11 minutes from Victoria Station in Central London will take you to Brixton located in the London Borough of Lambeth. Brixton is just over two miles from London’s centre and is a mainly residential district with a famous street market and plenty of interesting retail outlets.(Estate Agents in Brixton)
Back in the day, Brixton was a rural farming community all changed by the arrival of the railways in the 1860s which turned Brixton into a middle-class suburb. The first purpose-built department store opened on Brixton Road in 1877 called Bon Marché, and Electric Avenue was one of the first shopping arcades to have electric lighting.
By the 1920s, Brixton was the shopping capital of South London with the famous Brixton Market in Station Road, but after the Second World War, it fell into decline and was noted for its poor housing and lack of amenities.
A multi-ethnic community, Brixton hit the headlines in the 1980s and early 1990s for the Brixton riots which were the pinnacle of years of tension caused by a poor relationship between the local community and the police.(Estate Agents in Brixton)
Brixton today could not be more different. Hip, fashionable and with some serious regeneration, Brixton is now a hub of diversity with a famous nightlife, music and culture scene as well as being a ‘foodies’ paradise.
Brixton has its own currency, the Brixton Pound, which was first introduced in 2008 and then launched fully in 2009 as an alternative to the pound sterling.
Plenty of famous faces have walked Brixton’s streets including David Bowie, John Major, Ken Livingstone and Sharon Osbourne to name just a few of Brixton’s luminaries.(Estate Agents in Brixton)
Property Types in Brixton
Brixton has mainly Victorian and Edwardian homes and some of the larger villas have been split up into flats, whereas the smaller houses are generally family homes. There are several large modern housing estates.
Properties in Brixton had an average price of £572,635* in January 2021 which is a fall of 0.18% in the last three months since October 2020 and a rise of 3.44% from 12 months ago. Flats in Brixton sold for an average of £222,867* and terraced houses for £784,479. The average monthly rental price in Brixton is £1,665**
Demographics in Brixton
The 2011 Census gave the population of Brixton as 15,842*** The average age in Brixton is 33.
Brixton is a multi-ethnic community with a large Afro-Caribbean population and a real mixture of young families, trendy hipsters and old school Londoners.(Estate Agents in Brixton)
Schools and Colleges in Brixton
Brixton has plenty of schools with a wide selection of nursery, primary and secondary education. Sudbourne School in Hayter Road is judged ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED and homes within its catchment area are always popular. Most of Brixton’s primary schools are rated ‘Good’ by OFSTED and Jessop in Lowden Road, and Corpus Christi RC in Trent Road are both judged to be ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED.
Secondary education is provided by the local co-ed, the Evelyn Grace Academy which is rated by OFSTED as ‘Good’. Platanos College which educates boys and girls to age 16 is rated ‘Outstanding’ as is The Charter School in Red Post Hill and Sacred Heart RC in Camberwell New Road.
Durand Academy in Hackford Road Stockwell is a state school with a weekly boarding facility from ages 13-18 with an OFSTED rating of ‘Good’. There is a co-ed private prep called Herne Hill School in the Old Vicarage in Herne Hill, and this acts as a feeder school to the three private schools in the area, Dulwich College, James Allen’s Girls School and Alleyn’s which is co-educational.
Local Attractions Near Brixton
Surprisingly for this part of London, there is some open space. Brockwell Park is located south of Brixton in Herne Hill and is a 50-hectare park with a newly built children’s playground and fantastic views over Central London.
Enjoy outdoor swimming at the Brockwell Lido with two cafes for some much-needed refreshment, one at Brockwell Hall which hosts the annual Lambeth Country Show. This popular event is a large, free community gathering and an eclectic mix of rural crafts and pastimes plus agricultural animals fused with Brixton’s unique music scene for a never to be forgotten experience.(Estate Agents in Brixton)
There are lots of music venues in Brixton, many of which are historic as Brixton has always had thriving music halls and several theatres. From the old days, the only one remaining is the Brixton Academy much of it still intact. Smaller venues include the Windmill, Jamm and the Hootananny.
Shopping Facilities and Leisure in Brixton
Brixton is a shoppers’ paradise with its own independent and much-loved local department store called Morleys plus lots of unique and one-off shops and stores. The interesting independents are tucked away in Brixton Village and Market Row interspersed with diverse eateries representing just about every type of cuisine on the planet.
The famous Brixton market stretches out along Electric Avenue, and there is a stall for just about everything from clothes to vintage and of course fruit and veg.
Enjoy foodie treats like locally sourced honey, cheese and delicious baked goods plus ethnic foodstuffs from all corners of the globe.
The high street has M&S, Iceland, TK Maxx and H&M. There is a farmers’ market every Sunday in Brixton Station Road and a night-time street food market in Windrush Square on the first weekend of every month. On the third Saturday of every month, a retro and vintage event brings nostalgia to Brixton.
Brixton has outdoor space with the community-run, Myatt’s Fields and Ruskin Park, with a range of sports facilities and play areas. Both parks have been awarded green flags for their commitment to providing a space for the whole community.
Myatt’s fields has been voted one of the top 10 best-loved parks in Britain in 2015. The newly refurbished Brixton Recreation Centre offers a gym and fitness studios plus swimming and a range of other sports.
Pubs and Restaurants in Brixton
The question should really be, what can’t you eat in Brixton? For the best pizza, try wood-fired pizza makers, Franco Manca or enjoy live music with your food at the Agile Rabbit, a bar, pizzeria and delicatessen in Railton Road.
French & Grace started their eaterie with a blog before developing the Salad Club. Now they have permanent premises in Brixton Village Market with just a few tables so you may have to wait your turn. Their trademark is colourful and creative salads and wraps, and you can bring your own alcohol.
Whatever style of cuisine you want, you will find it in Brixton plus a few menus you will never have come across before, all with Brixton’s unique spin on life. Many eateries are open long hours to tie in with Brixton’s vibrant music scene and nightlife.
Upcoming Developments in Brixton
Residential new builds are planned as part of ‘Future Brixton’, a ten-year plan for the growth and evolution of Brixton town centre. Council-led regeneration intends to invest over £350 million.
Travel Connections from Brixton
Brixton is located on the Victoria Line, and the line starts at Brixton meaning that a rush-hour seat is always a possibility. It takes just under 30 minutes to reach London St Pancras heading north. Heathrow Airport is an hour away by tube.
http://brixton-hill.localstats.co.uk/census-demographics/england/london/lambeth/brixton-hill
Several bus routes can be picked up outside the tube station which runs to Clapham, Herne Hill and Westminster.
https://www.home.co.uk/for_rent/brixton/current_rents?location=brixton
Brixton also has a train station which is located just 100 metres from the Underground. Situated on the Chatham mainline, this rail line can reach Gatwick Airport in an hour and London City Airport in 50 minutes.
