Rough Guide Brixton

The Rough Guide - exploring Brixton

Brixton is located on the south side of the river Thames, the south west of London.
It is the unofficial capital of the British African-Caribbean community.
I like to say that there is no place like Brixton; some other areas like Peckham (SE 15) or Elephant and castle (SE17) can be compared with it as they are also important African- Caribbean neighbourhood but the feeling of Brixton Electric Avenue and the indoor market is nowhere else to be found.
I think it has a lot to do with Brixton history and the fact it has been in the centre of some important moment that marked London history. It has been in the middle of many innovations.

First of all, the building of many council houses, after that Brixton was bombed during World War II, in response to the severe housing crisis that was happening in London; many immigrants from the West Indies settled in Brixton.
Brixton was at the front of the stage during the Brixton riots in April 1981 when the police placed in a “stop and search” policy that allowed policemen to stop anyone on the street and search them without giving any reasons and in September 2005 after the shooting of a Black woman, Dorothy Cherry Grace and several other black people shooting, it was gentrification and provoking violent reactions in the community.

In 1999 Brixton was the victim of a bombing after neo Nazi D.Copeland but a bomb near Iceland , Electric Avenue.

Brixton is sometimes considered as a dangerous place. In the mid 90’s Brixton was one of the most dangerous place in Britain with Coldharbour lane holding the statistics of three shootings per week.
But for me it is all consequential as everyone chooses where and when to be in certain places. Locals describe Brixton as a very open minded area.
It has acquired, with time, a respect from all the Londoners for the African- Caribbean culture.


What can you see when you visit Brixton:
Market stalls: Fresh meat, fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables, many products and food from the Caribbean, African countries and South American countries like plantain, yum (yuca), different soft drinks and savoury snacks.
Music stalls: reggae and gospel
Textile and fabric shop, as well as cloths stands a lot of them of African fabrics)
Beauty suppliers shop: wigs, shampoo, hair extension, nails…

The main attraction in Brixton is the market but there is also Brockwell Park close by with the Lido and many sport facilities; It is huge and very close to the centre of Brixton. Brixton night life is also famous with the Brixton Academy and Fridge.

As said before, Brixton is reputed to be an Afro-Caribbean area but there are also people from South America ( Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador) and some people from India that works in the Fabric and beauty suppliers shops and there are also many students and European people as it is a cheap area to live and it has a great atmosphere and is very well located.

What I personally liked about Brixton is the relaxed and outgoing atmosphere, the reggae music in the street, the bargains, the action on the street there are many things to see and look at.