What to do in Woodstock, Cape Town
Even if you miss the actual festival where you get to see the artists at work, you can explore the area year-round by yourself (with a downloadable map) or with a guided tour (a better idea, especially for tourists unfamiliar with South Africa’s ingrained second-nature safety culture).
We took a tour with Joan from Baz-Art who showed us around the area and explained which artists created what and what different themes were the basis for each year’s festival.
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By Silas |
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By Morag Myerscough (UK) & Ilukuluku Collective |
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By Buffy Braveart and Gareth Funksavage |
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By Pilpeled (Israel) |
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By AEC - Interesni Kazki (Ukraine) |
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By Dbongz |
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By Maye (France) |
I do believe though, that public art is for the public and is intended to be engaged with and even interacted with.
Like this:
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By Lucas Aoki (Argentina) |
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By Stefan Smit |
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By Anser NineOne |
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By Brothers of Light (Israel) |
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By Silas (I'm not actually in the car, I'm behind it.) |
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By Sonny |
There. I’m art.
3. You can people-watch the influencers at the Old Biscuit Mill
5. And finally, you can discover a world of wonderful and creepy things that line the antique stores along Albert Road
I was a little concerned that as my friend Bron was marching the gift she bought me through the streets back to my car, someone may confuse the cavalier with Jan Van Riebeck and take offence (not everyone is a fan). Fortunately, that did not in fact happen.
Here are some other items we stumbled upon but did not buy:
How to get to Woodstock:
Woodstock is just a 10-minute drive from the centre of Cape Town.
- If you have your own transport, directions can be found here.
- On Saturdays, parking is available for R10 at the College of Cape Town.
- Alternatively, you can park on the street, just be sure to tip your car guard!
If you are relying on public transport, Albert Street (and all the attractions mentioned in this blog) is on Route 261 of the My Citi Bus.
When to go to Woodstock:
Saturdays seem to be the only time to go.
Do you need to book in advance to visit the Old Biscuit Mill?
Not unless you are on a tour.
Old Biscuit Mill entrance fee:
Free.
Do you need cash to shop in Woodstock?
If you would prefer not to carry cash on you, in most cases you can pay for your purchases by credit card.
- Baz-Art Street Art Tours: Your tour guide is unlikely to have access to credit card facilities, be sure to clarify how you will pay prior to the tour.
- The Old Biscuit Mill and the Neigbourgoods Market: Most places will accept cash or credit card. It's not uncommon for market stalls (in other markets in Cape Town too) to only accept payment through Snapscan or Zapper. It may be worth downloading one or both before you go.
- The Antique Stores: They accept cash or credit card.
Is Woodstock safe?
There are definitely more dangerous areas in Cape Town, there are also safer ones. If you are a foreign visitor to Cape Town, here are some safety tips:
- Do be cautious in Woodstock.
- Keep valuables in places where they cannot be pickpocketed.
- Don't walk around at night or by yourself.
- Stick to the main roads and don't journey into unfamiliar areas or backstreets.
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