Somerset West (Afrikaans: Somerset-Wes; is politically part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality. In the Western Cape,South Africa It is situated in the Helderberg area (formerly called Hottentots Holland), about 50 kilometres (30 mi) east of Cape Town and 10 kilometres (6 mi) from Strand. The town is overlooked by the imposing Helderberg (meaning "clear mountain"), a part of the Hottentots-Holland range of mountains.
A town developed around the Lourens River (originally "Tweederivier") and the farm of Vergelegen The farm is now owned by a subsidiary of the large mining company Anglo American, who have restored the farmhouse to its original magnificence and continue to produce some of South Africa's best wines there. The farm is open to tourists.The area also has its own community radio station, Radio Helderberg, broadcasting community notices and playing adult orientated pop music.
Somerset West contains a number of sporting facilities including several golf courses.In recent years many guest houses and B&Bs have opened up in Somerset West, since it is conveniently located for Cape Town, the beaches at the Strand and Gordon's Bay, as well as the Western Cape's numerous wine farms.