London area of Brixton guide

What to do and where to stay in London's Brixton neighbourhood

Multicultural Brixton used to be an extremely wealthy settlement outside London. In the 18th century, the area boasted lush farmland and a market garden known for its game, strawberries and windmills. Today, Brixton is best known for its vibrant markets and its position as the centre of London's Caribbean community (a quarter of the population is of African and Caribbean descent). One windmill still stands, although it is in a derelict condition. Electric Avenue, inspiration for the Eddy Grant hit, got its name for being the first shopping street in London to be lit by electricity, and is now the site of the popular Brixton Market. It wasn't the only "first" for the area: London's first department store, Bon Marche, was built in Brixton in 1877. Local landmarks include the Ritzy Cinema (one of England's first purpose-built cinemas), the Art Deco listed 5,000-capacity O2 Academy Brixton, and the Windmill pub. A series of colourful murals were commissioned by the council after the riots of 1981 and many of them still exist today, including one outside the Brixton Academy. David Bowie was born in Brixton, former Prime Minister John Major grew up here and singer La Roux still lives in the area.

See our recommended nearby Brixton Hotels, Events, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.

Comfort Inn Vauxhall Hotel
London > Hotels > Budget Chain Hotel
87 South Lambeth Road, SW8
Recently redeveloped in a contemporary style, the Comfort Inn Vauxhall is a budget hotel located just south of the river Thames. Offering quality yet affordable accommodation, ... More

 

 

Best Western Corona
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
85-89 Belgrave Road Victoria, SW1V
... More

 

 

Holiday Inn Express London-Victoria
London > Hotels > Budget Chain Hotel
106 - 110 Belgrave Rd, SW1V
Victoria is one of the great transport hubs of London, a bustling area that offers great connections to the rest of the capital and the South ... More

 

 

Hotels in Brixton

 

Jimmy Carr: Gagging Order
London > Events > Comedy
Brixton Academy, 211 Stockwell Road, Brixton, London SW9
The hardest working man in comedy, Jimmy Carr, brings his acerbic (and often vile) scattergun gags to venues across London in 2012 and 2013 as part ... More

 

 

Events in Brixton

 

Ritzy Cinema
London > Entertainment > Cinemas
Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, London, Brixton, London SW2
If the Ritzy were a cat, it would have used up most of its nine lives. The cinema started life in 1910 as the Electric Pavilion, ... More

 

 

O2 Academy Brixton
London > Entertainment > Live Music
211 Stockwell Road, London, Brixton, London SW9
This former cinema with its art deco interior, proscenium arch and 140ft dome is London's most celebrated venue for live music, winning Best Live Venue at ... More

 

 

Landor Pub Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
70 Landor Road, London, Brixton, London SW9
You're never more than three rows away from the action at the Landor Theatre where the audience never exceeds 60. Focussed on producing musical theatre productions ... More

 

 

Entertainment in Brixton

 

Sights and Attractions in Brixton

 

The Old Post Office Bakery
London > Shopping > Delicatessens
76 Landor Road, London, Brixton, London SW9
In a former Post Office in Lyham Road, Clapham North, The Old Post Office Bakery set up shop in 1982. That was after they'd been serving ... More

 

 

Joy Brixton
London > Shopping > Clothing
432 Coldharbour Lane, London, Brixton, London SW9
With its mix of clothes, cards and kitsch toys, Joy is ideal as a gift hunting ground. Even if you object to them calling themselves an ... More

 

 

Shopping in Brixton

 

Bamboula
London > Restaurants > Caribbean restaurants
12 Acre Lane, London, Brixton, London SW2
Brixton’s best Caribbean restaurant is a real friendly family-run place. They’ve only got a certain amount of space and furniture and whenever a large party arrives ... More

 

 

Rosie's Deli Cafe
London > Restaurants > Cafes and Delis
14e Market Row, Brixton Market, London, Brixton, London SW9
The counter at Rosie's Deli Cafe is stacked high with all your unusual culinary requirements. Less run of the mill is the 1950s styling and unusual ... More

 

 

Franco Manca
London > Restaurants > Italian restaurants
4 Market Row, Brixton Market, London, Brixton, London SW9
When Franco Manca say they use slow-rising sourdough to make their pizzas they mean slow-rising. The organic flour, yeast and water sourdough mixture is left for ... More

 

 

Restaurants in Brixton

 

Effra
London > Nightlife > Pubs
38a Kellet Road, London, Brixton, London SW2
By no means your average watering hole; the Effra defies most attempts at description or classification. From the outside it looks like a shabby South London ... More

 

 

Hive
London > Restaurants > Gastropub
11-13 Station Road, London, Brixton, London SW9
Though it has the look of a Carnaby Street style bar, with funky lighting and minimalist decor in gunmetal grey, this new Brixton joint differs from ... More

 

 

Pubs in Brixton

 

Ritzy Cafe
London > Nightlife > Bars
Brixton Oval, London, Brixton, London SW2
This funky little jazz bar is one of South London's hidden delights. Don't worry about the depressingly empty pub section you can see from the street. ... More

 

 

Plan B
London > Nightlife > Nightclubs
418 Brixton Road, London, Brixton, London SW9
With an exciting new music programme and creative team behind its new look and identity, including Kate Moross (one of London's most exciting young creatives, and ... More

 

 

Nightlife in Brixton

 

Body Alliance
London > Leisure > Health and Beauty
88 Atlantic Road, London, Brixton, London SW9
Pilates, osteopathy, massage, kinesiology, reflexology and other therapies are offered at Body Alliance in Brixton. Body Alliance was set up by Iovana Velasquez who has created ... More

 

 

Leisure in Brixton

 

Education in Brixton

 

Babalou
London > Business > Venue Hire
The Crypt, St Matthews Church, Brixton Hill, London, Brixton, London SW2
Restaurant, bar and club in Brixton at The Crypt of St Matthew's Church. Head chef Stuart Cauldwell has created an international menu. There is also ... More

 

 

Mass Nightclub and Events Space
London > Business > Venue Hire
St Matthews Church, Brixton Hill, London, Brixton, London SW2
... More

 

 

Meeting Venues in Brixton