Fact sheet: The Channel Islands

Although not strictly part of the UK, the Channel Islands still make it onto our list of Great British holiday destinations.

The Channel Islands are an archipelago off the north coast of France
They are classed as being Crown Dependencies, meaning they are self-governing and not part of the British Isles but the inhabitants are classed as British Citizens
The group consists of a number of islands, eight of which are inhabited
They are split into two jurisdictions, or bailiwicks - the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey
Guernsey and Jersey are the two largest and most populous of the islands
The official language of the Channel Islands is jointly English and French
Jersey is the largest island at 46 square miles, with a population of nearly 100,000
Of the two, Jersey is the closest to France; just twelve miles from the mainland
Tourism and agriculture are big contributors to the economies of both Jersey and Guernsey, although by far the largest is 'financial services' - they are renowned for their relaxed taxation systems
The Channel Islands are known for their unique mix of English and French cultures, with better weather than much of the UK
The capitals of the largest islands, St Helier on Jersey and Saint Peter Point on Guernsey, are the focus for many holidays
Post boxes and telephone boxes on Guernsey are the same as they are in the UK, except for the colour - they're blue, not red
The other main islands of the Channel Islands are Alderney, Sark and Herm
Sark is 'car-free' - the only vehicles allowed are bicycles, tractors, horse-drawn vehicles and battery-powered buggies for the elderly or disabled