Adderley Street

Description

Adderley Street is one of the most famous streets in Cape Town. It starts off at Heerengracht and ends at the entrance of the Company Gardens. Flanked by old buildings that are filled with offices, banks, insurance companies, and financial groups, the street boasts an eclectic fusion of old with new. 

The street was the originally named Heerengracht Street by the Dutch. It was renamed in 1850 and got its new name from British Parliamentarian Charles Bowyer Adderley, who campaigned against a plan by Britain to have Cape Town used as another colony for convicts. The lower section of the road beyond the fountain, still called Heerengracht, is the land that was reclaimed in the 1930s. The shore used to be roughly where the city centre is now, before the Foreshore was reclaimed.

The Golden Acre Centre side of Adderley street is home to renowned flower-sellers who sell a wide variety of flowers. These street vendors are energetic and colorful individuals who sell anything from roses to proteas (whichever is in season) at bargain prices. The mountain side of Adderley features the historic Dutch Reformed Groot Kerk (Great Church) with a flagship Edgars clothing department store opposite. A popular mall with shoppers is St George’s Mall. The many entrances to the mall lie on Adderley Street.

Adderley is always alive with entertainment provided by street artists, busker, musicians etc. The street is lined with cafes and eateries and is a preferred place to relax.

Every Christmas season Adderley street is lit from top to bottom with spectacular lights that bring the street to life, in celebration of a uniquely African Christmas.