Planning a group getaway? Our Islands are perfect for an adventure with friends.
With activities to suit each member of your party; from those who enjoy music festivals and drinking cocktails, to thrill seekers looking for adrenaline-pumping fun, those looking for a wellness escape to friends who always want to try their hands at a new skill or learn some history; you'll be able to craft a crowd-pleasing itinerary.
Whether you're returning with friends, headed out on a hen party, we’ve compiled a list of the best group activities on our Islands to make your trip run smoothly.
Music, Festivals and Films
Festivals
Our Islands have an eclectic mix of festivals for everyone. From music festivals to food festivals and traditional fayres, there is something that everyone can enjoy and you’re sure to make great memories that you’ll talk about for years to come.
See all of our upcoming festivals here.
Castle Cornet Castle Film Nights
Castle Cornet is a museum that documents our Island's history, the four museums house something that will be of interest to everyone. They also host their Castle Film Nights throughout the summer. On select evenings, they show a film on a big screen at the top of the highest garden on top of Castle Cornet. Bring a picnic and a blanket or chair to sit on and enjoy. Films will be announced closer to the time.
Balcony Gigs
The Cobo Balcony Gigs are a Guernsey summer staple, bringing live music to the Cobo seafront each month whilst raising money for local charities. The acts, both local and international, perform on the Balcony of Cobo Bay Hotel to crowds that fill the road and beach below. You and your group can bring a picnic and sit on the beach and enjoy the music or book to have lunch at Cobo Bay Hotel Beach Terrace to be right in the heart of the fun.
Outdoor & Adventurous Activities
Wild Swimming
Wild swimming is an extremely popular group pastime. La Vallette Bathing pools offer a safe way for everyone to enjoy swimming in the sea. They are a set of enclosed pools, filled by the sea when the tide is high, making them safe for everyone to swim in, no matter the varying skill or experience of the members in your group. The cafe overlooking the pools has been newly renovated and offers delicious coffee and homemade food or ice creams to enjoy after your swim.
For the more experienced wild swimmer, you can choose one of our many beaches. All you need to get going is your swimming gear, some goggles and a towel. This guide has all you need to know about which beaches are the safest to swim at and our recommendations for wild swimming on the Islands of Guernsey.
Surfing
Guernsey Surf School, based at Vazon Bay, offers everything you need for surfing. You can hire the equipment and go out as a group or book a lesson and learn to surf and hone your skills together.
Island Rib Voyages
If you want to have an ocean adventure but don’t want to get in, Island Rib Voyages has a range of tours to suit all interests. You can see the Puffins and Seals up close, delve deep into our Island’s past or explore them from a new perspective. Suitable for groups of 6-12.
Outdoor Guernsey
Outdoor Guernsey offers land and sea activities on Guernsey and Herm. You can hire stand-up paddle boards or kayaks or go coasteering. On land, they offer climbing, high ropes, bike hire, archery, clay pigeon shooting and more. Group sizes will depend on your chosen activity.
Les Mainguys
From archery and climbing to kayaking and abseiling, Les Maingys offer activities for everyone to enjoy. They will provide everything you need for your chosen activity, your group just needs to show up ready to have a great time. They have teamed up with Outdoor Guernsey to provide a team of fully qualified staff, trained to work with groups of all ages and abilities.
Click here to see their full range of group activities.
Paintballing
On Yer Hopper Paintball Club offers fun and memorable paintballing sessions. You can play on an ‘Air Ball field’ as well as in the standard woodland setting.
Go-karting
Karting Guernsey is Guernsey’s go-kart track. Let your competitive side show as you race your friends around the track.
Cycling
Cycling on the Islands of Guernsey gives you easy access to key attractions and allows you to explore at your own pace, whilst at the same time getting active outside. If you travel by boat, you can bring your own bike, or you can hire a bike from a range of different retailers, including:
- Adventure Cycles and Go Guernsey Bike Hire on Guernsey.
- Avenue Cycles, A to B Cycles and Bam’s Bikes on Sark.
- Cycle & Surf in Alderney.
There are bikes to suit every need, from mountain, road and electric bikes, so everyone in the group can join in.
Up Climbing
Up Climbing is an indoor climbing centre with a range of different climbing experiences for all ages and experiences. They have traverse climbing walls, boulders and auto or manual belay high walls. A 15 - 30 minute level 1 induction is required for anyone aged 18+ on their first time visiting to ensure safety while climbing.
Guided Walks & Hikes
Our cliff paths and country lanes are the perfect backdrop for a wellness walk or hike. For ideas of where to walk, you can download the VisitGuernsey Walking App, with routes filtered by difficulty and duration, or learn more here.
You can also book a guided walking tour with one of our knowledgeable tour guides from the Bailiwick of Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides or Tours of Guernsey. You’ll find nature tours, ghost tours, coastal tours, historical tours and more to suit your group.
Relaxed Activities & Crafts
Seafront Sundays
For a more relaxed group activity, make sure to look out for Seafront Sundays. A classic part of Guernsey summer, on select Sundays from March-September the town seafront is closed to traffic and sets up stalls celebrating independent businesses, artists and local charities. Many stalls offer food that can be enjoyed as you explore, or you can head to the benches on the nearby piers.
Mini-golf
Guernsey has two mini-golf courses, something that any group would enjoy. The 18-hole mini golf course at Oatlands Village is great fun and, once you’ve finished your round, you can explore the independent shops or stop off for coffee and cake at The Kiln. The second, Pirate Bay is a unique pirate themed 12 hole mini golf course at Nineteen Bar and Grill. Play a round and then head inside for food; have a go at the driving range inside the restaurant while you’re waiting for your meal.
Iris and Dora
Iris and Dora is Guernsey’s premier art studio. Smaller groups can turn up and paint pottery in their studio, or you can book for larger group outings to make or paint pottery with no one else in the studio.
Guernsey Candles
Take your group to Guernsey Candles, a local family-run business, to witness the candle-making process and have a go at making your own unique candle to take home. Their gift shop is filled with artistic pieces, homeware and gifts.
Rebecca’s Chocolates
Rebecca's Chocolates, found in Oatlands Village, offers chocolate parties. You will make impressive creations out of chocolate and can take them home to enjoy.
Wine Tasting & Local Beverages
Guernsey has a great selection of bars, restaurants and local beverage producers. You'll find cider tours, wine and gin tastings, cocktail-making and brewery tours that will keep the group entertained and having fun, with a splash of education thrown in for good measure.
Rocquette Cider Tour and Tasting
This family-run organic farm nestled in Fauxquets Valley in the heart of Guernsey has 5,500 trees that comprise the Rocquette Cider orchards. You and your group can enjoy the beautiful scenery, learn about the history of cider making and how Rocquette cider and other products are made on a guided walk through the orchards. Group tours last 90 minutes and include a tasting of their ciders, fruit liqueurs and apple chutneys paired with local cheeses from the Guernsey Dairy and Torteval Cheese.
Wine-tasting
For the wine connoisseurs of the group, we have several options for an evening filled with delicious wine, good food and, perhaps, even a bit of education. Choose one of our wine-tasting experiences, available for all group sizes.
- JB Parker’s Wine Cellar's private tasting room is the perfect way to pass an evening as a group. All tastings come with a selection of Artisan cheese and charcuterie platters and last 90-120 minutes. The tasting area is yours for the night, so you can stay and try even more wines from their extensive list. A minimum of 4 and a maximum of 32 guests required. They have a range of tasting packages, or you can book a bespoke tasting, with wines suited to your specific tastes.
- The only table that can be reserved in Rouge, normally a walk-in wine and cheese bar, is their Tasting Table, a round table seating up to 8 people. It can be booked any time for a custom wine and cheese tasting or just to get a group of friends together.
- Oak Bar and Bistro at Les Rocquettes Hotel features the popular Oak's Wine Corner. A fun way to improve your knowledge and appreciation of wine along with a group of friends, their wine packages include 4 different wines from around the world accompanied by a cheese and charcuterie board plus tasting notes. They can even arrange for their Bar Manager, Nico, or one of his team to talk you through all of the wines, offering even more information. Please note that the tastings are for a minimum of 4 people.
- The Crown Club at the OGH offers wine, gin and whisky tasting, dependent on your tastes. Whether you want a romantic evening for two or a larger group, all parties can be accommodated.
- The OGH’s afternoon teas are also incredibly popular. Smaller groups can sit at one of their tables in the lounge and larger groups can rent a private room, all enjoying delicious homemade sandwiches, cakes, scones and more. All afternoon teas come with tea and coffee, but you can upgrade to a prosecco or champagne afternoon tea.
Gin-tasting
The Duke of Richmond Hotel offers ‘The Duke’s Gin Safari’. For a gin-tasting journey with a difference, you'll hunt down rare botanicals, discover exotic flavours and utilise them in your very own bespoke brew. They have four gin safaris that can accommodate up to 10 guests, each encompassing three gins from across the world along with light bites.
Cocktail-making
Both Buho and The Duke of Richmond Hotel offer cocktail-making experiences. You can choose the cocktails that you would like to make as a group and experienced mixologists will demonstrate how to make them before your group has a go at making and enjoying them with some light snacks.
Brewery Tour
Little Big Brew Co Brewery offers ‘open’ brewery tours, with 30 minutes of welcome drinks followed by heading into the brewery to learn about the beer-making process for 30-45 minutes. You will then be led back to the taproom to relax and drink. Drinks are included in the tour, with the choice of their 3 beers, white and red wine, Rocquette cider and soft drinks. Tours run on the third Thursday of every month. Booking in advance is advised.
Island Hopping
Walk around the miles of country lanes in Alderney, hire bikes and explore Sark or relax on the beaches in Herm. All of our Islands have an array of fun things to do for groups, whether it’s on land or in their waters.
- Alderney - the third largest Channel Island, Alderney has a lot to explore. Wander the cobbled streets of St Anne’s, head to the beaches, walk around their seemingly endless nature trails or join the Alderney Wildlife Trust on an excursion to see animals native to the Island.
- Sark - Enjoy lunch or evening meals in Sark from Stocks, Hathaways, Nova’s Bistro or one of their other restaurants. Adventure Sark offers a range of water activities, such as kayaking and coasteering, or archery, activiquiz and more on land. The world-renowned Caragh’s Chocolates is found on Sark, offering chocolate-making sessions for groups. Sark is a car-free Island so cycling is the best way to see all that the Island has to offer and is completely safe. You can hire bikes from a variety of retailers.
- Herm - Herm is known for its beaches. Fisherman’s Bay is perfect if you want the beach to yourself, or you can join other groups at Shell Beach or Belvoir Bay; both incredibly popular with kiosks stocked with everything you could need for a day at the beach. Don’t forget to stop in at the Mermaid Tavern or the Ship Inn for a bite to eat and a drink before heading home.
- Lihou - the smallest of our Islands, Lihou is only accessible at certain tides. Walk around the Island and experience its unique nature and wildlife, jumping into its beautiful Venus pool before you leave for a unique wild swimming experience.
History and Culture
Even the group with the most diverse range of interests will enjoy our heritage sites and museums. We have a mix to suit all tastes; literary lovers will enjoy exploring Hauteville House, Victor Hugo's house and garden while he was living in Guernsey, history buffs will love our museums dedicated to the history of our Islands, from tombs from the middle ages to museums documenting our occupation, and art enthusiasts will enjoy our galleries and displays.
Find out more about our historical and heritage sites here.
Accommodation
You'll find a range of accommodation options that can suit your group's sizes and needs. For the adventurous, we have camping and glamping options for you to stay in anything from tents to shepherd's huts. For groups wanting to stay in a central location, many of our hotels offer adjoining or larger rooms.
For a holiday that's a home away from home, our range of self-catering accommodation options are suitable for groups of 4 up to over 20.
For a full list of our accommodation options, click here.
Dining
Most of our restaurants have tables that can accommodate any group size or have private rooms that can be booked out. Takeaway and heading to the shops for some local produce are also good options if you choose to self-cater. You can find our full guide to self-catering in Guernsey here.
For a full list of eateries on our islands, click here.
