol | ≈ 55 min |
| Birmingham | ≈ 1 hr 10 |
| Manchester | ≈ 1 hr 15 |
| Liverpool | ≈ 1 hr 15 |
| Leeds Bradford | ≈ 1 hr 20 |
| Newcastle | ≈ 1 hr 30 |
| Edinburgh / Glasgow | ≈ 1 hr 40 |
| Dublin | ≈ 1 hr 20 |
| Guernsey | ≈ 15 min |
Routes and operators change season to season — always confirm on the airline's own site before booking.
Ferries to Jersey
Condor Ferries operates the passenger and vehicle routes. Crossings from Poole are the quickest from the UK; Portsmouth sailings are longer and often overnight. From France, St Malo is a little over an hour by fast ferry, with seasonal services from Granville and Carteret.
Poole → Jersey
Fast ferry, the shortest UK crossing. Takes vehicles.
Portsmouth → Jersey
Longer, often overnight — useful if you are travelling with a full car.
St Malo → Jersey
Just over an hour from Brittany; foot and vehicle.
Vehicle spaces in July and August book out weeks ahead. Sailings can be cancelled or delayed in heavy weather, so avoid booking a tight connection on your return day.
Passports, entry and money
- Documents. Jersey is not in the UK or the EU. British and Irish citizens can often travel on photo ID, but carriers set their own rules — take a passport. Other nationalities should check Jersey's own entry requirements; a UK ETA does not cover Jersey.
- Money. The Jersey pound runs at parity with sterling and UK notes are accepted everywhere. Jersey notes are rarely accepted back in the UK, so spend them before you leave. There is no VAT, but 5% GST applies.
- Health cover. UK NHS cover does not apply in Jersey. Bring travel insurance with medical cover. Emergency number is 999.
- Time and plugs. Same time zone as the UK (GMT/BST), UK three-pin plugs, 230V.
Getting around Jersey
The island is nine miles by five, so nothing is far. LibertyBus covers every parish from Liberation Station in St Helier, with an AvanchiCard capping daily fares. Car hire is easy and useful for the north coast, e-bikes suit the flat Railway Walk, and St Helier itself is best on foot. There are no motorways: the island-wide limit is 40 mph and Green Lanes drop to 15 mph, where walkers, cyclists and horses have priority.
Travel to Jersey — FAQ
How do you get to Jersey from the UK?
By air or by sea. Jersey Airport has direct flights from more than 20 UK airports, and the flight from London takes around 50 minutes. Condor Ferries sails from Poole and Portsmouth, which is the option to choose if you want to bring a car.
How long is the flight to Jersey?
Roughly 50 minutes from London, about 40 minutes from Southampton or Exeter, and around 1 hour 15 minutes from Manchester or Birmingham.
Do I need a passport to go to Jersey?
Jersey is a British Crown Dependency, not part of the UK or the EU. British and Irish citizens can usually travel with photo ID, but airlines and ferry operators set their own requirements, so a passport is the safe choice. Other nationalities normally need a passport and should check Jersey-specific entry rules — a UK ETA does not automatically cover Jersey.
Can you take a car to Jersey?
Yes, on the Condor ferry from Poole or Portsmouth. Vehicle spaces sell out in summer, so book early. Many visitors leave the car at home and hire one on the island instead, which is often cheaper for a short stay.
How do you get from Jersey Airport to St Helier?
The airport is about 15 minutes from St Helier. LibertyBus route 15 runs into Liberation Station, taxis wait outside arrivals, and all the major car-hire desks are in the terminal.
Can you get to Jersey from France?
Yes. Fast ferries run from St Malo, and there are seasonal sailings from Granville and Carteret in Normandy — the crossing from St Malo takes a little over an hour.
Already booked? Build a day-by-day plan for your dates.