'''Grahamstown''' is a city in South Africa's Eastern Cape.

Understand

Grahamstown is known as ''The City of Saints'', owing to it having more than 40 churches, and as ''Africa's Festival Capital'' since six national events are celebrated here each year.

This charming and picturesque small city is well worth a visit. It has maintained its old-time demeanour, and has many examples of buildings in the Victorian, Colonial and Gothic Revivalist styles.

Get in

By road

Grahamstown lies just off the N2 highway between Port Elizabeth to the '''west''' and East London to the '''east'''. From Port Alfred in the '''south''' follow the R67 north through Bathurst. From the '''north''' a number of different routes converge on Grahamstown.

By rail

There is a daily train between Grahamstown and Alicedale, inland to the west. This is a scenic trip well worth doing - flanked by hills and mountains the route runs through lush farmland and game farms. Wild animals (such as giraffe) are often observed from the train.

From Alicedale there are regular trains south to Port Elizabeth and north to Bloemfontein and Johannesburg.

For several years there has been talk of reviving the disused rail link between Grahamstown and Port Alfred, but this project is still very far from completion.

The station is on Ayliff street (right in town).

By bus

Several companies, including Greyhound and Intercape, run long distance buses between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, which stop off at Grahamstown along the way. As of 2007, they all appeared to leave Cape Town in the evening, which means you'll arrive at Grahamstown very early in the morning (and probably won't have had an awful lot of sleep along the way! If you choose to travel like this, remember to take some toilet roll as the bus ran out pretty quickly).

Get around

See

Museums

  • The Observatory Museum. athurst Street. 27 (0)46 622-2312. ttp://www.ru.ac.za/albany-museum. .Webley@ru.ac.za. pen 9:30AM to 1PM and 2PM to 5PM, Monday to Friday. 8 entrance fee. The only Victorian camera obscura in the southern hemisphere
  • The History Museum. omerset Street. 27 (0)46 622-2312. ttp://www.ru.ac.za/albany-museum. .Webley@ru.ac.za. pen 9:30AM to 1PM and 2PM to 5PM, Monday to Friday. 3 entrance fee. The history and art of the Don't miss the pottery by local potters Greg Jacobs and Richard Pullen.</buy>

    Eat

  • Red Cafe. 27a High Street. pstairs from UPB, just past Postnet. 27 (046)622 8384. A great coffee shop with friendly staff and eccentric customers, owner-managed by Justus. It serves cappucino, coffee and light meals which are tasty as well as reasonably priced. There is an eclectic range of secondhand books on sale. </eat>

    Drink

  • Rat and Parrot. 9 New Street. A cosy student pub - anyone who has spent any time as a student in the UK will be instantly at home here!

    Sleep

  • A Stone's Throw B&B. Stone's Hill, Grahamstown. n the R67 towards Port Alfred. 27 (0)46 622-3294. ttp://www.astonesthrow.co.za/. 4h00. 0h30. 530.00. 27 (0)83 651-9244. nfo@astonesthrow.co.za. A Stone's Throw B&B, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa offers accommodation with tranquil country living within easy reach of the main CBD of Grahamstown, which is famous for hosting to the National Arts Festival each year.
  • 7 Worcester Street. Worcester Str. 27 (0)46 622-2843. nfo@worcesterstreet.co.za. 27 (0)46 622-2846. ttp://www.worcesterstreet.co.za.
  • The Cock House. 0 Market Str. 27 (0)46 636-1287. 27 (0)46 636-1295. ttp://www.cockhouse.co.za.
  • Colonel Graham Guest House. 27 (0)46 622-2274. Lansdowne Road. nfo@colonelgrahamguesthouse.co.za. ttp://www.colonelgrahamguesthouse.co.za. rom R150 per person sharing. 4 star
  • Henri House B&B. 6 Henry Str. 27 (0)46 622-8845. enrihouse@telkomsa.net. ttp://www.henrihouse.co.za. rom R500 for a double and R300 for a single.
  • The Highlander. orcester Str. 27 (0)46 622-3564. ighlander@imaginet.co.za. 27 (0)46 622-7417.
  • Jenny's B&B. 27 (0)46 636-1541. Dulverton Road. laire@jennys.co.za. ttp://www.jennys.co.za. rom R250 per person sharing. 4 star
  • Lantern Hill Guest House. Thompson Street. 27 (0)46 622-8782. ttp://www.lanternhill.co.za/. rom R250 per person sharing. anternhill@imageinet.co.za. 3 star
  • Protea Hotel. 23 High str. 27 (0)46 622-2324. ttp://www.albanyhotels.co.za. entralres@albanyhotels.co.za.

    Get out