The German Underground Hospital is one of the most fascinating historical sights in Guernsey. This underground hospital and bunker was occupied by the Germans during World War II and is almost completely invisible from ground level.
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German Underground Hospital, Guernsey
The German Underground Hospital is a great place to visit to learn about the history in Guernsey during WWII. In this guide, we will discuss why you should visit the German Underground Hospital as well as the following
Table of Contents
What is the German Underground Hospital?
The German Underground Hospital and Bunker is the largest WWII structure in the Channel Islands at 75,000 feet. The maze of tunnels below ground level would be completely unknown except for the large concrete entrance. This complex underground structure was not initially built for hospital purposes, but was used as a shelter for a machine gun company. It wasn’t until 1944 that the decision and transformation were made to turn the tunnels into the Underground Hospital.
This is a fascinating place to visit when you are in Guernsey but we would recommend that even if you visit on a warm Summer’s day, it’s cold in the tunnels so bring something warm to wear.
Planning Your Trip
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The Guernsey Discovery Pass
The history in Guernsey is phenomenal and if you are planning to visit many of the sites you may be as well pay for a Discovery pass. This is an annual pass that gives you unlimited seasonal entry to Castle Cornet, Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery, Fort Grey and the German Naval Signals Headquarters.
It costs £18 and all children under 18 who are accompanying will go for free. You can buy the pass from a number of different places, including Castle Cornet, Guernsey Museum at Candie, and Beau Sejour Leisure Centre.
How to get to the German Underground Hospital?
The German Underground Hospital is located in the Saint Andrew Parish of Guernsey. It most easily accessed by car however it is also accessible by bus. As mentioned above, the maze of tunnels are barely visible from the surface, however there are sign posts so you shouldn’t miss it. There is a large car parking area on the left and the entrance to the underground hospital will be on your right.
Bus route 71
Why Should I go to the German Underground Hospital?
The German Underground Hospital is well worth a visit on your trip to Guernsey. Here you will learn about the German Occupation in Guernsey and see for yourself some of the old equipment that was used here during the war. You can either choose to visit on your own or visit as part of a tour with Tours of Guernsey.
Before You Leave for Guernsey
Before you leave on your trip to the beautiful island of Guernsey, there are a number of things you will need to organise to ensure a smooth and stress-free trip. These include what to pack, where to stay and what is the best travel insurance for Guernsey.
What to Pack for Guernsey
What you need to pack for Guernsey will rely highly on when you make your trip to the Channel Islands. During the Spring and Autumn months, temperatures and weather patterns vary wildly between beautiful sunny skies and storming gales.
The temperatures generally vary from 10 oC to 25 oC during these months, with a mixture between cold, northerly winds and warmer southerlies. There is a small amount of rain, with maybe 1 in 7 days receiving rainfall, which makes it perfect for days out exploring the beautiful island.
During the Summer months in Guernsey, temperatures tend to range from 20oC to 30oC, with some days topping 35oC. Summer days in Guernsey are perfect for the beach, with many locals and travellers alike sending their day soaking up the sun and playing in the sea. When it comes to toiletries, we recommend that you don’t forget to pack sunscreen. The sun in Guernsey can be strong, especially in the summer months.
If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you will see in Guernsey, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance?
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered.
Where to Stay in Guernsey?
When it comes to accommodation on Guernsey, you are simply spoiled for choice with a huge range of hotels, B&Bs and even campsites to choose from. No matter what your preferred level of luxury is, there is the perfect place for you.
Luxury – Spend your time on Guernsey in true luxury at the Old Government House Spa and Hotel in St Peter Port. This hotel has beautiful views over the harbour of Guernsey’s capital, as well as access to a luxurious spa, an outdoor terrace and a heated, outdoor pool.
Book your stay at the Old Government House Spa and Hotel here.
Mid-range – If you would like a taste of luxury at an affordable price, then the Auberge du Val Hotel is perfect for you. This 19th-century farmhouse sits on the west coast of the island and offers cosy, ensuite rooms, complete with tea, coffee and tv. The hotel is just a short walk from the beautiful nature reserves in St Saviour, perfect for a romantic trip away for the weekend.
Book your stay at the Auberge du Val Hotel here.
Budget – Situated just 2-miles from Guernsey airport in the heart of St Martins, the Carlton Inn is the best value hotel in Guernsey. With free parking and wifi, as well as access to the Wicked Wolf pub that sits in the same building.
Book your stay at the Carlton Inn here.
Camping – If you are up for a more adventurous stay on Guernsey, Fauxquets Valley Campsite offer a range of glamping safari tents, glamping pods and sites for your own tent if you bring one. Visit their website for a full price list of tents and campsites.
So there you have it, your complete guide to visiting the German Underground Hospital in Guernsey! This is just some of the many great things to do in Guernsey, and we would recommend that you give visiting this gem of an island a go.
If you found this guide to the German Underground Hospital in Guernsey useful, please let us know in the comments section below. We love chatting you guys about this kind of thing, and sharing our top experiences with everyone else! What site was your favourite? Do you have any places to add that we missed out?
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If you are planning a trip to Guernsey soon then check out our other Channel Islands content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from Guernsey and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers on our social channels!
Now Read:
- Things to do in Guernsey – A Guernsey Guide
- Historical Sights in Guernsey
- Eating Out in Guernsey – Best Restaurants in Guernsey
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