Newlands Cricket Ground — The Complete Guide for Travelling Cricket Fans

There is no more spectacular setting for a cricket match anywhere in the world. Newlands sits in the shadow of Table Mountain, framed by Devil's Peak and the oak-lined avenues of one of Cape Town's most desirable suburbs. On a clear summer day with a Test match in full swing, it is as good as cricket gets.

England play the 3rd Test at Newlands from 3–7 January 2027 — the New Year's Test, traditionally the highlight of any tour to South Africa. If you're planning to be there, here's everything you need to know.

The Ground

Newlands has a capacity of approximately 25,000 and a Test match atmosphere that's intense without being intimidating. The ground is compact, meaning there's no bad seat in the house, and the Western Province light gives the cricket a quality that televisions simply don't capture.

The ground has hosted Test cricket since 1889 and has been the scene of some extraordinary matches over the decades. The combination of the setting, the pitch, and the atmosphere makes it one of those grounds every cricket fan should visit at least once.

Best Areas for Travelling Supporters

The Kelvin Grove End and the grass banks are where travelling England fans traditionally congregate. The grass banks offer a relaxed, social atmosphere — bring a picnic blanket and sunscreen. For covered seating with better sightlines, the grandstands on the eastern side of the ground offer shade from the afternoon sun and excellent views of the pitch with Table Mountain behind the bowler's arm.

Premium hospitality suites are available but tend to sell out well in advance for England Tests. If hospitality is important to you, book early.

Getting to the Ground

Newlands is located in the southern suburbs of Cape Town, about 10 kilometres from the city centre and roughly 25 minutes by car or Uber outside of rush hour. The ground is on Campground Road, well signposted from the M3 motorway.

Parking near the ground is limited on match days and fills up early. Most travelling supporters use Uber or organised transfers — it's affordable and avoids the hassle entirely. Your tour operator can arrange match-day transfers if you prefer.

What to Bring

Cape Town's weather in early January is generally warm and sunny, but Newlands is close enough to the mountain to catch the occasional shadow. Pack sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a light layer for late in the day. The ground allows you to bring in your own food and a reasonable amount of non-glass drinks — one of the great things about South African cricket grounds.

Where to Stay

Cape Town has accommodation for every budget, but location matters when you're planning around a Test match.

Close to the Ground

The suburbs of Newlands, Claremont, and Constantia are all within a few minutes of the ground. Hotels and guesthouses here tend to be quieter and more residential, with easy walking or short Uber rides to the cricket. The Constantia Valley is also wine country — Groot Constantia, one of the oldest wine estates in South Africa, is a ten-minute drive from the ground.

City Centre and Waterfront

The V&A Waterfront and the city centre offer the widest range of hotels, restaurants, and nightlife. You're 20–30 minutes from Newlands by Uber, but the trade-off is that you're right in the heart of Cape Town with everything on your doorstep. This is where most travelling supporters base themselves.

Camps Bay and the Atlantic Seaboard

If budget allows, Camps Bay and Clifton are some of the most stunning places to stay anywhere in the world. White sand beaches, turquoise water, and the Twelve Apostles mountain range as your backdrop. The drive to Newlands takes about 20 minutes along one of the most scenic coastal roads in Africa.

What to Do on Rest Days

A five-day Test match gives you mornings before play, evenings after stumps, and potentially a rest day or an early finish. Cape Town fills that time effortlessly.

Table Mountain

The obvious one, and rightly so. Take the cable car up or hike one of the trails — Platteklip Gorge is the most direct route up, or Skeleton Gorge from Kirstenbosch for something more adventurous. On a clear day the views from the top extend to Robben Island and beyond. Go early in the morning to avoid queues.

The Cape Winelands

Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are less than an hour's drive from Cape Town and are among the finest wine regions in the world. A day spent tasting in Franschhoek — lunch at one of the estates, the wine tram between farms — is one of the best days out in South Africa. Closer to hand, the Constantia Valley has three historic estates within minutes of Newlands itself.

The Cape Peninsula

Chapman's Peak Drive from Hout Bay to Noordhoek is one of the most dramatic coastal drives anywhere. Continue south to Simon's Town for the penguin colony at Boulders Beach, then on to Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. This is a full day trip but worth every hour.

The V&A Waterfront

Cape Town's waterfront is the commercial heart of the city — restaurants, shops, the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, harbour cruises, and helicopter flights over the peninsula. It's where most visitors spend at least one evening.

Robben Island

The ferry to Robben Island departs from the V&A Waterfront. The tour of the island and the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years is one of the most powerful experiences in South Africa. Book in advance — slots fill up quickly during the summer season.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

One of the great botanical gardens of the world, Kirstenbosch sits on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, barely five minutes from Newlands. The tree canopy walkway offers elevated views of the gardens and the mountain. In summer there are outdoor concerts on the lawns — a perfect way to spend a late afternoon after stumps.

For a deeper dive into Cape Town beyond the cricket, read our complete Cape Town sightseeing guide.

The 3rd Test — 3–7 January 2027

The New Year's Test at Newlands is the final match of the three-Test series. Depending on results at the Wanderers and Centurion, this could be a dead rubber or a series decider — either way, the setting guarantees an unforgettable experience.

The timing works well for travelling fans. You can spend Christmas and New Year in Cape Town, enjoy the festive season atmosphere (Cape Town does New Year's Eve spectacularly well), and then settle into five days of Test cricket to start January.

Many supporters combine the Cape Town Test with the ODI series that follows — the 1st ODI is at Boland Park in Paarl on 10 January, just 45 minutes from Cape Town in the heart of wine country. It's an easy extension that adds another ground and another experience to the trip.

For the full fixture list and tour details, see our England cricket tour to South Africa 2026/27 guide.

Planning Your Trip

We connect you with officially appointed tour operators in South Africa who arrange your accommodation, match tickets, transfers and experiences directly. Your booking and contract is with them. You book your own flights.

Whether you want the Cape Town Test on its own, a combination of Tests, or the full tour from Johannesburg through to the ODIs, start a conversation with us and we'll help you build a trip around the cricket.

For a wider look at the full tour — all three Tests plus the ODIs — see our South Africa destination guide.

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Ian Kerr is the founder of Follow On Tours with over 17 years of cricket travel experience, including multiple tours to South Africa. Newlands is his favourite cricket ground in the world.