About Guernsey

About Guernsey

Guernsey is located within the English Channel in the Bay of St Malo approximately 30 miles off the French coast and 70 miles from the south coast of England.  It is a self-governing British Crown Dependency with HM King Charles being the Head of State of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Covering an area of approximately 24 square miles, the island has a population of approx. 63,000, living in ten parishes, with St Peter Port being its capital.  Guernsey has its own currency, linked 1:1 with the British Pound, however please ensure when visiting that you exchange any Guernsey currency to English currency before you leave, as it is not accepted in the UK.

Guernsey has a number of sandy beaches mainly on the north and west coast, with cliffs surrounding the south coast. The military history of the island has left a number of fortifications from various centuries including Castle Cornet, Fort Grey, loophole towers and a large number of German fortifications from the second world war. Many of these fortifications have been transformed into museums.

With two ports and one airport, visitors can reach the island by both aeroplane or ferry. Guernsey has its own airline, Aurigny Airlines, with flights from the UK mainland and other Channel Islands. Other airlines including Blue Islands also operate from the mainland. Condor Ferries offer both fast ferry and standard ferry services from the UK mainland and fast ferries from both St Malo and Cherbourg in France. Once on the island, there is an efficient bus service but no railway. Most islanders are reliant on their cars, however cycling is very popular.

The finance industry is extremely important to the economy and is the largest employer. Income taxation for islanders is fixed at 20%, with no capital gains, inheritance or value added tax such as VAT or TVA.

With a climate of mild winters and warm summers, the island is a perfect place to visit at any time of year, however April to October are the most popular months.

CHECK OUT OUR "TOURS" PAGE or contact us on info@toursofguernsey.com to discuss your tour needs.

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