Kid-Friendly Jersey Near St Helier
Children do well in Jersey when the day mixes something to see with something to splash in. This page compares the main family outings, then covers beach safety. Prices are in pounds, and the Jersey pound equals the pound sterling.
What the main outings cost
| Outing | Adult | Child | Family | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey Zoo (gate price) | £21.00 | £10.50 (3 to 10), £16.80 (11 to 16) | See durrell.org | About 10% less if booked online |
| Elizabeth Castle with ferry | £24.50 | £16.45 | £75.95 | Season ends 1 November in 2026 |
| Elizabeth Castle, walking causeway | £19.50 | £11.45 | £55.95 | Low tide only |
| Maritime Museum | £15.45 | £10.25 | £46.45 | Under-6s free |
Animals at Durrell
Jersey Zoo in Trinity was set up by Gerald Durrell as a conservation centre, and it covers 32 acres with over 130 species. Children usually head for the western lowland gorillas, Sumatran orangutans and Andean bears, then the bat tunnel, the aviary called Jewel of the Forest and the meerkats at Discovery Desert. LibertyBus route 23 is one of three that stop there, along with 3 and 13. Under-3s enter free. Durrell sells tickets.
A ferry that drives into the sea
The Elizabeth Castle ferry is an amphibious vehicle that rolls from Westpark Slip, opposite the Grand Hotel, straight into the water. It operates whatever the tide is doing, while the walking causeway is for low tide only. Under-6s go free. A standalone return ferry ride costs £5.00. Jersey Heritage publishes the timetable at jerseyheritage.org .
Hands-on at the Maritime Museum
On New North Quay, the museum lets children pull ropes, tip wave tanks, sail model boats and walk into a wind and storm chamber. It is part of the Shipwreck! experience and opens daily until 17:00 in October, then until 16:00 from 1 November.
Water and sand
- Havre des Pas pool. A sheltered seawater pool with free entry, though the operator changed in April 2026, so check the current terms. Lifeguards are on duty at certain times only, so children need an adult beside them.
- St Brelade’s Bay. Soft sand and a shallow slope, with lifeguards from late May to September, plus pedalo, paddleboard and kayak hire.
- Plemont Bay. Rock pools, a waterfall running down the beach and big sea caves at low tide. The beach is wholly underwater at high tide, so go as the tide falls.
Across all of these the tide rises faster than an adult can run, so look up tide times first.
A sombre visit
The Jersey War Tunnels in St Lawrence record the German Occupation and the slave labourers who dug the complex. There are loud sirens, dark tunnels and sobering stories, so decide by your children’s ages and temperament. Children aged 6 and under enter free, and all must be accompanied. Visit jerseywartunnels.com .
For more ideas, browse GetYourGuide family activities in St Helier .
Read more: group activities in St Helier and animal activities in St Helier .