Somerset West Area Information

Somerset West at a glance

Leapfrog offers a range of Somerset West houses and property options to suit all tastes. Somerset West is encircled by majestic mountains and surrounding hills covered in vineyards with exquisite views of False Bay. This area is a paradise for people who appreciate panoramic beauty, fruit, wine, cheese, hospitality, world-renowned cuisine and history, and is a very popular residential area.

With a history dating back as far as the Dutch East India Company’s arrival in the cape in 1685, Somerset West officially became known as Somerset in 1819, after British General Lord Charles Somerset. In 1850 the town was renamed Somerset West to distinguish it from Somerset East in the Eastern Province. The town became a separate distrstranict in 1898 when the magisterial court was completed. This building also served as a post office, and is now a national monument. The town was declared a municipality in 1904, and electricity was introduced in 1916. Somerset West became part of the greater City of Cape Town when it took over Somerset West’s municipal powers along with the Strand property and Gordon’s Bay property areas, which form part of the Helderberg Basin.  

Somerset West is situated 20 minutes from Cape Town International Airport and 40 minutes from the Cape Town City Centre. The area stretches from Macassar to Sir Lowry’s Pass and from the Helderberg Mountain to the N2 Highway, ending close to Gordon’s Bay and The Strand. There is a train service from most Somerset West Property to Cape Town Station. Linked by well maintained highways, Somerset West is an excellent base for exploring the scenic Cape Peninsula, the Cape Winelands, West Coast Flowers and the Fruit Route starting in Elgin. All of this and so much more is what makes Somerset West a key tourist area and a highly sought-after area for property in South Africa.

Over the last few decades Somerset West has greatly expanded and the town has become the commercial and residential capital of the Helderberg Basin. With a bustling and close-knit community, the quaint buildings and side streets retain the historic charm of the Western Cape. There are many historic buildings as well as delightful boutiques offering flowers, bric-a-brac, chocolates, cheese, wine, books, antiques and just about everything imaginable. The town also offers excellent educational institutions from private schools, various pre-schools, eleven primary schools, seven secondary schools and two tertiary colleges. There are two hospitals in Somerset West – the Hottentots Holland Provincial Hospital and the Vergelegen Medi City, which is a world-renowned private hospital staffed by medical specialists. Somerset West also has its own community-based radio station, Radio Helderberg which Somerset West real estate owners can tune into for news and other programming.

Somerset West boasts a large variety of accommodation which includes self-catering units, bed and breakfast outlets, guest houses, hotels and a number of conference venues. Small holdings of up to one hectare can be found in Tre Donne, High Riding, Wedderville and Sir Lowry’s Pass. Retirement villages abound with Bridgewater Manor, Stormhaven Park, Helderberg Village and Somerset Oaks to name but a few.  Somerset Mall Shopping Centre offers excellent shopping with every amenity that residents owning or renting Somerset West properties may require.  

There are many attractions to enjoy when owning property in Somerset West, including world-class beaches, excellent restaurants, the old bridge over Lourens River, the old NG Church, the old Pastorie, Country Craft Market, Helderberg Nature Reserve, Boland Hiking Trail, Helderberg Farm Trail, Dick Brent Bird Sanctuary, Sheik Yussaf’s Kramat in Macassar, and an array of outstanding golf courses, sports clubs, theatre and art centres plus a number of activities from dancing to sculpture. The Helderberg Wine Route is also on offer, with excellent wine, fruit and views to enjoy. Whale watching is also popular between June and December, and many Southern Right whales can be seen in the False Bay coast during this time. Yet another popular event to enjoy is the Helderberg Lights Festival, also known as the Strawberry Festival. This festival is held in the main road during December each year and features a flea market and street parades.  

Whether you have lived in Somerset West for years, have just moved in, live in an adjoining town or just wish to pass through the area, take some time off to explore this wonderful town. Once you have experienced the relaxed lifestyle in the Helderberg Basin, it is easy to understand why Somerset West has become one of the most desired residential areas in South Africa. Contact Leapfrog today for our full range of Somerset West property options.