Virgin Atlantic has the hottest winter sun route of the year - and here's why you need to go now
Winter sun is calling and Virgin Atlantic's London Heathrow to Cape Town route has brought the South African city closer to UK travellers in search of vitamin D seekers this season.
The long-haul carrier finally touched down in Cape Town this winter after Covid-19 delays - it originally planned to reintroduce the route in 2020. We decided to escape the UK chill to soak up the excitement of the new service before it stops on 25 March (don't worry, it's been so popular that it resumes for another winter season in October 2023).
Flying daily between between October and March, the winter sun destination is the answer to escaping the cold British weather without the jet lag.
From hikers to wine lovers and history buffs to luxury travellers, Cape Town is an excellent city for a winter sun getaway, with its summer taking place between December and March. There is also only a two-hour time difference, making it ideal for travellers who can work remotely while they make the most of the fantastic city.
Not to mention the attractive currency exchange rate offering excellent value for money and the easy breezy travel with no restrictions or visa requirements for British passport holders.
What's more, a spokesperson for Travelbag, which specialises in long-haul and multi-centre holidays, tells us they've spotted a trend in travellers switching from being early birds to booking their trips just two months before departure - and Cape Town is the perfect place to follow the trend right now.
Here are a few reasons why we'd recommend a trip to the South African city before Virgin's 2023 winter season is up...
It's hot, hot, hot
If you've been wearing woollies and thick coats for months, you're in luck as Cape Town temperatures range from 27 to 29 degrees during the British winter, so you can leave all your winter gear at home. While we were in the city in January, we had gorgeous highs of 30C complemented by the Atlantic breeze.
You'll want to pack your SPF and sun hat and, for even hotter temperatures, head inland to the wine regions where the mercury rises to 35C. Whether your plan is to hit the beach (don't miss Hout Bay Beach), shop for souvenirs from artisan traders at market-style hub Watershed on the V&A Waterfront, or explore the botanical beauty that is Kirstenbosch, you're in for a treat during the South African summer.
History, active experiences and sensational views galore
Cape Town is a unique have-it-all city, where you can pack in everything from outdoor adventures to nature-filled days, history and stunning beaches. It might sound like the most obvious activity to do, but a City Sightseeing bus tour really is a great way to orient yourself when you first arrive in Cape Town. It can take you past the most famous sites, such as Table Mountain and Cape Town Stadium, so you have an idea of where everything is located before you jump in a hire car or grab an Uber to explore them further.
For active types who like to get their walking shoes on, an early morning hike up Table Mountain offers a rewarding experience. If you're travelling as two or more, the Platteklip Gorge Hike is worth tackling to reach the plateau. Steep in parts and taking you through the Table Cloth (aka the clouds over Table Mountain), the stair-like route is not for the faint-hearted.
Once you reach the top, there's a cafe housed in a stone cottage-like building, where you can grab a cup of hot rooibos tea before making your way down the mountain in the cable car to take in the views of Camps Bay Beach, Lion's Head and, if you look close enough, furry dassies on the mountainside.
To understand part of South Africa's history, you might wish to visit Robben Island Museum, a short ferry ride from the V&A Waterfront. The windswept island is where South Africa's first Black president, Nelson Mandela, was imprisoned for almost 20 years. A sombre site dating back to the 17th century, UNESCO-protected Robben Island is where you can learn about the life of political prisoners kept in the late 20th century.
A bus with a knowledgeable guide onboard takes you to the most prominent sites, including the building where the families of prisoners stayed when they visited the maximum security prison, a school for the wardens' children and a limestone quarry where prisoners, including Mandela, worked. A former inmate will show you round the cells and take you up-close into the spaces where prisoners slept, ate and showered.
A oenophile's paradise
Whether you're into red, white or rose, Cape Town delights with its delicious wine. Its short distance from world-class wineries means the city's restaurants, hotels and bars are stocked with some of the finest new world wines around. Take the One & Only Cape Town, for instance. Not just one of the most glamorous places to stay in town, the five-star hotel is where Head Sommelier Luvo Ntezo (aka winner of a Best Young Sommelier in South Africa award) is based.
READ OUR REVIEW OF ONE&ONLY CAPE TOWN
One&Only Cape Town has an impressive collection of 5,000 bottles of old and new world wines - one of the largest in Africa - including varietals and vintages from the local wine regions of Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
However long you plan on staying in Cape Town, you must head an hour east of the city to Franschhoek, one of the most charming and idyllic towns in the world. Surrounded by sun-drenched mountains and acres of vineyards, some bordered by white picket fences, the picturesque town is loved by Cape Towners who come here for weekend lunches and mini-breaks.
It's also where you'll find the magnificent Mont Rochelle, a beautiful hotel with its own vineyard and delicious home-grown wines we predict hitting premium wine shops in the UK one day soon. If you've always wanted to experience a vineyard stay and relax at a countryside retreat, the boutique hotel ticks all the boxes and will melt away all your stresses along the way.
Only the best grapes are selected to create Mont Rochelle's wines, with the various grape varieties including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Sémillon. When you're not sampling its wine, you can explore the grounds, playing garden games like croquet, taking a dip in the pool or having a peaceful picnic by the dam.
Fancy a last-minute winter sun escape to Cape Town? Virgin Holidays offers seven-night Cape Town holidays from £2,500 for two people, including return Virgin Atlantic economy flights.
Three nights in a Marina Harbour View King Room at One&Only Cape Town on a bed and breakfast basis and return Virgin Atlantic economy flights cost from £1,775 per person.
Three nights in a Double King Room at Mont Rochelle on a bed and breakfast basis and return Virgin Atlantic economy flights costs from £1,889 per person.
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