← Jersey Marathon·2 nights

The War Tunnels and Jersey Zoo: Two Nights, Two Big Days

Two separate days from one St Helier base, one inside a tunnel network dug under German occupation and one in a zoo founded by Gerald Durrell.

Duration2 nights
TransitRoute 8 to the War Tunnels, about 15 minutes; the zoo is about 30 minutes by bus from St Helier
DepartsSt Helier

After the Jersey Marathon: The War Tunnels and Jersey Zoo

The Route: St Helier → Jersey War Tunnels → St Helier → Jersey Zoo → St Helier → Jersey Airport Logistics: One hotel in St Helier, local buses to both sites, no luggage moves. Marathon Month: October Duration: 2 nights

St Helier ──(approx. 15 mins, route 8)──> Jersey War Tunnels
    │
    └────(approx. 30 mins, bus)────────> Jersey Zoo (Trinity)
    │
Jersey Airport (JER) ◄──(bus or taxi)

Two large visits in one day, on the legs you have after 42.2 km, would be silly. Spread them over Monday and Tuesday, keep the same room, and let the bus do the travelling.

October on Jersey is the end of the open season. The War Tunnels' opening page covers January to December but has inconsistent weekday wording, so treat it as evidence that the site operates in October and check the date you want before you book a ticket. The zoo is open from 09:30 to 17:00 until October, with last paid entry at 16:00.

Day one: Jersey War Tunnels

The tunnels were dug into a hillside above St Lawrence during the German occupation of Jersey from 1940 to 1945. They are now a museum and a memorial. LibertyBus lists route 8 for the visit, about 15 minutes in normal traffic, though the October 2027 timetable needs checking.

It is a long indoor walk, mostly flat, with a lot of standing and reading. That suits a morning-after body better than a hill, but sit down when the exhibits allow it. Book a dated ticket only after you have confirmed the date.

Day two: Jersey Zoo

The zoo at Trinity (La Profonde Rue) was founded by Gerald Durrell as a sanctuary for endangered animals. It is open until 17:00 in October, with last paid entry at 16:00. Plan on two to three hours, and choose a few enclosures instead of a complete circuit.

The operator and the bus company list slightly different routes, so use a live journey planner before you set off. If you want a book to carry, Durrell's Menagerie Manor describes the early days of the sanctuary at Les Augrès Manor, where the zoo stands today. Do not use it as a guide to the current animals.

Where to stay: The Pomme d'Or, the Royal Yacht, Liberty Wharf Apartments, the Premier Inn at Charing Cross and the Grand Jersey are the options covered on the race page. Whichever you used for the marathon is the obvious one to keep.

Where to eat: The Harbour Room at the Pomme d'Or serves dinner every evening from 18:30 to 21:00, and Café Zephyr at the Royal Yacht serves food daily from 09:00 to 21:00. Book ahead.

Getting to Jersey Airport (JER)

Take route 15 from Liberation Station, about 30 minutes in ordinary service, or a taxi. Do not book an early flight on the morning after a long day out, and leave margin for baggage and security.