St Aubin
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Nestled in the South West of Jersey, the port town of St Aubin is a perfect base for exploring the South coast of the island. Home to one of Jersey’s original harbours, St Aubin has a beautiful waterfront location with the main attraction alfresco dining around the port. With cobbled streets and quaint buildings, St Aubin has a sleepy atmosphere and an old town vibe but is also bursting with lively activity. This enchanting fishing town oozes charm offering incredible panoramic views, a relaxing ambiance and plenty of spots to explore.
St Aubin Historic Sites
This historic harbour town is full of heritage and culture with numerous fascinating sites to discover. St Aubin has a rich history as a fishing village and the town’s harbour is one of the central points. A great place to dine, cycle, stroll and even shop all with a beautiful maritime landscape. Overlooking the harbour, the Anglican Church of St Aubin on the Hill is a great place for lovers of architecture and art history to visit. This Church is a magnificent Victorian Gothic style of architecture whilst a pre-Raphaelite window within the Lady Chapel is the only one in Jersey.
The highlight of St Aubin’s historic sites is undoubtedly St Aubin’s Fort, built in the 1500’s to protect the natural harbour before being extended during the English Civil War. During the German occupation of Jersey in World War II, the fort became a German Resistance Nest with bunkers built into the sea wall that had a range of fire that covered St Aubin’s Bay. The fort stands on a tidal island off the coast of St Aubin’s Bay but when the tide is out, it is easy to walk across to the fort for an up close exploration. The fort also offers a great vantage point to look back on the town and the views back towards St Aubin’s Bay are breath taking.
St Aubin Other Points of Interest
The biggest working art gallery in the Channel Islands is at home in St Aubin, both exhibiting and selling magnificent artwork. The Harbour Gallery showcases the creativity of over seventy local artists and celebrates the art of the Channel Islands. Managed by the Jersey Charity Art in the Frame Foundation, The Harbour Gallery offers artistic education for all ages and is a great place to improve your art knowledge.
Known as the ‘Genuine Jersey’ market, St Aubin’s market is a weekly artisan market that takes place on a Saturday around the Parish Hall Centre Square. The market is a showcase of Jersey’s finest and features stalls from some of the island’s most talented craftsmen, artists and producers. The market features stallholders offering local produce, fresh seafood and handmade crafts as well as musical entertainment. St Aubin’s market is the perfect place to pick up a unique souvenir to take home or to sample some of Jersey’s finest food.
With a location on the South coast, St Aubin is home to numerous beautiful beaches. Running the length of St Aubin’s Bay is a 5km stretch of golden sand from St Helier’s harbour to St Aubin’s harbour. La Haule beach, also known as St Aubin’s beach, is a lot less crowded that its St Helier counterpart which is often busy with sunbathers and the South-facing beach allows visitors to enjoy the rays for most of the day whilst also admiring the views of St Helier and Elizabeth Castle in the distance. There is also a long promenade that runs the length of the beach, perfect for those wanting to explore the south coast on foot or by bike. In the Summer months, Jersey’s Le Petit Train also connects St Aubin to St Helier and offers scenic coastal journeys with historical commentary in both English and French.
The highlight of St Aubin’s many beaches however is Beauport Beach, a small stretch of sand nestled between granite cliffs with turquoise waters lapping against the shore. This hidden gem is one of the island’s best kept secrets and due to its location, the beach is a renowned suntrap frequented by locals rather than tourists. The waters here are calm making Beauport Beach perfect for swimming whilst the beach is one of Jersey’s most rustic and untouched beaches with spectacular natural views.
St Aubin Shopping, Dining and Nightlife
St Aubin is home to a myriad of stores, many of which are quaint and unique boutiques. The town also sees a number of vintage fairs as well as crafts and farmers markets throughout the year. If you’re looking for something quirky or special, St Aubin is the place to shop.
Dining is the main attraction in St Aubin with alfresco dining offering incredible views. The town has an incredible collection of restaurants clustered around the harbour serving up exquisite menus of local ingredients. Whether you want a quick bite to eat or an elegant three course meal, you can do so here whilst admiring the boats that sway in the waters. Dining in St Aubin is famous for exceptional hospitality and delicious dishes of local flavour and freshly caught seafood.
For St Aubin, nightlife is a laid back affair sticking mainly to traditional pubs and restaurant dining. The port town is a great place to enjoy a relaxing evening admiring the harbour. However, if you are looking for something a little more lively, St Aubin is located just a short drive from the vibrant nights of St Helier.
St Aubin Sport and Events
Sports in St Aubin centres around the water with the town home to both the Jersey Sea Sport Centre and The Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club. The Jersey Sea Sport Centre is one of the largest jet ski centres in Europe and offers water skiing, coastal tours and wakeboarding in addition to jet skiing and many more water based activities. St Aubin is the perfect place to enjoy a water sport and be immersed in some adrenaline-fuelled action.
St Aubin Transportation
St Aubin is easily accessible by car and with the island’s extensive list of car hire options plus easy to navigate roads, driving is a great option. Alternatively, you can access St Aubin via public transport. Public transport is easily accessible in Jersey and a great option for non-drivers or if you would prefer not to hire a car. The bus routes 12A and 15 stop just a short walk away from the harbour. Once you have arrived in St Aubin, cycling in Jersey is a popular way tourists navigate the cobbled streets of the town with rentals available from Jersey Bike Hire in the centre of St Aubin.
