Looking for a fabulous yet budget-friendly day out in London? Visit Brixton!
It’s somewhere I probably would not have recommended in the past, but thoroughly enjoyed exploring in late-August 2023. And if you love food, history, culture, art, music, entertainment and fun, then I expect you would too!
The South-Central suburb is one of London’s most distinctive areas - buzzing with ethnic diversity. You can easily spend a full day there and not get bored!
Read on for my Top 5 Brixton Highlights plus some important BEFORE YOU GO tips.
But first, to put this wonderful day trip in perspective, a brief back story…
BRIXTON’S CHARM:
When I lived in London (over 15 years ago), Brixton was NOT a place I felt comfortable exploring, with its checkered past of riots and issues of drugs and crime.
It was where I’d occasionally dash in and out to get a taste of home (Trinidad). Amongst the crowded Brixton Market stalls, I would find all my ‘exotic’ Trini fruits and vegetables. Think Caribbean treasures, like cassava, dasheen, plantains, okra, callaloo bush, star fruit, soursop... If you know, you know!
Although I felt uneasy to linger around in Brixton back then, there was always a special allure.
With its lively hub of food and crafts from all over the world, barbershops, clothes vendors, tattooists, quirky cafes, and books and records shops with a funky feel tucked in little graffiti-filled alleyways, the somewhat run-down suburb felt somewhat like a diamond in the rough.
Upon my return in 2023 (years later since my first visit back in 2006), it was clear to see how the neighborhood transformed over the last decade, and while still reflecting its Afro-Caribbean roots, there is even more added diversity that continues to break down any prejudices... I finally felt comfortable enough to take my mom on a leisurely stroll around Brixton with some trusted guidance from Pooja to discover some more of the treasures that gives it such distinct character.
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN BRIXTON:
1. Go on an Urban Gem Tresure Hunt (aka Walk the Street Art Trail)
Street artists have brightened up Brixton's streets with their work. Googling our way on the spot, we searched the streets of Brixton like we were on a treasure hunt, discovering and enjoying the ‘free art exhibition’ of unique creations on the urban walls that represent local heritage, music and history.
The first of our Brixton Mural finds is perhaps the most famous one - David Bowie in Tunstall Road (2013), painted on a wall of a local Department store opposite Brixton tube station. As a result of the thousands of messages from fans, it has been necessary to repaint the mural a couple of times; and since 2017, it has been covered in protective plastic.
Not sure how many murals there are in total, but we found a lot… even the ones that weren’t there!
2. Grab a Brixton-brewed beer, or two
The local Brixton Brewery taproom is a 5-minute walk from the Tube Station. Now, I’m no lover of beer, but my mom is – she has indulged in the local beer of every single country we have visited thus far, with the bottle caps saved as part of her global souvenir collection!
Because we’ve toured so many breweries around the world, and there was plenty we wanted to-do on this day tour, we opted not to visit the taproom but to enjoy the ‘local Brixton buzz’ at various hangout spots during the day.
You know those old pubs that smell like pubs? Thankfully, this was NOT one of those. With friendly staff and sensibly priced food (after all, this is Brixton on a Budget), this clean, airy pub was formerly known as Ye Olde White Horse in the 1800’s - an inn with stables that served as a rest stop for weary travelers and their horses.
By the time we arrived here for lunch, we were halfway through our mural treasure hunt, and certainly weary and hungry as horses. History repeats itself, haha. Cheers!
3. Admire Brixton’s 200-year-old Windmill
South London's last working windmill sits here in Brixton at the West end of Blenheim Gardens, still producing flour.
And standing here in Zone 2 London, you’ll feel like you’re in the countryside. I could almost reimagine the year 1816 when this mill was built, and this part of South London was mostly fields – it has retained a lot of the country charm.
Did you know you can actually go inside the windmill on a FREE tour? That sure suits my budget! A pity it is only open for climbing to the top 1 day per month... and of course the day we visited was not that day! But I knew this from my pre-travel research, so I wasn’t too disappointed. I just couldn’t juggle my schedule. It just means another trip back to the UK and planning my travel dates better! Tours usually run on the second weekend of the month between April and October.
4. Explore London’s most diverse and vibrant Market – Go Around the World in 80 (or more) Minutes.
Looking for fruits, veggies, flowers, fresh meat, fabrics, antiques, coffee shops, cocktail or champagne bars, eating places with authentic global cuisine, or anything else under the sun? Brixton Market has it ALL, in a clean and inviting space! As the saying goes, ‘If you can’t find it here, it probably ain’t worth having’.
The open-air section of the market lines Electric Avenue (not just a name, this was the first street in London to be lit up by electricity), and it is exactly what you picture when you imagine a market – fresh fruits, vegetables, root crops, flowers, clothing and crafts.
The covered section of the market sits at the heart of Brixton town centre - Brixton Village.
I read somewhere that it’s not possible to design or build ‘a Brixton’ – it is birthed from the neighbourhood’s unique history and community spirit; a stroll around Brixton Village is testament to this!
You’ll be surprised to walk inside and see the huge range of shops and restaurants - a multi-sensory experience. A true hidden gem!
And then we literally got lost in Brixton looking for 'Lost in Brixton'...
This vibrant rooftop bar is accessed via a staircase in a corner of the market – hidden in plain sight, it is definitely a 'best kept secret' inside Brixton Village. Giving off tropical vibes, its walls were decked in summer colours with lots of foliage and there was even a retractable rooftop. Oh, and a mural in the entrance to the toilets! Another Brixton mural to check off your list. You’re Welcome.
We got ‘Lost in Brixton’ just in time for their 2 for 1 Happy Hour cocktails. Here’s to great times on a budget!
5. Enjoy the Music Scene & Events
There always seems to be something happening in Brixton, from parties and festivals to pop-up markets, talks and exhibitions. As we lingered into the evening, this buzzing neighbourhood came even more alive with music and entertainment.
We sipped our cocktails at Lost in Brixton to the sounds of some feel-good pop music.
And earlier that day, we had followed our ears and arrived at Pop Brixton – consisting of repurposed shipping containers selling various eats and drinks – with a live DJ.
But because we visited on Carnival Friday (the Friday leading up to Nottinghill Carnival), our waistlines were in the mood to move to some soca, reggae, dancehall and afrobeats! As part of the countdown to the Carnival festivities, Just Vibez held a ‘Brixton Village Takeover’ – which included a FREE music event outside Fish, Wings & Tings, which allowed us to dine and wine…. Trini style of course! We had not planned to stay in Brixton past nightfall, but the music took over our soul. Had the rain not come down (typical London), we would have stayed til Party Done!
Mom enjoying another round of Brixton Brew at Fish, Wings & Tings in Brixton Village – a great way to wash down a lovely Trini Curry or a tasty fried plantain, rice and peas, jerk chicken and spicy wings with a mango chutney.
Mom’s review of the hand-crafted Pilsner-style lager: - ‘Crisp and flavourful. Great, easy drinking on a lovely summer’s day!’ - Considering she sampled several varieties of the brew that day - pale ales, lagers, pilsners, I’m not sure which one she was talking about. I guess she recommends them all!
BEFORE YOU GO TIPS
1. Exercise Caution as usual:
Brixton may be evolving, but that doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind. As with travelling anywhere, stay alert and best travel in a group for safety in numbers, brings me to Tip #2 …
2. Sightsee Brixton with Fun-loving Company:
Exploring Brixton with Pooja @paradiseonmymind__ was one of the highlights of this London visit. She’s one of my lovely Instagram friends whom I had not previously met but known since 2017, and we shared a mutual love of history, culture, food, music, travel, adventure and fun. THAT in a nutshell is WHY we chose to visit Brixton; The location matched our personalities perfectly!
3. Research but DON'T over-research:
Half the fun when travelling is in getting lost and stumbling on to gems. Although I had done some pre-travel research and knew exactly what I wanted to ‘discover’ in Brixton, I purposely left some things unknown and with room for flexibility.
This Day Out in Brixton was the first time Pooja and I met face to face, outside Brixton’s Tube Station.
Despite our height and age difference, she could be my sister from another mister! I love her friendly spirit!
I impromptu threw her in the role of our local Tour Guide - a small price for the pleasure of my company for an entire day. Oh, the things I do to my friends!
Being a great sport, she immediately took up the challenge and armed with her trusty phone, she Google mapped our way around the neighbourhood, and we got some ‘great finds’ along with stories to tell of our adventures
4. Make sure your (impromptu) Tour Guide is a local and techy:
My mom and I love exploring new places with locals, and Pooja was familiar with Brixton to a much greater extent than I was. Plus, she’s a millennial and therefore got to grasp phone tech from a younger age than myself – I am a dinosaur, so anyone is more techy-talented (even my mom) when in my company! Wandering around, we always knew where we were with Google Maps, or did we?
BONUS – Pooja’s photography skills with her phone are also to be admired. She taught Mom and I how to use Panoramic settings to get those lovely tall shots of the windmill and murals. So, guess who took this pic below? I’ll take a bow!
I’ll highly recommend her as your local, techy Tour Guide, that is if she ever decides to offer a legitimate service… but I doubt it would be FREE.
5. Be sure to book in advance!
If you plan to do the windmill free tour, it may get booked up quickly, given it’s just 1 day a month that you can venture inside the mill. So best to book before you go, and confirm your booking the day before, in the event of any cancellations.
If you’ve read up to here, Congrats! I guess you must really be interested in visiting Brixton.
So, I’ll leave you with these parting words…
Go to Brixton with an open mind and give yourself enough time to explore.
A great place for eating, inspiration, people-watching, shopping, nightlife and music, go for the food, stay for the vibes.
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