Things to see and do in Woodstock

Here is a list of things to see and do in Woodstock with some details of where and when.

  • The Old Biscuit Mill in Albert Road holds a market every Saturday was originally a Pioneer factory, It was then taken over by Standard Mills and more recently by Pyotts. A mill was built in the late 19th century, the base of which has to be on the premises, but nobody has located it yet.     The building has been re-purposed, and it is now a trendy shopping and business district
  • The Bromwell Boutique Mall 250 Albert Rd, Tel: 021 447 4730 The Bromwell is a beautifully restored 1927  hotel building, once an ‘infamous house of ill repute’, the website says. The building, with its lovely parquet flooring, has been restored, with Heritage Society approval, to its former glory, and works of art are displayed throughout.
  • The Ruth Prowse School of Art is housed in the original Roodebloem farmhouse. Ruth Prowse School of Art NPC has a vision to be a unique art school with a balance between tradition and innovation. The School strives for excellence and equity in the field of visual communication with an inter-relationship between theory and practice. Above all, the School aims to be a world-class environment that motivates original thought and judgment, creativity, aesthetics, cross-cultural artistic and educational exchange, together with vocational and entrepreneurial skills.
  • The King’s, Queen’s, and Prince of Wales’ blockhouses on Devil’s Peak. Following the first British occupation of the Cape in 1795, the existing Dutch line of defence, known as the French line, was extended by the addition of three blockhouses up the slopes of Devil’s Peak. These included the Queen’s Blockhouse, on the Zonnebloem Estate, the Prince of Wales, above present-day De Waal Drive, and the King’s Blockhouse further up the mountainside.
  • The Woodstock  Foundry, 160 Albert Road, 021 422 0466. The Woodstock Foundry is a collaborative project developed by Cape Living Developments in conjunction with local artists, transforming historic buildings along Albert Road in Woodstock into a vibrant studio and retail complex. This design hub features two restaurants, various small office suites, and spaces for retail and studios, all complemented by ample parking facilities. Primarily catering to artists, design professionals, and creative individuals, The Woodstock Foundry serves as a focal point for the creative community while also housing an artisan coffee roastery and café alongside clothing and furniture retailers.
  •  Trafalgar Park, where the last remnant of a line of fortifications built by the Dutch in the 1780s can be seen, also has a brick kiln built in the 1830s
  • The Treaty Tree in Treaty Road is an old milkwood tree. The peace treaty between the English and the Dutch after the Battle of Blaauwberg was signed here in 1806. Up until 1834, slaves were sold at the tree, and convicts were hanged there.
  • The Old Castle Brewery was designed in 1901 by New York architect H. Steinmann. It was recently saved from demolition and restored. Beach Road in front of it is where the shoreline once was. Willem Otten was engaged to restore the building to its former glory.   Windows were opened up – in some cases, old cast iron frames were found, and in other cases,s new galvanised steel frames were made to simulate the old frames. The restoration has been an ongoing process.
  • Take a walking tour that promotes “start-ups” in the area
  •   The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St George at 75 Mountain Road was built in 1904 for the Greek community of Cape Town. Byzantine-style frescoes decorate the vaults, walls and apse with depictions of Jesus and various other saints and icons.
  • Free Walmer Estate/Woodstock walking tour
  • Woodstock Peace Garden The Woodstock Peace Garden is different things to different people. This Ubuntu project is aimed at making land accessible to all who care and to create awareness for autism and our environment. Co-Creators store their landscaping tools, plants, soils and rocks here. Autistic school children use the labyrinth, play and explore the natural environment here. And it provides a space where the Woodstock community can grow food gardens; a venue where they can engage fully in community spirit and social responsibility. The Garden is open early mornings and late afternoons
  • The Woodstock Exchange creative hub, The Woodstock Exchange is home to Department stores for some of the trendiest, most innovative and most progressive fashion designers, 021 486 5999.
  • Local graffiti: If you drive around, you will see graffiti (murals). These are on buildings, walls, and even fences. The art is dynamic, community-driven and constantly changing. Much of the work is commissioned and is always done with the permission of the building’s owners. Tour the art with Juma at juma.mkwela@gmail.com. Plan for about 1 to 1.5 hours for a solid walking-tour experience. Allow for more time if you plan to stop by cafés, shops, and galleries.
  • Take a train to Kenilworth with an amusing educational soundtrack