London Neighbourhoods
Brixton
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.
Brixton embraces its unapologetically unpolished reputation. Evolving from a site of controversy and struggle during the 1990's, Brixton has steadily increased its appeal without losing much of its cosmopolitan make-up. The neighbourhood replaces Britain's acclaimed architecture and posh boutiques with homespun culture and more than a bit of crass. Invitingly alternative, the neighborhood's energy emanates from the shops along Electric Avenue to the art galleries, local markets, and pop-up restaurants in Brixton Village Market.
Brixton is in Zone 2 on the Victoria line. Trains go directly to Pimlico (Tate Britain Gallery), Victoria (Buckingham Palace), Green Park (Mayfair), Oxford Circus (Shopping in the West End) and Kings Cross St. Pancras (so you can catch the Eurostar to Paris).
Online Walks
Things to See and Do
Brixton Market
Brixton Market offers street food and vintage finds, plus clothes and produce that reflect the area's Caribbean roots. Casual eateries serving global fare line pedestrian-friendly Brixton Village. Brixton's diverse community lends the neighbourhood a sincerely lived-in feel. The origins of Brixton's residents become clear when you wander through the stalls of Brixton Market. The marketplace overflows with a variety of goods and products from around the world. You can pick up tropical foods, new tunes, and exotic fabrics in a single visit. You can also meet the people behind the stalls, many of whom have rich stories to share. Sample cuisines from India, Africa, Asia, and South America. Once old and weathered, Brixton Village Market's shops have since renovated, remodelled, and reimagined their spaces into the thriving boutiques and artisanal shops that you see today.
The Ritzy Picturehouse is the largest independent cinema in the United Kingdom. The theatre screens art-house films alongside mainstream movies.
Brixton has a significant clubbing and live music scene. Large venues include Brixton Academy, Electric Brixton and Mass at St Matthew's Church. A range of smaller venues such as The Prince Albert, The Prince / DexClub, The Windmill, The Dogstar, Jamm, The Telegraph, Plan B, Hootananny, The 414, The Effra Tavern, Upstairs at the Ritzy, and The Grosvenor are a major part of London's live music scene. The Brixton Splash is an annual one-day street party held since 2006. The event is community run, showcasing local talent and celebrating the cultural diversity and history of Brixton.
About Brixton
Brixton was transformed from undeveloped farmland into a middle class suburb between the 1860s and 1890s. Railways linked Brixton with the centre of London when the Chatham Main Line was built through the area by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway in the 1860s. In 1880, Electric Avenue was so named after it became the first street in London to be lit by electricity. In this time, large expensive houses were constructed along the main roads in Brixton, which were converted into flats and boarding houses at the start of the 20th century as the middle classes were replaced by an influx of the working classes.
The Brixton area was bombed during World War II, contributing to a severe housing crisis, which in turn led to urban decay. This was followed by slum clearances and the building of council housing. In the 1940s and 1950s, many immigrants, particularly from the West Indies, settled in Brixton. More recent immigrants include a large Portuguese community and other European citizens. Brixton also has an increasingly ageing population, which affects housing strategies in the area.
The first wave of immigrants (492 individuals) that formed the British African-Caribbean community arrived in 1948 at Tilbury Docks on the MV Empire Windrush from Jamaica and were temporarily housed in the Clapham South deep shelter. The nearest Labour Exchange (Jobcentre) was on Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, and the new arrivals spread out into local accommodation. Many immigrants only intended to stay in Britain for a few years, but although a number returned to the Caribbean, the majority remained to settle permanently. The arrival of the passengers has become an important landmark in the history of modern Britain, and the image of West Indians filing off its gangplank has come to symbolise the beginning of modern British multicultural society. In 1998 the area in front of the Tate Library in Brixton was renamed "Windrush Square" to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush.
Brixton was the scene of riots in April 1981 at a time when Brixton underwent deep social and economic problems - high unemployment, high crime, poor housing, no amenities - in a predominantly African-Caribbean community. The riot resulted in almost 279 injuries to police and 45 injuries to members of the public, more than a hundred vehicles were burned (including 56 police vehicles), and almost 150 buildings were damaged, with 30 burned. There were 82 arrests. The 1995 riots were initially sparked by the death of a black man (Wayne Douglas) in police custody and occurred in an atmosphere of discontent about the gentrification of Brixton.
Brixton Address Book
Coldharbour Lane, Brixton Former British Prime Minister John Major spent part of his childhood in a two-room flat off Coldharbour Lane living with his father, former Music Hall performer Tom Major-Ball. Although now in Brixton, the address at the time was in Camberwell prior to a minor boundary change. He then moved to a house on Burton Road, having been born in Worcester Park, Sutton. He began his political career as a local Lambeth Councillor while still living in the area.
David Bowie (1947-2016) was born David Robert Jones at 40 Stansfield Road, Brixton. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, his music and stagecraft significantly influencing popular music. Other popular musicians from Brixton include Paul Simonon and Mick Jones of The Clash; Drum and bass producer Dillinja; Bradley McIntosh, member of pop group S Club 7; Several members of the So Solid Crew; Danny Kirwan of the band Fleetwood Mac.
Poly Styrene, the singer of the band X-Ray Spex, was born in Bromley in 1957 but grew up in Brixton. The band Alabama 3 were formed in Brixton. Fruitbat of power-pop punk band Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine was a long-time Brixton resident. Mike Skinner of the band "The Streets" moved to Brixton c. 2000 to pursue his recording career. Some of his songs are about living in Brixton. Skin, singer of the band Skunk Anansie, grew up in Brixton. Adele, English singer, songwriter and musician, lived in Brixton as a child.
Sharon Osbourne, wife of Ozzy Osbourne (lead singer of Black Sabbath) and daughter of Don Arden, was born in Brixton in October 1962. The family home was at 68 Angell Road, off Brixton high street. The site is now occupied by modern terrace houses. Sharon first came into public prominence after appearing in The Osbournes, a reality television show that followed her family's daily life. Osbourne later became a talent show judge on shows such as the British and original version of The X Factor, from 2004 to 2007, 2013, and 2016 onwards. She also was a judge on America's Got Talent from 2007 until 2012.
Of Brixton, Sharon recalls, "In the fifties and early sixties, Brixton was where all the vaudeville artists lived, comedians, singers, ventriloquists, acrobats. Entertainers. Pre-TV, vaudeville was the only entertainment there was for ordinary people, and with the Brixton Empress and the Camberwell Palace being less than a mile away, Brixton was the hub. Across the street from us were the fire-eater and a juggler. A dog act, a man called Reg, lived in a trailer in a bombsite behind our road and I used to play with his little girl. There's an edge of danger to it now, which wasn't the case back then."
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