[2] The village is situated between the rocky shore and a steep mountain, and measures about 200m by 2 km.

Its name derives from the early St James Catholic Church, built circa 1880.

[6] Most of the homes in the area date back to the days when the Cape was still a colony of the British Empire.

[3] Boyes Drive runs above St James and provides scenic views of the False Bay coastline.

St James is located on the Simon's Town train line and the Main Road that runs down the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula.