About the Isle of Jersey

All About Jersey

Located some 100 miles south of mainland Britain, Jersey is the most southerly island of the British Isles. In fact, it's much closer to France, lying just 12 miles from its coast. Jersey is a parliamentary democracy which is a dependency of the British Crown. It is a British island, but is not part of the United Kingdom. Nor is it a colony. Constitutionally, its status is that of a Crown Peculiar.

The Island’s complex history is entwined with both France and England, making it a unique place to visit. The present coastline of the Island only began to take shape about 10,000 years ago, when rising sea levels severed the remaining land connecting southeast Jersey and France. Jersey was once part of the Duchy of Normandy. When Duke William II of Normandy defeated Harold at Hastings to become king of England in 1066, he continued to rule his French possessions as a separate entity. In 1204, King John lost the Battle of Rouen and in turn lost continental Normandy to the French King, Philippe-Auguste. Jersey chose to stay loyal to the English Crown and the King bestowed privileges on the Island, including the right to be governed by its own laws.

It's the sea that dominates the landscape, with stunning views of the surrounding ocean to be had from virtually every point on the Island. The coastline itself is just as compelling, with majestic cliffs, exposed bays, sandy beaches and rocky coves all easily accessible by road or on foot. In fact, due to its unique position in the Bay of St Malo, Jersey grows and shrinks twice a day as the tide ebbs and flows in excess of 40 feet - one of the highest tidal ranges in the world.

The Island's low rate of income tax has attracted high net-worth individuals since Napoleonic times. However, the finance industry has only properly existed in Jersey since 1962, when a law that had capped interest rates at 5% was abolished. In the years that followed, financial institutions were drawn to the Island by its stable government, proximity to both the UK and continental Europe and low taxation. Although the Island’s status as an international finance centre has given Jersey’s capital, St Helier, a cosmopolitan buzz, the town’s traditional charm adds a laid-back atmosphere. Though your visit to Jersey will be a passing one, we hope this short, but sweet, taste of our beautiful Island will inspire you to return to see us soon…