Looking for an island getaway where the beaches are on your doorstep, everyone knows your business, and you’ll probably bump into your boss at least twice a day? Welcome to Guernsey.

It’s a place where you can go from desk to beach in under 10 minutes—yes, really. Fancy a lunchtime sea swim? Absolutely doable. Clock off at 5:30pm and you can be sipping a sundowner while watching a west coast sunset before most city folk have even boarded the Tube.

The food scene: small but mighty
For a small island, Guernsey punches well above its weight in the food department. From beach kiosks doing legendary crab sandwiches to fine dining with sea views, there’s no shortage of places to fill your boots. You won’t go hungry here – though you might go without that obscure spice or fancy oat milk you spotted on TikTok, because delivery options? Limited. Very limited.

Getting your step count in is no hard task – everything is walkable
Nowhere is too far. You will run into someone you know. Often when you least expect it. In fact, most of the time, people know your weekend plans before you do. It’s the sort of place where if you leave your wallet in the street, someone will pick it up, text your mum, and drop it off at your house before dinner.

Traffic? Plenty.
Don’t be fooled by the island size—Guernsey is absolutely packed with cars. Public transport? Best described as “quaint, if you’re not in a rush.” You’ll either be stuck in traffic or stuck in a conversation with someone’s aunt who remembers you from that thing you did 15 years ago.

Nightlife: powered by pub crawls
Forget anonymous nights out. Guernsey’s nightlife is less ‘wild party’ and more ‘pub crawl where someone’s uncle inevitably gives you a lift home.’ Small community perks: you’ll never be stranded, and everyone’s willing to tell you their life story by pint number three.

Sure, it’s not the most culturally diverse spot in the world, but what it lacks in big-city buzz, it makes up for in charm, views, and the distinct thrill of knowing you’re never far from anyone, or anything.

So why blow the budget going abroad when you could have all this?

  • Beach-to-desk in minutes (and yes, lunch hour swims are absolutely a thing)
  • West coast sunsets so good they practically filter themselves
  • Gourmet dining, from crab sandwiches to fine seafood
  • No Uber needed – not only because there are no Ubers but because someone always knows someone who’ll get you home
  • Island-wide traffic jams that still somehow only involve four cars
  • Guaranteed small talk wherever you go, even when you’re not in the mood
  • And the ultimate Guernsey flex: “I left my phone on a bench, and someone handed it in.”

Guernsey: come for the sunsets, stay because, honestly, have you seen the price of flights?