Athlone, Southern Suburbs
Athlone lies to the east of the city centre in what's commonly known as the Cape Flats - a large and very flat section of low-lying land to the southeast of the City Bowl, colourfully described as apartheid's 'dumping ground'.
Athlone is a large suburb that contains within it smaller residential areas like Crawford, Bridgetown, Kewtown and Silvertown. Athlone is also a superb place in which to find traditional Malay and Indian food and delicacies, which you can seek out at places like The Wembley, a classic roadhouse (you can actually wait in your car to be served) and something of an institution in Cape Town.
Ask anyone where Athlone is and they will refer to one of two major landmarks in the suburb - the Athlone Power Station - two large stacks that make up the coal fired electrical generating plant that is a feature of the city's landscape and out of operation. These towers, commonly referred to as the 'Athlone Towers' are not only decomissioned but are also to be demolished soon - although this decision was taken in late 2007 and they are yet to tumble. There is concern that the towers and the land around the towers contain asbestos and blasting them will endanger people's health.
Athlone's second major landmark is the Athlone Stadium, the home stamping ground of Ajax Cape Town and Santos Cape Town. The Stadium underwent extensive upgrades leading up to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, when it acted as one of the main training venues in Cape Town.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Camdene Guest House
Camdene Guest House offers accommodation in an Halaal friendly environment and is a home away from home. Ideally situated to explore the charms o...
Things to do in the area
Edith Stephens Wetland Park
The Edith Stephens Park is named after botanist Edith Stephens who bought the land in 1955 and entrusted it to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Ga...
Victoria Mxenge Project
Just south of where Lansdowne and Ottery Roads meet in Cape Town is the community of Victoria Mxenge, named after one of the heroes of the freedo...
Kenilworth Centre
The Kenilworth Centre is ideally positioned just minutes from all of the major motorways, and across the road from Access Park, which is another ...
Noteworthy attractions
Table Mountain National Park
At the south-western tip of South Africa, the Table Mountain National Park encompasses the incredibly scenic Peninsula mountain chain stretching ...
Table Mountain
Since the first person laid eyes on Table Mountain, it has exerted its powerful and charismatic pull, enchanting and drawing any and all who fall...
Constantia Wine Route
Rich in heritage & beauty, the Constantia Wine Route comprises of Groot Constantia, Buitenverwachting and Klein Constantia. Constantia was one of...
Steenberg Golf Club
The course was designed and built by one of South Africa's leading golf course architects, Peter Matkovich. The private Steenberg Golf Club is av...
Royal Cape Golf Club
Founded in 1885, the Royal Cape Golf Club is South Africa’s oldest and most exclusive club featuring a course with narrow fairways lined by trees...
Silvermine Nature Reserve
The park straddles the mountain, from the winding Ou Kaapse Weg (Old Cape Road) on the Tokai, Constantia and Westlake side of the mountain, over ...
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is world renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape flora it displays and for the magnificence of i...
Rhodes Memorial
A national landmark, Rhodes Memorial lies within the Table Mountain National Park and the views from up here are stunning, offering panoramic vis...
Newlands Rugby Stadium
Ever since the first matches played here in 1890, Newlands has become one of the world's most respected rugby stadiums. The second oldest test ve...
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