Brixton Gallery


Brixton has a laid back, diverse, creative, cool, vibrant, international vibe and is renowned for its markets, music, and nightlife. It grew, like much of London, with the advent of the railway in the 1860s with middle class Victorian terraces and was the main shopping centre for South London into the 1920s. The 1950s and 60s onwards brought immigrants from the Carribean and elsewhere. In 1981 and 1985 police discrimination sparked riots. The area has in the last five years seen increasing gentrification and rocketing house prices and commercial rents controversially forcing out some residents. There is a strong local campaign to limit this and keep the inhabitants and the fascinating and distinctive small shops that characterise the area.

Valentia Place. Brixton hip hop artist, Ty on left. Cherry Croce was shot accidentally by police and paralysed from the waist down during a raid on her home, sparking the 1986 Brixton Riots. Earlier riots in ’81 were protest against police discrimination against the black community. One of several fabulous murals by artists Create Not Destroy.
Windrush was the first boat that brought West Indian Commonwealth citizens from the Caribbean to the UK in 1948. The scandal was that many were wrongfully detained and deported and denied legal rights. Windrush day on 22 June celebrates Caribbean contributions to the UK.
Colourful and unique markets here include Brixton Village, Electric Avenue (Eddie Grant song) and Market Row, with fresh produce, international streetfood, restaurants and shops.
Aquaducts run through central Brixton housing many little shops and cafes and a couple of small breweries
David Bowie was born in Brixton in 1947.
The famous Ritzy cinema, one of the oldest in London (1911) hosts world, folk and jazz music events.
Central Brixton best bits