Grahamstown property in the Eastern Cape is rich in British history and its architecture is beautifully preserved. So much so, that Grahamstown has been named as one of the best-preserved Victorian colonial towns in the world.

Known as a City of Saints, Grahamstown is a diocese of the Anglican Church in South Africa, as well as home to numerous other churches and faiths, and its plethora of spires and buildings of worship create a haunting and striking skyline.

Grahamstown houses in popular suburbs such as in Oatlands, Hillsview, Kingswood, Sunnyside, Somerset Heights, Oatlands North, Westhill, Cradock Heights, Fort England, Claire Valley and Stones Hill provide accommodation ranging from charming historic cottages to modern, upmarket manors on the pedestrian route.

You can also find houses on Grahamstown farms and smallholdings in various sizes in rural country settings. Grahamstown flats are ideal for students and small families seeking central, reasonably priced accommodation.

Not only does Grahamstown supply access to excellent institutions of learning, but it hosts some of the most popular annual festivals on the African continent. Known as a centre for education, arts and culture, the city nevertheless maintains its small-town atmosphere, making Grahamstown real estate a sought-after commodity on the property market. Annual festivals include:

• Grahamstown Flower Festival (October): Run by the Albany Horticultural Lillium Society, the Grahamstown Garden and Home Club, the Botanical Society and Pam Golding Properties, this festival features an exciting programme of flower arranging, garden stalls and workshops. Major attractions over this weekend, are the homes and gardens that locals open up to the public for viewing.
  
  
• Makana Freedom Festival (April): This festival is held to commemorate the Battle of Grahamstown, during which Xhosa troops under Chief Ndlambe and the prophet Makana attacked British troops in Grahamstown and sustained heavy losses.
  
  
• National Arts Festival (July): Attracting thousands of visitors to Grahamstown's theatres, outdoor auditoriums and streets, this festival is a cultural banquet of theatre, dance opera, jazz, classical music, fine art and creative workshops.
  
  
• National Schools Festival (July): Organised by the Grahamstown Foundation, this festival follows hot on the heels of the National Arts Festival and encourages learners and their teachers to engage in artistic, dramatic and social enrichment via an interactive mix of lectures, theatre productions and workshops.
  
  
• SciFest Africa (March): The biggest science, technology, engineering and mathematics festival in sub-Saharan Africa, Scifest attracts students, teachers and academics to listen, interact, understand and brainstorm subjects involving scientific thinking.