An urban south-facing beach a short walk from St Helier. Sand, rocks and shallow pools appear as the tide falls, while higher water brings the sea close to the promenade and surrounds the neighbouring Lido.
These predictions use St Helier, Jersey’s standard reference port. Local timing and conditions at Havre des Pas can vary slightly with weather and coastal geography. Times are shown in local Jersey time.
Havre des Pas is an urban south-facing beach immediately east of St Helier. It forms part of the same shoreline as Grève d'Azette but has a distinct identity centred on its promenade and historic tidal bathing pool.
The beach is backed by sea walls, boardwalks, hotels and restaurants rather than cliffs or dunes, making it one of Jersey's easiest beaches to combine with a visit to town.
The natural beach depends heavily on the tide for direct access to the open sea, while the neighbouring Havre des Pas Bathing Pool (the Lido) retains enclosed seawater when the main tide has retreated.
Around high water, the sea reaches close to the promenade, sea walls and upper beach. The amount of remaining sand depends on the predicted height and sea conditions.
As the tide falls, the beach expands quickly. Sand, rocks and pools appear around the Lido and towards Grève d'Azette, while the main shoreline retreats a considerable distance from the promenade.
At low water, direct open-sea swimming from the main beach becomes inconvenient because of the distance and the rocky intertidal shore. This is the principal reason the neighbouring Lido is such an important feature: it preserves a swimming area through the lower tide. On large high tides or during rough southerly weather, waves and spray can reach the sea wall and promenade.
Direct beach swimming is simplest when the sea has covered most of the lower rocks and moved closer to the upper shore. The central and eastern sandy areas generally offer a more straightforward entry than the rocky margins around the Lido.
Havre des Pas is relatively protected from Atlantic swell, but it is open to weather from the south and south-east. Anyone looking for a controlled, retained-water swim should use the Lido rather than expecting the natural beach to offer equivalent conditions.
Swimmers should watch for:
The shallow sandy sections are suitable for paddling when the tide covers the rougher lower shore. At low water, isolated pools remain between rocks; these may look enclosed but can have slippery or uneven bottoms. Supervise children around sea walls, pool structures, weed-covered rocks, channels filling on the rising tide, and steps and railings leading into deeper water.
Falling and low tides expose extensive rocks and shallow pools around the Lido and along the wider shore. The area is convenient for urban rock pooling because it is close to the promenade and facilities, but it is less natural in character than Green Island or Plémont, with sea walls, pool structures and drainage features forming part of the shore. Choose pools close to the main beach, wear suitable footwear, watch the incoming tide around the Lido causeways, and return creatures to the pool where you found them.
Looking for water when the tide is out? Havre des Pas Bathing Pool (the Lido) retains a seawater swimming pool after the surrounding beach has uncovered. See its own page for pool details, supervision and current opening.
Havre des Pas is within walking distance of central St Helier and is served by a continuous promenade. The promenade is comparatively level and gives views across the beach without crossing sand or rocks; access onto the natural beach is by steps and slipways at several points.
Accessibility varies with the tide: the promenade is generally firm and level, beach access is by steps or slopes, the upper sand is soft, the lower shore is rocky and uneven, and open water at low tide is a considerable distance away.
Facilities around Havre des Pas include:
The natural beach is not a separately flagged RNLI lifeguarded beach. Seasonal supervision may operate at the Lido; check the Lido page and its current opening arrangements.
Tides. Tide predictions are forecasts. Actual sea level is affected by atmospheric pressure, wind and waves. Always observe the sea and your surroundings.
Swimming. Sea swimming carries risks: currents, waves, rocks, submerged structures, boats and cold water. This page is for planning and does not confirm conditions are safe. Do not assume the beach is lifeguarded.
Facilities. Facilities and café opening hours change seasonally. Check directly before making a journey specifically to use them.
Jersey