Which of England's South Africa Cricket Tests Should You See in 2027?

It’s not every year England head to the Rainbow Nation for a South Africa Cricket tour, so when they do, it’s huge.

From Johannesburg to Cape Town and Centurion to Bloemfontein, England are touring South Africa in December 2026 and January 2027, with a line-up of three Test matches and three ODIs across the plains of Africa.

But with so much choice in where to go and what to experience, you might be asking yourself, ‘Which South Africa v England fixture should I travel to watch?’

Our Product Manager and cricket expert, Simon, has a clear favourite...

Ever since we hosted guests out to South Africa on England’s last tour in 2019, I’ve been eager to get back to the Rainbow Nation and especially Cape Town. It’s a land of rich diversity in culture, cricket and wildlife, and I can’t wait to experience it all over again for our 2026/27 tour.

Simon Gee
Product Manager

Cricket in Cape Town

3rd Test | 3-7 January | Newlands Cricket Ground 

The third and final Test in Cape Town is my pick of the bunch for fixtures to watch in South Africa.

As the final Test, there’s a good chance the Series will be hanging in the balance, and when Newlands starts rocking, it raises the hairs on the back of your neck. It’s such an iconic stadium and without a doubt one of my all-time favourites.

We visited on our last South Africa Cricket Tour in 2019, and the views of the cricket from the hospitality suite with Table Mountain rising high behind the ground make for a truly special spectacle. It's no surprise it features in our curated list of the most picturesque cricket ground in the world.

As a holiday destination, Cape Town really does have it all. The V&A Waterfront is the place to be in the evenings with world-class restaurants and bars serving the finest South African Pinotage and grass-fed cuts of meat. Then there is the imposing Table Mountain, visible from every corner of the city.

You can take the cable car to the top for panoramic views of the Cape Peninsula. For beach lovers, you’re spoilt for choice. There are numerous blue flag beaches to laze on, including Boulders Beach, where it’s possible to walk with penguins on the sand.

What sets Cape Town apart is its proximity to South Africa’s most popular experiences in the sticks, including the Garden Route. Following the heady scents of Pinotage to Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, you’ll have your pick of wine tours as you traverse the quilted blanket of boutique vineyards that hug every form of the bottle-green valleys.

This really is the ultimate cricket holiday destination in South Africa.

Join us on Tour in South Africa

30 December 2026 – 8 January 2027

Following the success of our Official Ashes tour in Australia last year, we’re heading to Cape Town with another star-studded cricket tour.

Hosted by former England Captain, cricket legend and Ashes winner Mike Gatting OBE, you can join us in South Africa to watch England take on South Africa in Cape Town for the third Test.

We have a number of cricket packages on offer, from our premium hospitality suite at Newlands to the best grandstand seats in the house, and we can tailor each one entirely to you and your travel preferences, including extending your holiday to include a private safari.

Staying at One&Only Cape Town, you’ll be in the perfect place to experience the best of Cape Town in complete luxury and feel the buzz of the day’s cricket before you leave for the stadium. You’ll also be invited to a range of tour events, including our signature State of Play Event to join Mike Gatting and other cricket legends to talk about the series so far on day two of the Test.

After the success of our Official Ashes tour, I’m thrilled to be hosting Spectate guests in South Africa for what promises to be an exceptional journey of Test cricket, fine wine and Cape culture in the Rainbow Nation.

Mike Gatting, OBE
Former England Captain and Legend

Ring in the New Year in the Cape Winelands

A simply unmissable experience in the Cape Winelands, our 9-day tours include a stay at the luxurious Lanzerac hotel in the unmatched beauty of Stellenbosch.

Amidst the grape-smattered vineyards and lush valleys, you’ll be invited to join Mike Gatting on a private vineyard tour with fellow guests to sample the finest wine that South Africa has to offer.

You’ll also be invited to our New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner with Mike for an evening in legendary company dining on sumptuous cuisine, sipping premium complimentary drinks and celebrating together with a lively countdown to the New Year!

There’s no better way to ring in 2027!

Hospitality or Grandstand?

Our hospitality option is the standout choice for watching cricket at Newlands. In our 24-person hospitality suite in the President’s Pavilion, you’ll have ample room to move between dining, lounging and watching crucial moments from the balcony with the best views in the house.

You’ll also have unlimited cuisine and beverages throughout all five days, and be joined by Mike Gatting to mull over the Test as it unfolds. Included in hospitality is your stay at One&Only Cape Town, a renowned luxury hotel in which Mike Gatting will also be staying.

If you’d like to maximise your time with Mike, watching from our hospitality suite is the best choice for these reasons.

In the Grandstand, you’ll have exceptional views of the cricket in the best grandstand, and you’ll also stay at the newly refurbished InterContinental hotel on the V&A Waterfront.

Should I Travel to Watch England's Other Fixtures?

Want to follow England all the way from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein, and everywhere in between? You absolutely can, but there are a few things to consider. Here are the full fixture dates:

South Africa v England Test Series:

1st Test | 17-21 December | Wanderers, Johannesburg

2nd Test | 26-30 December | SuperSport Park, Centurion

3rd Test | 3-7 January | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town

South Africa v England ODI Series:

1st ODI | 10 January | Boland Park, Paarl

2nd ODI | 13 January | Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein

3rd ODI | 15 January | Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein

The originally planned IT20 series has been removed from the schedule due to scheduling conflicts, and both parties are exploring rescheduling it to a later date.

Which Test is right for you?

Cape Town is the most well-rounded option of the series, combining Test cricket at Newlands with a city that delivers at every turn. Between the mountain-backed stadium setting, a strong dining scene and easy access to vineyards and coastline, it offers the most complete base for following England in South Africa.

Johannesburg and The Wanderers bring undeniable intensity, with steep stands and a crowd atmosphere that lives up to its “Bullring” nickname. Centurion shares in that high-energy cricket environment, but both destinations come with more limited scope for a seamless luxury stay, so they tend to suit short, focused visits rather than extended touring.

If you’re looking to extend beyond Cape Town for the ODI leg, Paarl works particularly well. Boland Park offers a more local, relaxed cricketing feel, and its position just an hour from Cape Town means you can stay comfortably in the city and travel in for the day’s play.

Bloemfontein also features on the itinerary, but it sits further away from the established luxury circuit. While appeals to dedicated followers of the game ticking off every venue, it is less aligned with a high-comfort touring base, especially when compared with the ease and depth of Cape Town.

Best Things to do on Tour in South Africa

South Africa is amongst the best places in the world for a Cricket holiday. The stadiums here are exceptional, particularly Newlands in Cape Town, and the range of experiences on offer is among the most enriching in the world.

From scenic Table Mountain flyovers and vintage ventures into the winelands to walking with penguins and spotting the Big Five on a luxury safari, there are so many ways we can tailor your cricket tour with bucket-list experiences.

Sign up for our newsletter at the very bottom of this page to be the first to hear how we can tailor your cricket tour with the best experiences on tour in South Africa when we publish our next blog.

Tailor your South Africa Cricket Holiday

Explore our South Africa Cricket Tours and speak to our Travel Specialists today to book your tour and tailor bespoke extensions.

Our packages are never off the shelf and are tailored to you, offering the finest hospitality, experiences and access whilst on tour.

Enjoy this blog?

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Or, listen to another of our exclusive interviews with England Cricket legend and our exclusive South Africa tour host Mike Gatting below!