In the spirit of Awards Season, with the 2026 Oscars this weekend, we’ve created 10 Island Oscars a little closer to home: Jersey, Guernsey, and their smaller sibling islands, where the red carpet is more likely a coastal path at golden hour to celebrate the best feedback received from our travellers.
1: Best Beach Location
We know what you’re thinking. St. Brelade’s Bay with its golden sands and turquoise waters. But that’s not our winner (we were surprised too). The beach we hear about the most is the idyllic Grève de Lecq. This sheltered cove, with tide that never goes out too far, white sands, and your pick of closeby country pubs and cafès make for our all-year-round winner.
🏆 Grève de Lecq Beach, St. Ouen, Jersey
2: Best Repeat Performance
All of our hotels impress. Some are once-in-a-lifetime luxury short breaks, some are a home-away-from-home beachside havens, and some are renovated farmhouses located within acres of flourishing gardens. Our award for the most re-visited hotel, where we see volumes of guests booking for their next break upon their return is the spectacular Hotel Jerbourg in St. Martin’s, Guernsey. Its fans are legion, and if you’re one of them, we’ll see you soon 😊
🏆 Jerbourg Hotel, St. Martin’s, Guernsey
3: Best Wild Swimming
Of all the exceptional outdoor swimming throughout the islands, seek out this one on your next trip. The Sark Venus Pool is a wild find. A rock pool the size of a swimming pool, located in the south of Little Sark, this natural pool of regularly replenished seawater is reached by following the rock cairns.
🏆 Sark Venus Pool, Little Sark
4: Best Afternoon Tea
For a lazy afternoon tea that’s a bit special, indulge in the Voyager Afternoon Tea at the Somerville. With the finest harbour views and served in gorgeous surroundings, traditional afternoon tea with freshly cut finger sandwiches, homemade cakes and pastries are all beautifully presented. Chilled champagne accompaniment optional!
🏆 Voyager Afternoon Tea, Somerville Hotel, Jersey
5: Best Opening Scene
If you can be up early for this one, we assure you it’ll be worth it! Sunrise at the castle and harbour at Gorey, silhouetted against the rising sun reflecting on the calm water on a clear morning is an experience every visitor the Island should seek out. For the best view, position yourself a little up the hill and take it all in.
🏆 Mount Orgueil Castle, Gorey, Jersey
6: Best Time-Travel Transport
As if a visit to Alderney isn’t enough of a scene-stealer, here you’ll find the only working railway line in the Channel Islands, built in the 1840s. Following a two-mile coastal route using a 1959 repurposed London Underground Carriage, featuring original livery and route map. This, we’re repeatedly informed, is the jewel in the crown of any Alderney visit.
🏆 Alderney Railway, Alderney
7: Best Plot Twist
Loganair’s arrival following the end-of-the-road for Blue Islands, and its subsequent route scheduling to link Jersey with Exeter, Bristol, Southampton and of course Guernsey, has seen a seamless transition with already improved reliability, continuity and strong connections. Onwards and upwards.
🏆 Loganair, Jersey
8: Best Returning Star
After the success of 2025’s Bergerac re-boot starring Damien Molony, Zoe Wannamaker and Philip Glenister (who all return for series 2, by the way), the second series airs this spring. Catch up with the first series on Channel 4 or U&DRAMA, and the Jersey Premiere takes place on Monday 16 March at the Jersey Opera House, followed by drinks at the Grand Hotel. How’s that for red carpet?
🏆 Bergerac, Series 2
9: Best Lobster Lunch
If exceptional service, the best of fresh, locally-sourced seafood with perfect marina views framed through full-length picture windows and set in 1930s Art Nouveau surrounds is your thing (and we’re told that it very much is), then lunch at Le Nautique, overlooking Guernsey Harbour and Castle Cornet takes the gong.
🏆 Le Nautique, St. Peter Port, Guernsey
10: Best Dramatic Ascent
A firm favourite spot on the Island of Herm, the Rosaire Steps are formed by 400 million year old granite, worn over the millenia by the relentless tides. The stairs themselves are a touch more modern than that (18th C.), forming the iconic backdrop for visitors arriving by Trident, rising up from the turquoise waters to make for a charming first glimpse of what Herm has to offer.
🏆 Rosaire Steps, Herm
