Lady’s Brixton, London Guide

When it comes to London neighborhoods, it’s hard to beat Brixton for its mix of markets, nightlife, and multiculturalism. This part of south London is bursting with life and color, and it’s a great place to explore. If you want to get to know the area, read on for A Lady in London’s guide to Brixton, London.

Brixton, London

Brixton is a place where Caribbean roots meet hipster London pop-ups. It’s an area where a market selling cow’s feet and plantains sits side-by-side with a market selling gyoza dumplings and craft beer.

Brixton is where you can step out of the tube station to the sound of music playing from someone’s portable amplifier. To your right is a group of evangelicals handing out pamphlets, to your left a table with a socialist banner rallying the crowd to its cause.

It’s where some of London’s best street art intersects with the city’s top nightlife venues, and where new bars and restaurants open under railway arches all the time.

It’s diverse. It’s rich with sounds, scents, and colors. It’s worth a trip.

When to Go to Brixton

If you want to go, I recommend visiting on a Saturday. I like being here on Saturdays because the markets are buzzing and everyone is out.

It’s a great day to explore the neighborhood, see the markets, and get a feel for the local area. It’s busy, but that’s part of the appeal.

How to Get to Brixton

So how do you get to Brixton? It’s an easy trip from central London, as it’s the southernmost stop on the Victoria line of the Underground.

There are also buses that travel here from other parts of the city, and trains that can bring you in from further afield.

Things to Do in Brixton

Once in the area, there are a lot of things to do in Brixton. From street art to live music, intimate bars to shipping-container restaurants, this part of south London has a lot to experience.

Brixton Markets

I like to start with the markets in Brixton. The neighborhood has so many it’s hard to miss them, especially on Saturdays.

Brixton Market is a great place to begin, as it’s right by the tube station and it takes over multiple streets and spaces. From Electric Avenue to Pope’s Road, its stalls and shops fill the neighborhood with colors and scents.

Brixton Market’s produce stands are full of bright red peppers, green bananas, mangoes, pomegranates, grapes, and other fruits and vegetables.

They sit next to butchers selling the aforementioned cow’s feet and fashion stalls offering dresses in every color and print.

Not far from Brixton Market, Brixton Village is a covered market with a mix of long-standing Caribbean stalls and newcomer shops and restaurants.

Walking through it is a journey for the senses. The smell of fresh fish hits the nose, followed by the sight of upscale home goods and the sounds of people sitting at tables outside the restaurants.

Market Row is another covered arcade in the area. It’s home to everything from a Franco Manca pizza restaurant to Mexican joints and tapas bars.

Nearby, Reliance Arcade completes the covered market trifecta in Brixton. The scent of fresh popcorn lures you into this place. Once inside, you’ll find traditional shops that have served the area’s residents for decades.

Pop Brixton

Back outside, Pop Brixton is another fun market to explore. Set in a series of colorful shipping containers, this market has a lot of food and drink options, and tables in the middle to enjoy them.

There are also pop-up clothing sales and other one-offs going on throughout the year.

Just outside Pop Brixton, there are rotating markets on Brixton Station Road. From street food to themed markets and farmers’ markets, there’s something different every day of the week.

Where to Eat

Speaking of food and drink, there are plenty of places to eat in Brixton. The markets are my favorite, but the area has great restaurants and cafes that are worth a trip as well.

I love going to Canova Hall, where the intimate booths are fun for pizza with friends. I’ve also eaten well at Kricket, which has a unique atmosphere under the railway arches. Boqueria is my favorite for tapas, too.

Other good restaurants in Brixton include Naughty Piglets and Rum Kitchen. The latter is perfect for getting into the area’s Caribbean culture.

Nightlife in Brixton

Nighlife is one of the biggest draws to Brixton, and for good reason. This area is famous for its live music scene and bars. From the 02 Academy Brixton to Hootananny, there’s no shortage of late-night venues in the area.

If it’s a movie you’re after, the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton is a London institution. Set in a historic 1911 building, it’s one of south London’s oldest picture houses. And if clubbing is your thing, Phonox is a good place for it.

There are also a lot of good bars and pubs in the neighborhood. I’ve enjoyed nights out at the Craft Beer Co, and The Prince of Wales pub is an institution.

The Duke of Edinburgh has a beer garden that’s great for summer, and The Trinity Arms has a fire pit that makes things cozy when it’s colder.

Cultural Attractions

Back outside, the area has a number of cultural attractions. There’s street art galore, and it’s worth venturing onto side streets and into passageways to see it.

The David Bowie mural across the street from the tube station is particularly popular, as the late singer was born in Brixton.

The area is also home to the Black Cultural Archives, which sit right on Windrush Square. The mission is to record, preserve, and celebrate the history of people of African descent in Britain.

There’s great heritage architecture in Brixton, too. The area around the tube station is a good place to see it, with the Lambeth Town Hall building being a striking example.

Shopping

Beyond the cultural attractions, Brixton has a lot of independent shops. I love the ones in Brixton Village, not least because they always tempt me to buy more things to decorate my flat with.

Bookshops like Bookmongers on Coldharbour Lane are great places to find secondhand books, too. I love the quirky atmosphere here, and I can’t help smiling every time I see the resident cat.

There are also great shops like Diverse. It’s a lifestyle store specializing in work by local artists and designers, as well as handcrafted products from international artisans.

Brixton, London Guide

I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to Brixton. It’s worth a special trip to discover the area, experience its sense of community, and appreciate the things that make it unique.

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