A broad sandy bay stretching between St Helier and St Aubin. Low tide exposes a huge beach and sends the sea far from the promenade, while higher water brings swimming and watersports closer to shore.
These predictions use St Helier, Jersey’s standard reference port. Local timing and conditions at St Aubin's Bay can vary slightly with weather and coastal geography. Times are shown in local Jersey time.
Both islets are reached by tidal causeways that uncover around low water and cover again as the sea returns. Use the sites’ published crossing information and the causeway signs rather than estimating your return from the general tide table.
St Aubin's Bay curves across Jersey's south coast from St Helier Harbour to St Aubin's Harbour. It is a long urban and suburban beach rather than a single compact destination.
The bay includes several recognisable sections: the St Helier end near Elizabeth Castle; First Tower and West Park; Millbrook; the Gunsite; the approach to St Aubin; and La Haule at the western end, which has its own page.
A broad promenade and cycle route follow much of the bay. Facilities, parking and beach character vary along its length, so not every section offers the same amenities.
St Aubin's Bay has a gently shelving shore and a large tidal range. Around low water, the sea retreats a considerable distance and leaves a broad expanse of sand.
As the tide rises, water moves steadily across the flat beach. The horizontal movement can be substantial, so belongings left well above the sea may need moving several times.
Around high water, the sea reaches close to the sea wall along parts of Victoria Avenue and the promenade, though the amount of dry beach remaining varies by section and tidal height. In practice: low tide gives a very broad beach with a long walk to the sea; mid tide gives a substantial beach with improving access to water; high tide gives convenient swimming access but limited sand locally.
Swimming is most convenient when the tide is high enough to bring the sea closer to the upper beach. Because the bay shelves gently, lower water may remain shallow for a considerable distance — good for paddling but less practical for a quick swim.
St Aubin's Bay is not an RNLI-lifeguarded beach. The retained-water Victoria Marine Lake has historically been an alternative when the tide is out, but it is currently closed and unsafe (see its page).
Swimmers should consider:
The bay is used for water-skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, paddleboarding, sailing and windsurfing, and Visit Jersey specifically promotes powered watersports here. Swimming areas and launch routes may vary by location and season, so follow local signs rather than assuming the whole bay is unrestricted swimming water. Keep clear of marked launching zones, watch for boats approaching slipways, do not swim across active watersports routes, and account for offshore winds when paddling.
Low tide exposes a long, mostly continuous sandy route across the bay, making it one of Jersey's most convenient beaches for a substantial walk without steep access. A normal walk parallel to the shore is different from trying to reach Elizabeth Castle or St Aubin's Fort: near either harbour or the islets you may meet channels, softer wet sand, harbour activity, causeways covered by the tide, and areas where the returning sea reaches walls and slipways first.
Elizabeth Castle stands on a tidal islet off the St Helier end of the bay. It can be reached by a designated causeway at low tide or by amphibious ferry when operating. Jersey Heritage confirms walking access at low water, with access outside that period relying on the visitor transport when the attraction is open. It is reached by a marked tidal causeway when conditions allow — use the castle’s published crossing information rather than estimating your return from the general tide table.
St Aubin's Fort lies on a tidal islet near the western end of the bay, with a causeway that uncovers around lower water. It is not an ordinary beach destination or a guaranteed attraction; its historic purpose was to protect vessels in St Aubin's Harbour. The causeway uncovers around lower water, but access depends on the tide and any restrictions at the site, so do not use the general low-water time as a guaranteed crossing window.
The broad lower beach provides substantial space for walking, running and games, and the Gunsite area is associated with beach volleyball and recreational use. Keep games clear of slipways, watersports zones, cyclists and pedestrians near the promenade, harbour approaches and other beach users on busier days.
A largely level promenade and cycle route run beside much of the bay, linking St Helier with St Aubin. This is one of the bay’s main strengths for accessibility, letting people enjoy the shoreline without crossing sand. It is shared space rather than a dedicated cycle track and can be busy with cyclists, pedestrians, runners, mobility scooters, children and people accessing the beach.
There are many access points, including steps and slipways along Victoria Avenue and around St Aubin. Promenades are generally firm and level and slipways provide ramped access to the upper beach, but sand remains unsuitable for standard wheelchairs, the walk to the water is long at low tide, and high water may remove the dry beach near some sea walls. BeachAbility provides a balloon-wheel beach wheelchair near the Gunsite area.
Facilities are distributed around the bay rather than all beside the central beach, and include:
St Aubin's Bay is not lifeguarded. The presence of Victoria Marine Lake or organised watersports does not imply general beach supervision.
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