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Brits in Cape Town

Everything you need to move to, rent in and enjoy Cape Town as a Brit, and how it fits with your UK tax, pension, money and paperwork.

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Official Britain

British Consulate General Cape Town

UK consulate serving the Western Cape, part of the British High Commission network in South Africa; visits by appointment only

15th Floor, Norton Rose House, 8 Riebeek Street, Foreshore, Cape Town 8000

Website · Map

Votes for lifeVote from Cape TownLiving abroad doesn't cost you your vote. Register as an overseas elector, choose a proxy or postal vote, and renew every three years.
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Cape Town Partners

Katharina Bergauer, innsicht

Global partner · online

The inner move

A move abroad changes more than your postcode. Katharina Bergauer (innsicht) supports individuals, couples and families before the move and until everyone feels at home. Online, in English or German.

Katharina Bergauer

Eintragungsnummer: 17784

Book a first conversation

Global partner · online

Learn the language

Get to grips with the language where you live, keep the kids' English sharp or prep for an exam. Live online lessons with qualified teachers since 1991: English and the main world languages, 1:1 or in small groups, for adults, kids and household staff.

Cambridge School of English Online

Cambridge School of English sp. z o.o.Warsaw, Poland · online since 1991

Take the free level test

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Your business here: partner in Cape Town

Are you a highly recommended business for Brits in Cape Town? One partner per category, so there's no competitor next to you.

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Partners pay to be featured. Our guides are written independently. Meet all our partners

Guides for life in Cape Town

Basics

Cost of living in Cape Town: cheaper rent, pricier extras and how it stacks up

Your pound goes a long way in Cape Town, but private healthcare, security and backup power add costs you never had at home. Here's how 2026 prices compare.

Basics

Load-shedding, water and backup power in Cape Town: what to check before you rent

The lights have mostly stayed on since 2025, but Cape Town's dams are lower than they should be. Here's what to know about power cuts, solar, water and your next rental.

Basics

Safety in Cape Town: what the FCDO says and how Brits actually live with it

Cape Town is a brilliant place to live, but it asks for more care than Bristol or Brighton. Here's the FCDO advice in plain English and the habits locals swear by.

Basics

Languages and your family in Cape Town: Afrikaans, isiXhosa and the school language rules

Every child in a South African state school takes two official languages. In Cape Town that usually means English plus Afrikaans or isiXhosa. Here's how the rules work for British children.

Money and work

South African taxes for Brits: residence, the UK treaty and your State Pension

Move to Cape Town and SARS taxes your worldwide income, but the UK–South Africa treaty and a few useful exemptions change the picture, especially for pensions.

Money and work

Banking in South Africa as a Brit: opening an account and moving your money

Opening a bank account in Cape Town is mostly paperwork. Here's what the banks ask for, how to keep your UK account going, and the exchange control rules worth knowing.

Money and work

The frozen UK State Pension in South Africa: what it costs you and how to claim from Cape Town

Retire to Cape Town and your UK State Pension never rises again. Here's why, what that costs over twenty years, and how to claim and get paid in rand.

Money and work

South African exchange control: bringing money in, getting it out, and the paperwork in between

South Africa still controls money leaving the country. Here's what that means for Brits: declaring what you bring in, keeping the paper trail, and the allowances for taking money out.

Home

Renting in Cape Town: where Brits live, what you'll pay and how not to get scammed

Cape Town is South Africa's priciest place to rent, and the good flats go fast. Here's where Brits live, what deposits and leases look like, and how to spot a scam.

Home

Buying property in Cape Town as a foreigner: transfer duty, bonds and the real costs

Foreigners can buy freehold in Cape Town, but bank lending, exchange control and transfer duty work differently from back home. Here's the process and the costs.

Moving and visas

Moving to Cape Town as a Brit: the visa routes that actually work

You can visit South Africa for 90 days on a British passport, but living in Cape Town needs a visa. Here are the routes that work for Brits in 2026, and where to start.

Moving and visas

South African visas for Brits: the retired person's visa, critical skills and remote work

Brits get 90 days visa-free. To stay longer you need a visa: here's how the retired person's, critical skills and remote work visas compare, and how to apply from the UK.

Moving and visas

Permanent residence in South Africa: the routes for Brits, the wait and what it changes

Permanent residence means no more visa renewals. Here are the routes Brits use, how long Home Affairs takes, and what it changes for work, banking and property.

Health

Healthcare in Cape Town: medical aid, private hospitals and why the NHS won't help

Cape Town's private hospitals are excellent and expensive, the public ones are stretched, and the NHS won't pay. Here's how Brits get covered properly.

Schools and study

Schools in Cape Town: Cambridge, international and state options for British families

Cape Town has a handful of Cambridge schools, good state schools in the leafy suburbs and fees well below UK private schools. Here's how it all works.

Schools and study

South African schools and the British curriculum: matric, IEB or A levels in Cape Town?

Matric, IEB or Cambridge A levels? Here's how the South African school system lines up with GCSEs and A levels, which Cape Town schools teach the British route, and what it costs.

Getting around

Driving in South Africa with a UK licence, and getting around Cape Town

They drive on the left, so that bit's easy. Here's how long your UK licence lasts, what converting involves, staying safe on the roads and using MyCiTi.

Community

British life in Cape Town: Sunday roasts, Newlands, the Legion and finding your people

Cape Town has a long British history and a big British community. Here's where to find a roast, a pint at Newlands, Remembrance, cricket and each other.

Going out

British food in Cape Town: a proper cuppa, a Sunday roast and the footie

Braais are brilliant, but sometimes you want a roast and a proper brew. Here's where Brits in Cape Town find Sunday carvery, chippies, afternoon tea and home comforts.

Going out

Nightlife in Cape Town: where Brits go out, and how to get home safely

Sundowners with a view of Table Mountain, speakeasies off Bree Street and rock bars in Observatory. Here's where to go out in Cape Town and how to get home in one piece.

Going out

Wine country weekends from Cape Town: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Constantia

Constantia is 20 minutes away, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek an hour. Here's how Brits in Cape Town do the winelands: tastings, the wine tram, and getting home safely.

Compare propertyBuy in Cape Town or back in the UK?Mortgages, stamp duty, buying costs and capital gains side by side.
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Britain in Cape Town

Free listings we choose and check: the British mission, clubs, party groups, sport, schools, pubs, shops and churches. Every entry checked on its own or an official 2025–2026 page (2026-11); listings are not paid. Tell us on WhatsApp if something has changed.

Official Britain

British Consulate General Cape Town

UK consulate serving the Western Cape, part of the British High Commission network in South Africa; visits by appointment only

15th Floor, Norton Rose House, 8 Riebeek Street, Foreshore, Cape Town 8000

Website · Map · Facebook · Instagram · X · LinkedIn

Business and networking

British Chamber of Business in Southern Africa

BCC-affiliated business network for UK–South Africa trade, headquartered in Johannesburg with a Cape Town office

Website · Map · +27 87 550 2606 · admin@bcbafrica.com

Clubs and associations

Royal British Legion

South African Legion – Cape Town Branch

Veterans' welfare organisation (and its national headquarters) at Rosedale in Rosebank; runs the Poppy Day appeal and Remembrance events

Rosedale, Lower Nursery Road, Rosebank, Cape Town 7700

Website · Map · +27 21 689 9771 · manager@salegion.co.za

Royal British Legion

Transvaal Scottish Regimental Association – Western Cape Branch

Regimental association of former Transvaal Scottish soldiers and associate members; monthly lunches and Remembrance, Delville Wood and El Alamein parades

Website · Map · secretarywc@jocks.co.za

Party groups abroad

Listed side by side, in alphabetical order. We don't favour any party.

Conservatives Abroad – Cape Town (The Macmillan Club)

Cape Town branch of the Conservative Party's organisation for members abroad, serving members and supporters in Cape Town

Website

Labour International – Africa, Turkey and the Middle East branch

Africa, Turkey and Middle East branch of the Labour Party's organisation for members abroad, serving members and supporters in Africa, Turkey and the Middle East, including South Africa

Website

Lib Dems Overseas

Non-European branch of the Liberal Democrats' organisation for members abroad, serving members and supporters in countries outside Europe, including South Africa

Website

Sport

Western Province Cricket Club

Cricket club founded in 1864 in Rondebosch, also offering hockey, squash, bowls, tennis and padel

65 Avenue De Mist, Rondebosch, Cape Town

Website · Map · +27 21 657 3330 · members@wpcc.co.za · Facebook · Instagram

Schools and universities

School

Reddam House Durbanville

Independent school, 18 months–19 years: Cambridge IGCSE, AS and A levels alongside the IEB; early learning school on a separate campus

Clara Anna Fontein Estate, Shamwari Close, Durbanville, Cape Town 7550

Website · Map · 010 060 4236 · Facebook · Instagram

School

El Shaddai Christian School

Independent Christian school in Durbanville, Grade 00–12, offering Cambridge International examinations

Website · Map · +27 21 975 1980 · Facebook · Instagram · LinkedIn

School

SACS High School

Boys' state school in Newlands, Grades 8–12; Cambridge GCSE and A-level options in selected subjects alongside the NSC

Newlands Avenue, Newlands, Cape Town 7700

Website · Map · +27 21 689 4164 · Facebook · Instagram · X

School

IES Blouberg International School

Nursery to Year 13; Cambridge International curriculum

74 Ringwood Drive, Parklands, Cape Town 7441

Website · Map · +27 21 557 9071 · Facebook · Instagram · YouTube

School

IES Helderberg International School

Nursery to Year 13; Cambridge International curriculum, in Somerset West

Somerset West, Cape Town

Website · Map · +27 21 851 6290 · Facebook · Instagram

School

The French School of Cape Town (Lycée Français du Cap)

Ages 2 to 18; French programme with a British International Section and Cambridge examinations

101 Hope Street, Gardens, Cape Town 8001

Website · Map · +27 21 461 2508 · Facebook · Instagram

School

Generation Schools

18 months to school leaving at Sunningdale, Sandown, Somerset West and Imhoff campuses; Montessori-inspired early years, with Cambridge as one senior pathway alongside IEB

Website · Map · +27 21 205 5922 · Facebook · Instagram · YouTube

School

International School of Cape Town

Independent school teaching the Cambridge (British) curriculum from nursery to IGCSE and A Levels, on two Claremont campuses

4 Edinburgh Close, Claremont, Cape Town 7708

Website · Map · +27 21 763 5300 · admissions@isct.co.za · Facebook · Instagram · X · LinkedIn

British Council

British Council South Africa – IELTS Cape Town

British Council IELTS test centre location in Cape Town; head office in Johannesburg handles exams, UK study and English courses

Website · Map · Facebook · X

Pubs and restaurants

Our guide to British food, shops and pubs in Cape Town

Pub

Foresters Arms (Forries)

Newlands pub near the rugby and cricket grounds showing Springbok tests on big screens; Sunday carvery with Yorkshire pudding

52 Newlands Avenue, Newlands, Cape Town

Website · Map · +27 21 689 5949 · reservations@forries.co.za · Facebook · Instagram

Pub

The Fireman's Arms

City pub dating from 1864 showing rugby and European football on nine screens; pub-style Sunday roast

Corner Buitengracht and Mechau Streets, Cape Town

Website · Map · kevin1@global.co.za · Facebook · Instagram · X

Fish and chips

Kalky's

Kalk Bay harbour chippie since 1996: hake, snoek or fresh line fish and chips

Kalk Bay Harbour, Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town

Website · Map · Facebook

Fish and chips

Fish on the Rocks

Takeaway by the Hout Bay breakwater: hake and chips year-round, picnic benches

Far End, Harbour Road, Hout Bay, Cape Town 7806

Website · Map · +27 21 790 0001

Fish and chips

Lusitania Fisheries

No-frills city-centre chippie popular with office workers

49a Waterkant Street, Cape Town

Website · Map · Facebook

Sunday roast

The Conservatory at The Cellars-Hohenort

Constantia hotel restaurant serving a three-course Sunday roast; weekend high tea too

93 Brommersvlei Road, Constantia, Cape Town

Website · Map · +27 21 794 2137

Sunday roast

Lime Tree Café

Neighbourhood café in Bergvliet with a regularly changing Sunday roast

Shop 8, Sherwood Centre, corner Children's Way and Dreyersdal Road, Bergvliet, Cape Town

Website · Map · 021 712 1497

Afternoon tea

Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel

Traditional English-style afternoon tea in the Lounge with live piano and 60+ loose-leaf teas

76 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town 8001

Website · Map · +27 21 483 1000

Churches

St George's Cathedral

Mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town and metropolitical church of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa

5 Wale Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town 8001

Website · Map · +27 21 424 7360 · reception@sgcathedral.co.za · Facebook · YouTube

St Saviour's Anglican Church, Claremont

Anglican parish church in the Diocese of Cape Town's Rondebosch archdeaconry

6 Bowwood Road, Claremont, Cape Town 7700

Map · +27 21 671 8171

St Paul's Anglican Church, Rondebosch

Anglican parish church in Rondebosch, Diocese of Cape Town

Church Street, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7700

Map · +27 21 689 4720

Christ Church Constantia

Anglican parish church in Constantia, Diocese of Cape Town

Corner of Parish and Main Roads, Constantia, Cape Town 7806

Map · +27 21 794 5051

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