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GuernseyGuernseyVisited May 2022 · 1 week

St. Peter Port

Like England in a 1970s time capsule, but with London 2023 prices.

Would avoid
Average2.5
Accommodation1.5
Coworking4.2
Value3.1
Excitement1.1
Living costs, excl. rent~$2,196
Mild and dry
JFMAMJJASONDMild and dry: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Nomad visaNone
Population20,000
Fly into

GCI

This guide was written 4 years ago

Prices, opening hours and recommendations may have changed since my visit, so double-check anything important before you book.

St. Peter Port, nestled on the quaint island of Guernsey, is a small harbor town with a rich maritime history.

Its narrow streets, adorned with Georgian architecture, wind their way around the harbor front and shoreline.

Give it a miss

It would be of no consequence if I were to never visit the island again.

At a glance

Accommodation

Poor · #62 of 62

1.5/10

Thankfully I was staying with a friend, but the island as a whole has a massive under supply of accommodation and a highly restrictive housing market which make Airbnb prices highly uncompetitive. Prices comparable for hotels as what you would pay In London.

How it compares

Coworking

Ok · #60 of 62

4.2/10

The town does have a coworking option, which even though I did not visit personally, have heard positive things from members. There isn't a great selection of suitable coffee shops to work from and those that are there tend to shut early.

Value

Poor · #62 of 62

3.1/10

Prices for food are generally above what you would expect to pay in London and generally the quality does not always match.

Accomodation is particularly expensive due to a lack of supply, so expect to pay the same or more as you would for a night in a major UK city.

Excitement

Poor · #62 of 62

1.1/10

A really quiet destination. It’s not uncommon to walk through the main high street in the middle of the day and see fewer than five people in sight. Once the shops close at 5, the town becomes a ghost town, with only a handful of restaurants and pubs showing any remote signs of life. An entirely unappealing prospect unless actively seeking some form of isolationism.

How it compares

Plan

Summary

If it was not for a friend being stationed on the island for work, there is no conceivable reason I would have considered visited Guernsey and I don't believe there is one for yourself either. The main intent of writing this article was on the off chance anyone was half tempted to explore the idea. Please do not.

Cost of living

$2,196a month, before rent

Basic living costs, rent not included

Day-to-day spending for a month: two meals out and a coffee every day, three taxis and two nights out a week, a gym and a coworking desk. Add your rent on top.

Expensive
  • Meal in a casual restaurant$21
  • Speciality coffee$5.31
  • Pint of local beer$6.37
  • Cocktail$13
  • Taxi for 2 miles$13
  • Men's haircut$27
  • Women's haircut$53
  • Gym membership, monthly$64
  • Coworking, monthly$318

Prices as of Oct 2026. Confidence: low (gym & coworking verified; other prices restated at 2026-10-07 exchange rates). Sources: numbeo.com, digitalgreenhouse.gg. Always check locally before planning around them.

Duration & season

If for whatever reason you did have to visit Guernsey, you'd be best off opting for the summer months where the neighbouring islands can be explored and the wind is less likely to be a hinderance.

By month

Typical temperatures and rainfall by month
MonthLow °CHigh °CRain mmNotes
January79137wet month
February81089
March71155
April91252
May111443
June141725peak season
July161843peak season
August171941peak season
September151883
October1316108wet month
November1015101wet month
December91191
Wettest months Peak season

Typical daytime highs and overnight lows, from the last two years of observations (Open-Meteo). Rain icons mark the wettest months.

Visitors a year
182k2024
Crowds
Low
Peak season
Jun–Aug
Low season
Nov–Feb

Remote work visa

No digital nomad visa

Working hours

Guernsey follows the same timezone as the UK, placing it one hour behind most of Western and Central Europe.

Live & work

Where to work

The town does have a coworking option, which even though I did not visit personally, have heard positive things from members. There isn't a great selection of suitable coffee shops to work from and those that are there tend to shut early.

Digital Greenhouse Guernsey coworking space

Digital Greenhouse Guernsey

Top locationCommunity

I haven't actually visited this place myself as I was working from a friend's office, but from what I have heard it is a reliable place to work from with several community events held throughout the year with a focus on supporting new businesses on the island.

It's in a good location, close to the main supermarket in the town and offers options for both hot desking and dedicated desks.

2 Market St, Guernsey GY1 1HB, Guernsey

Food & drink

Food

Tinto

Rotating selection of small tapas plates.

Off the clock

Off work

Explore Herm Island

Explore Herm Island

Even smaller than Sark, Herm Island, covering around a mile and a half, is a car-free haven known for its Shell Beach with its shimmering white sand and beautiful coastal paths. With just one hotel and a scattering of holiday cottages, it offers a tranquil retreat easily accessible in under an hour from the mainland via boat.

Day trip to Sark

Day trip to Sark

Spanning just 2.1 square miles, Sark is known for its lack of cars, relying on bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, and walking as primary modes of transport. With a population of around 500, it's a haven of rugged cliffs, picturesque harbor, and panoramic coastal views.

Walk to Fermain Bay

Walk to Fermain Bay

A picturesque cove renowned for its crystal-clear waters and golden sands. Walkable from the main centre of St. Peter Port.

Exercise

Walk

Guernsey Loop

The cliff side can make for a good walk, with it easy to follow around much of the island. There's a few options for coffee and food dotted around the villages.

People

For such a small and nondescript location, the island is surprisingly multicultural with sizeable Thai, Fillipino and Portugese populations attracted to the island for employment opportunities. Many UK and international companies have offices here giving a more diverse range of people than you would otherwise expect.

Notes

Positives

Feels like a version of the UK from a time warp.

If you are looking to experience what a small town was like 40 years ago.

Fantastic selection of pubs.

St. Peter Port would make for an excellent weekend bar crawl.

Some picturesque spots.

Some of the beaches and coves are beautiful during the summer months.

Negatives

Incredibly quiet.

Expect to find nothing open after 17:00 any day of the week.

Expensive.

The cost of eating out is on a par with London but with a lot less variety and quality.

Poor weather.

Even though it is more southern the mainland of the UK, expect it to be dramatically cooler than the southern coast. High winds and rain common.

Very small.

With minimal effort you could cycle around the entire island several times in one day.

Lots of SUVs on unsuitable roads.

What could be idylic countryside is ruined by heavy car volume on tiny narrow streets.

Tips

Stay in St. Peter's Port.

Staying anywhere else will make you entirely reliant on a car or an infrequent bus service.

Visit in summer.

The town comes more align with the arrival of the ferry boats prompting a range of weekend street food markets.

Planning a trip to St. Peter Port?

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