Receive complimentary breakfast at Luxury Hotels
Guernsey is a hidden gem. It is only around 1 hour and 20 minutes from London Gatwick or Heathrow and less from Southampton and Bournemouth airports, or you can take a 3-hour, or so ferry ride on the Condor from Poole (my favorite way to arrive).
This island is a time capsule offering an England from Dad’s Army with vistas worthy of an Agatha Christie’s Marple or Poirot movie at every turn. Guernsey must be on your bucket list, particularly if you have kids and yearn for that perfect Cornish beach. That beach isn’t in Cornwall, which is packed full of tourists in the summer. It’s on Guernsey!
Enjoy the picture-perfect harbor town of St Peter Port, which comes complete with its own castle, the clifftop walks surrounded by ripe blackberries, pretty heathers, and thousands of butterflies, or the numerous stunning and empty white-sand beaches with clear blue waters and edged by rockpools. Guernsey is how Cornwall should be, perhaps how Cornwall used to be. There is nowhere else like it, and in the summer, there is nowhere I would rather be.
Visit Guernsey in the summer months when the weather can be a blissful 20-25’C with light breezes, but the bar at Bella Luce Hotel has at least two roaring fires, and the bar at the Old Government House has heater lamps and cozy restaurants, so you can enjoy Guernsey at any time of the year.
In this article, we guide you to the very best luxury hotel in Guernsey. We have tried them all personally and have detailed the advantages and disadvantages of each so that you can make an educated choice and the right choice for your family on your next trip to this magical island.
1. Old Government House
If you are looking for colonial luxury in the center of St Peter Port with an outdoor pool, the Old Government House Hotel in Guernsey is the very best hotel on the Island. It is a luxury boutique hotel and the only 5-star hotel in Guernsey.
There are so many reasons to love The Old Government House Hotel. The location at the top of the main street could not be more convenient. This location means that many of the rooms offer extraordinarily good views across the harbor, so you can watch the sunrise and set and the Condor chug in and out along with all the other sailing craft and fishing boats.
The building’s history dates back to 1796 when it was the official Governor’s residence for the island and the Bailiwick, which includes Alderney, Herm, and Sark, until 1842. The hotel still occupies the prime position in this quaint harbourside town, with terraces, decks, balconies, and bars offering glorious views over the nearby gardens and the harbor.
The hotel has been extended and modernized over the years but retains a boutique feel, with windy corridors opening up onto an array of public rooms and bedrooms. Outside, the building is painted in white with a classic Victorian look. Inside, the decor is that of an old colonial mansion, befitting the history of the building.
My favorite part of the hotel is the bar which overlooks the pool on one side and the street life and gardens on the other. An elevated porch area allows for alfresco beer and nibbles on a partially covered balcony. You can sit out into the late evening under a heater lamp and enjoy the dramas of the passing traffic.
On our last stay, we booked a Studio Suite, which is ideal for a family with a child because it comes with a large sofa that converts into a bed, as well as a hugely comfortable large king-sized bed for the adults and a super bathroom with a bath, a separate walk-in shower, and delicious L’Occitane En Provence Essential Oils toiletries. Most of these rooms have a bay window that looks across St Peter Port.
A Bistro within the hotel serves up Guernsey staples like freshly caught fish, crab, scallops, lobster and steaks. The bar also offers a variety of light dishes with a similar theme. You can also order generous sandwiches, snacks, and drinks by the pool. Breakfast is particularly good here in the main Brasserie and spilling out into the gardens which overlook the pool.
This is easily the best breakfast in Guernsey, with a generous buffet and an a la carte menu from which you can order eggs and other hot dishes (all as part of your bed and breakfast rate). The buffet is magnificent, with around five cereal options, trays of yogurts, many bowls of freshly cut and dried fruit, and berries. I don’t think I have ever enjoyed such deliciously sweet fresh blackberries as those from the berries bowl here. They are very special. The pastries and bread are plentiful (the fresh muffins are particularly more-ish), with cold meats, cheeses, and plenty of fresh juice.
The pool at the Old Government House is outdoors but offers a perfect sun trap, and if there is a patch of sunshine, this area of the hotel is beautifully warm and feels more like a pool in the Mediterranean than on an island in the channel. It is located in a little dip surrounded by ivy-clad walls and chic loungers shaded by parasols. As such, it escapes the wind you can find on Guernsey’s coastal shores and offers a balmy and sheltered escape.
The pool is not large but is sufficient for getting some lengths in. There is also an interconnected shallow pool, which is only 50cm deep and is perfect for little ones to splash. Nice touches include the hardworking pool boy, who is always on call to set up your lounger with a perfectly rolled-up towel or to offer complimentary fruit-infused water. All this and the generous volume of towels means you can easily spend your day lazing poolside.
The hotel also offers a gym with plenty of modern equipment; cycling machines, treadmills, weights, and rowing machines are all available. For those like myself with an aversion to all things gym related, the beautifully tended gardens of the hotel offer a great place to relax with a Sunday paper or enjoy an afternoon tea with views across St Peter Port.
The Old Government House has been the best hotel in St Peter Port for many years, and it remains the number one hotel on the island for the rooms, the service, the ambiance, and the breakfast. It is so convenient, located right in the center of St Peter Port, and has such an array of facilities and excellent restaurants. We love it so much that we rebook every year and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it as the best hotel in Guernsey.
2. The Duke of Richmond
This four-star Duke of Richmond Hotel is also located in St Peter Port but on the edge, so in a quiet location within walking distance of everything. Each room is unique, and the hotel has an unusual safari-inspired decor. Plus, there is a heated outdoor pool from May to September and a sunny terrace. The Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery and Guernsey Tapestry are nearby, as are buses to the rest of the island.
The breakfast here is amazing, the location is convenient, and the price is excellent. Children and dogs are welcomed with dog beds. In the summer, there are popular barbecues on the terrace. The rooms are a little tired. Go for the sea-view rooms with balconies or the suites with private terraces.
3. La Fregate
La Fregate is a 4-star hotel in Guernsey with an incredible view. The vista that greets you spans from the forested hills to the right of this beautiful harbor-side town, across to the Islands of Sark and Herm in front of you, then around to St Sampson’s to the North.
In between, you can watch the Condor chug in and out of the harbor, the many little craft and yachts making their journeys between the channel islands, and the numerous cruise ships that anchor offshore for the day. While we stayed, the gargantuan P&O Britannia spent the day in port, but whenever you stay, you can be assured of a constantly changing view to gaze out on. This is what La Fregate is all about, relaxing and absorbing that magnificent view.
La Fregate Hotel is located up one of the windiest of Guernsey lanes, the sort that knocks both your wing mirrors off. Once through the door, you enter a historic Guernsey mansion. Dating back to the 18th Century, parts of the hotel showcase the original heavily beamed ceilings and thick stone doorways that would have been part of the original construction. Downstairs, the cozy bar area embraces the history with plenty of character and exposed brickwork. The bar spills out onto the terrace which spans the hotel and offers plenty of seating under parasols, all of which look out upon the port.
Adjoining the bar is an excellent restaurant that specializes in locally caught fish and crab dishes, although their steaks and chicken dishes are equally accomplished. Upstairs, each bedroom faces outwards to make the most of the vista, some with terraces, others with balconies, all boasting the same incredible view.
It is worth noting that while the communal rooms showcase the history of the main building, the rooms are modern, with mainly floor-to-ceiling windows (although some have smaller windows) and double beds rather than King beds of the 5-star hotels above.
The center of St Peter Port is just a short stroll away. A pretty footpath drops down from the hotel’s lawned gardens to take you into the center in under 5 minutes. However, be prepared to battle the same flight of stairs on the way back up, which makes for a great workout!
La Fregate Hotel is a boutique hotel that is loved a lot. Expect modern interiors and a view from every room, a bar with a fabulous terrace, and a very good restaurant.
4. Fermain Valley Hotel
The Fermain Valley Hotel is located just outside the pretty harbor town of St Peter Port. Make sure you hire a car or buy a bus pass to get around. Enjoy this hotel’s vista of treetops and sea, stretching right down to Fermain Bay. There are layers of decked terraces where you can dine or simply take a drink.
There is a small but enjoyable indoor pool area and gardens, which lead both up and down the valley, stretch for acres, and are full of beautiful flowers and tropical foliage. The location is ideal if you like walking. Wander down to the shore and then pick one of the many clifftop walks that take you through a landscape of pink heathers, wildflowers, and butterflies, all looking down upon the azure blue sea.
The Fermain Valley Hotel is both immaculate and contemporary. The small but enjoyable pool area has floor-to-ceiling windows and also enjoys the valley views of the sea.
The gardens, which lead both up and down the valley, stretch for acres and are full of beautiful flowers and tropical foliage (Guernsey is further south than the most southerly point in the UK, so beautiful plants, such as echiums and palms, thrive here in the frost-free environment which wouldn’t survive in the UK). At the top of the gardens sits an extensive lawn perfect for big events and weddings.
Go for the Platinum rooms. Number 26 is particularly good, with wallpaper with bamboo leaves matching the forested feel of the valley. The south-easterly views mean the rooms are usually bathed in sunshine for most of the morning. The bathrooms are immaculate but don’t have a walk-in shower. Best of all, you can laze on the bed and simply gaze out of the window and down to the bay for hours.
The main hotel bar area was clad in a stylish pine with a large bar and plenty of seating, including comfy sofas and tall bar stools. In good weather, the bar opens onto one of the tiered terraces, offering more seating so that you can take in the spectacular views over a drink.
5. Bella Luce Hotel
The Bella Luce Hotel in Guernsey is easy to love. It is such a pretty hotel, built out of thick lumps of uneven Guernsey granite, as it was originally a 12th-century Norman Manor house.
The hotel is located down a maze of tiny one-way roads to the south of the island and is around a 10-minute drive from St Peter Port. Make sure you hire a car or buy a bus pass to get around. You are located 10 minutes from the beach, down quite a steep hill, and a short walk from some pretty clifftop walks.
The interior charm matches the beautiful exterior, with huge open fireplaces and exposed beams all over the place. There are cute, unique travel items tastefully dotted around, which bring the place alive. The historic flooring is a mix of flagstone, wood, and original exposed tiles, and a whole host of archways and historic passageways join the communal rooms.
Every room and suite at the Bella is unique, having been individually designed and appointed to complement the character of the property. They provide the perfect environment to retreat to for a restful night’s sleep.
We had a Loft Suite, and it was a delightful and peaceful place to relax, with the gentle breeze wafting across the room from the skylight. The bathroom was huge, with a stand-alone bath and walk-in rain shower.
Beyond the rooms, there are extravagant loungers around the pool if you want to take a dip, and in the evening, the Bella Luce dining room is absolutely excellent, with tasty seafood dishes for a surprisingly reasonable price and in a refined setting with candles on the tables under the beams.
The other highlight at the Bella Luce is the ESPA Spa, which is one of my favorite spa brands and supplies delicious amenities.
One of the highlights of the hotel is its Willy Wonka style Gin distillery, which bubbles away in the corner of one room. This human-sized apparatus spouts fine-flavored gins for guests to taste.
6. The Farmhouse
Described as “one of the most relaxing Guernsey Hotels and Restaurants,” this boutique hotel is situated in the rural parish of St. Saviour Guernsey. Because of the location away from the coast, this hotel feels a little like it’s in the Cotswolds rather than Guernsey, although the beach and St Peter Port are not far away.
The Farmhouse Hotel dates back to the 15th century and is in a quiet location with updated accommodation and cuisine. Beyond the restaurant are beautiful gardens, lawns, a pool, and conference facilities. As one of the oldest family-run Guernsey hotels, The Farmhouse is perfect for family holidays, business visits, or a quiet country hotel short break in Guernsey.
7. Ziggurat
For a more affordable hotel stay, Ziggurat boutique hotel can be found in the heart of St Peter Port. Moroccan-inspired interiors have been carefully designed with all sorts of cute extras like a cafetiere with local ground coffee and a vanity box containing earplugs (as you are in the center of town), although do bear in mind that the rooms are small. The double beds are pushed against the wall to make for more space which doesn’t detract from the experience but maybe a problem if you like to have a roomy room.
The hotel is actually located down the historic Constitution Steps in Market Square. This hotel is tiny and loved, with just 14 rooms. The décor is like a Marrakech riad, with many authentic decorative objects.
The restaurant is good, but you have so much choice being in the center of town that you will be spoilt. Breakfast is a menu that includes Marrakech-inspired dishes with potatoes, peppers, and onion with poached egg and bacon, sausage, cheese, spinach, mushroom, and feta.
8. La Grande Mare Hotel
Beautifully located right on the beach, this is a great hotel for the family with a landscaped golf course, a large health club, and indoor and outdoor pools. There are plenty of options for dining here, but the beachfront location is the major selling point of this hotel. You don’t even need to rent a car.
9. White House Hotel
Just across the water from St Peter Port and reached by the small inter-island ferry that traverses the water between Guernsey and the small island of Herm throughout the day, the White House Hotel is a peaceful escape with a super pool and a lovely lawn to relax on.
10. St Pierre Park Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort
Saint Pierre Park is located towards the center of Guernsey on the edge of St Peter Port. It is not on a beach but it is walkable from St Peter Port if you like a long walk. It has a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, a lake and a health club and spa. Honestly, it feels a bit stuck in the 1990s and is modern and conference-y rather than quaint and cutesy, but you can’t argue with the facilities or the cuisine, and the terrace of the bar is a fairly happening place to be.
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