Words: Georgina Guedes | Images: Ter Hollmann
Bedfordview is a sprawling town in western Ekurhuleni. While it overlooks the bustling Sandton municipality, it has none of the traffic congestion and is considered to be a safe and pleasant place to live.
Property
Mike Said, owner of The Upcycled Furniture Company, web designer and marketer, has been a Bedfordview resident for many years. He used to live in the suburb of Senderwood, but seven years ago, he got divorced and started looking for a new home in the area.
“I wanted to be near my daughter, so I needed something close by,” he says. “I found a really nice spot to rent in St Andrew’s, which is also a part of Bedfordview.”
Six years later, he was ready for a change, so he looked around again until he found a home in Townsend Road, Bedfordview.
“As I walked in, I felt very peaceful. It has a well-established garden with lots of greenery and little noise. The highway is too far away to hear. I absolutely love it here,” he says. “It’s also well situated in the suburb, close to all the highways and plenty of shops, but not too busy itself.”
His factory is also only 8km away in Activia Park, which he says is very convenient. And he’s delighted to work from home when he needs to be at his desk. “There’s just something quite peaceful about living in Bedfordview.”
Schooling
Bedfordview has a wealth of schools in the suburb and the surrounding areas. Nearby schools range from public schools such as Bedfordview Primary School and Edenvale High School to independent schools such as Saheti School, Reddam House Bedfordview, St Benedict’s Catholic School for Boys, Bishop Bavin School and St Andrew’s School for Girls. The private schools are a mix of co-ed and single-sex institutions, and residents can choose the style and cost of schooling to suit their preferences.
“There are lots of good schools around, all with easy access because the traffic in the area isn’t bad,” Mike says. “My daughter is at King David Linksfield and it’s easy to get her to and from her school.”
Explore
Mike says there are some really nice places to walk in the area – for instance, up Linksfield Ridge. “If you want to train, there are lots of hills and there are lots of gyms in the area. But if you’re less active, there are also lots of flat roads for an easier walk.”
He says he lives close to Gillooly’s Farm, a quiet rural setting in the heart of the city, and Huddle Park, an outdoor activity park where you can walk your dog and explore the mountain bike trails.
His favourite shop in the area is the Spar in Bedfordview. “It’s been Spar of the Year a number of times for a good reason.” He also enjoys shopping at the Food Lover’s Market nearby.
He says that Bedfordview has everything in the way of restaurants, including a Tashas, Turn ‘n Tender, Ocean Basket and Doppio Zero, as well as a host of other cafes and burger places.
However, Mike says he doesn’t eat out much, preferring to cook for himself. “I cook ‘dude food’ style at home. Nothing beats my own steak. I go to Meat World and buy a picanha rump, and then do it in my own style,” he says.
Bedfordview is also home to the Eastgate Shopping Centre (an expansive shopping destination with a Ster-Kinekor movie theatre and a wide range of leading shops and restaurants) and the Bedford Centre (a more intimate, neighbourhood mall with a variety of stylish shops).
Mike says his daughter likes to visit the Bedford Centre, but also often asks him to take her to Melrose Arch, which isn’t too far away “once you’re in your car”. There she enjoys visiting the Tashas and popping into the Sally Williams store for ice cream.
“I love living in Bedfordview because although it’s big, it still feels like a village and has everything I need
Mike Said
Eat:
- Pigalle: for steaks, seafood and Portuguese dishes
- Mythos: for authentic Greek cuisine
- O Vicente: for Portuguese fare
- Salsa Mexican Grill: for Mexican dishes with a healthy, modern twist
- Tashas: for beautifully presented food in a stunning setting
- Turn ‘n Tender: for great-tasting steaks and wine
- Hudsons The Burger Joint: for craft beer, cocktails and burgers
- The Classic India: for the speciality rice and bread dishes
- Princi Pastizza: for thin-base pizza and Italian meals
Hospitals nearby:
- Life Bedford Gardens Hospital
- Netcare Linksfi eld Hospital
- Medicross Germiston
- Bertha Gxowa Hospital
- Kloof Road Medical Centre
- Life Roseacres Hospital
Shop:
- Eastgate Shopping Centre
- Park Meadows Shopping Centre
- Bedford Centre
- Village View
- New Bruma Oriental City
- Queen Street, Kensington
