Brixton Area Guide | RM Surveyors
“Come in love, stay in peace” … the artwork emblazoned across Brixton Road’s prominent railway bridge seems to perfectly encapsulate the spirit of this unique and very special part of London.
Although Brixton’s seen troubled times, it has transformed itself into arguably the most vibrant and eclectic part of the capital, with its thriving multi-cultural markets, hundreds of independent eateries and of course, its world-famous nightlife. Join me as we rock down to Electric Avenue to discover this beating heart of south London.
Typical housing stock
Brixton buzzes with a mix of born-and-raised residents, hip youngsters and growing numbers of families. It was a wealthy suburb until the beginning of the 20th century, with a number of large, period properties that have mostly now been converted into flats.
The period housing tends to be late Victorian, although there are still pockets of early Victorian. Terraced houses dating from the 1920s can be found where Brixton meets Tulse Hill and the area around Loughborough Junction station has some large four storey houses.
Modern-day Brixton is also home to many purpose-built apartment blocks and several big housing estates, which offer first-time buyers a wide choice of more affordable ex-local authority homes that tend to be a lot larger than more modern developments.
Transport links
Just south of the city in Zone 2 and at the end of the Victoria line (meaning you’re more likely to get a seat in the morning rush hour), Brixton makes for an easy commute into town, taking just seven minutes to reach Victoria and ten minutes to get to Oxford Circus – ideal for professionals and younger first-time buyers wanting fast access to central London.
The railway station runs regular services to Victoria, and through Penge, Beckenham and Bromley in the other direction towards Orpington in Kent. The area is very well connected with the rest of London by bus: some of the main routes include the 2 (Marylebone), 3 (Oxford Circus), 45 (King’s Cross) and the 133 (Liverpool Street). The roads of Brixton can get congested, but with its impressive location and excellent transport links, it’s easy to enjoy all that London has to offer by relying on public transport alone.
Drinking and dining
Brixton’s hugely multi-cultural heritage is reflected in its diverse culinary offerings, and over the last few years it’s become known as one of London’s top foodie destinations. The restaurants that line Brixton’s busy streets serve a rich mix of recipes that not only come from the area’s large Afro-Caribbean community which settled in Brixton in the 1940s, but also reflect the fact that residents come from all over the world – including Vietnam, China and the Middle East.
Pop Brixton is an inspiring local project that turned disused land into a creative space for independent start-up businesses – many of which operate out of shipping containers. I think some of south London's most exciting (and delicious!) foodie start-ups can be found here, including Baba G’s Bhangra Burger, Mama’s Jerk and Viet Box. Grab these tasty treats while you can, as there is currently no decision on Pop Brixton’s permanence, and I understand it is still earmarked for residential use at some point in the future.
Some top eateries in the area include Salon in Market Row, Smoke & Salt in Pop Brixton and Naughty Piglets in Brixton Water Lane. And I’ll always have a soft spot for Brixton’s many magnificent independents: check out seasonal Caribbean food at Fish, Wings & Tings, feast on Pakistani street food at Elephant, or enjoy at spot of fine dining at category C prison, The Clink. Yes, you read that right: all the meals here are cooked by inmates working towards academic culinary qualifications, and it’s a great cause to support.
If all that’s made you thirsty, then head over to Brixton Brewery’s tap room: the craft beers are named after Brixton landmarks, inspired by the flavours of its markets, and packaged in colourful cans that reference the bright batik fabrics sold in the area. Alternatively, The Duke of Edinburgh is famous across south London for its huge beer garden, while The Prince Albert pub is a Brixton institution.
If you’re looking for something a bit more chilled, then cosy into Café Cairo, a popular Egyptian-themed café-bar, for some fresh mint tea and shisha, or pop into one of Brixton’s many niche independent coffee shops or multi-national chains for a warming brew.
Shopping
In addition to a busy high street where you’ll find names like Morley’s department store, Bon Marche and H&M, Brixton Market is the area’s epicentre for shopping, where you’ll find everything from ackee and saltfish to artisan cheeses and champagne. Brixton’s main market runs 6 days a week and sells pretty much every kind of exotic fruit, veg, meat and fish you’ve ever heard of and more. There are also markets to be found at Brixton Station Road, Popes Road and Electric Avenue. I love that the area’s managed to hang on to its independence and keep its local markets despite the ever-onward march of the high-street.
There may be no better way to spend a day than browsing the stalls at the recently rebranded Brixton Village. Though locals will always know it as Granville Arcade, a stroll through these tranquil covered walkways may unearth anything from retro clothing and one-off beautiful homeware to specialist artisan food and vintage vinyl. I’m a big fan of Brixton Wholefoods on Atlantic Road, which has been serving the local community since 1982.
Did you know that Brixton has its own currency? The Brixton Pound was launched in 2008 as an alternative to sterling for spending exclusively in local shops, with the aim of boosting the local economy. The notes depict local celebrities and famous people from Brixton such as David Bowie, and I believe plans are currently afoot to evolve the Brixton Pound onto blockchain. It’s also worth noting that the relocation of major architecture firm Squire and Partners from Kings Cross to Brixton in 2015 is attributed to bringing new employment opportunities and commercial activity to the town centre.
Parks and green spaces
The award-winning Brockwell Park is a huge oasis that perfectly offsets Brixton’s bustling high street with 125 acres of ponds, ancient oak trees, a walled 'Old English' flower garden and wide, open meadows. In pre-pandemic times, Brockwell Park was home to the annual Lambeth Country Show, one of the largest free community festivals in Europe. It’s also home to Brockwell Lido, a historic open-air pool that gets absolutely packed the second the sun comes out. Personally, I love it for a cold water dip all year round!
Running parallel to Brixton Road, Max Roach Park includes a nature trail that extends to Rush Common, forming a welcome green corridor that runs through the heart of Brixton and connects it with neighbouring Streatham.
On Brixton Hill, The Brixton Orchard is an inspiring new green space with 35 fruit trees and hundreds of edible hedges, showcasing how fruit trees can be integrated into urban spaces. You’ll find sweet and sour cherries, damsons, plums, quince, mulberry and pears growing here, all chosen to celebrate the amazing heritage, diversity and deliciousness of fruit. The tree cover provided by The Brixton Orchard helps to remove harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxide from the air, thereby reducing its levels in the immediate vicinity.
Arts, culture and leisure
A few years ago, a much-needed income boost changed the entire streetscape surrounding The Ritzy cinema, a treasured Brixton landmark. Set in a Grade II-listed building, it’s a haven for film lovers from across south London – showing the latest releases as well as arthouse and foreign language films and offering a range of cultural events. I love that you’ll often see protestors, musicians and street performers doing their thing outside the cinema.
A few moments away, located at 1 Windrush Square, the Black Cultural Archives is the only national heritage centre dedicated to collecting, preserving and celebrating the histories of African and Caribbean people in Britain. Keep an eye out for the nearby memorial to the estimated two million African-Caribbean soldiers who fought in both world wars.
The square itself forms a significant part of Brixton’s Rush Common Open Spaces, and was renamed to recognise the important contribution of the African Caribbean community to the area, marking the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush. In 1948, it was the Windrush that brought to the UK from Jamaica the first large group of post-war West Indian migrants (almost 500), who on arrival were temporarily housed less than a mile away from Coldharbour Lane.
Nearby, the Brixton Tate Library offers reading clubs, book sales, free WiFi and a selection of foreign language books, while Brixton Art Gallery, first established nearly 40 years ago, describes itself as being ‘at the art’ of Brixton, with a programme of urban arts and culture that reaches out to all sections of Brixton’s diverse and cosmopolitan population.
Brixton is a mecca for clubbing and nightlife, with some world-famous live music venues including Brixton Academy and Hootananny, which draw the late-night crowds and turn the area into a buzzy festival atmosphere on gig nights. The popular local DJ scene is served by Brixton Jamm on Brixton Road and Dogstar on Coldharbour Lane, while The Effra Social, The Windmill and The Electric are other favourites in the area.
If you’re in Brixton in summer, then you won’t want to miss Brixton Splash – a free one-day street festival held every August by the local community. The event was established to celebrate the area’s diversity and the fusion of the numerous ethnic groups that now call Brixton home.
In 2020, Kennington’s Ovalhouse theatre closed its doors and moved to Brixton, becoming the Brixton House theatre. Due to open in 2022, this brand-new venue will be inspiring new artistic experiences and sharing a passion for community and social change.
Brixton is home to some incredibly thought-provoking murals, many of which were created after the 1981 riots. Found dotted on walls around the area, they portray different social and political commentaries.
And finally, located on Brixton Station Road, Brixton Recreational Centre is a major influence on the Brixton skyline and leisure services in Brixton, with activities ranging from fitness workouts to basketball and badminton. There’s also a range of group exercise classes on offer each week, as well as a community gym and large swimming pool. Back in the late 90s, before my surveying days, I was a personal trainer and used to teach exercise classes at Brixton Rec. I enjoyed swimming, using the gym and playing 5-a-side football there – plus they had a great crèche and kids play area, so we had some nice birthday parties for my daughter Jemima there when she was young… it brings back some very fond memories!
Schools
Primary school options in Brixton include Sudbourne Primary, Corpus Christi Catholic School, and St John’s Angell Town Church of England School. The Evelyn Grace co-ed state secondary has a good reputation, as does The Lambeth Academy. The Michael Tippett School specialises in children with a range of disabilities, particularly those on the autistic spectrum.
Nearby secondary schools that have received Ofsted’s backing include the Charter School and Platanos College, while Lambeth College provides education for the over 16s.
Local council
Brixton falls within the London Borough of Lambeth, which is currently Labour controlled. Lambeth Council is headquartered in the centre of Brixton, in a lovely Grade II listed building at the corner of Brixton Hill and Acre Lane. The City Population website has some interesting stats about the ward of Brixton Hill if you’re keen to learn about the area’s demographic.
Estate agencies
You’ll find a cluster of estate agents around the tube station, including Martin Barry, Marsh & Parsons and Keatings – all ready to help you find your perfect Brixton home.
For an extended list to Brixton estate agents - see below:
If you’ve already got your eye on a property in Brixton and are ready to take the next step, I offer a wide range of independent and cost-effective residential surveys and valuations. As a residential chartered surveyor and RICS registered property valuer with more 20 years’ real estate experience across London and the south-east, I know that buying property is one of the most important decisions most people ever make. That’s why I’m passionate about taking the stress out of the survey and valuation process and helping people realise their dreams, whether that’s a treasured new home or the next investment property.
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