Best things to see in Brixton, London

What are the best things to see in Brixton, London?

Brixton is one of London’s coolest areas that is always vibrant, lively and so, so busy. You will notice the difference as soon as you step out of the underground station.

Brixton is famous for its food markets, Electric Avenue, amazing street art murals, Afro Caribbean History, and music scene.

It’s worth visiting Brixton when you’re in London. It’s not far from the centre and will give you a refreshing off-the-beaten-path experience in London.

You can start with a free tour and then explore more of the best things to see in Brixton with this guide.

Updated for 2026

Tours in Brixton, London

Taking a guided tour in Brixton is the best choice if you want to see as much as you can in just a few hours.

A free tour – pay as much as you like at the end of the tour.

A private tour of Brixton with a local guide – This is the best option if you want to focus just on the things that interest you most.

Brixton and Stockwell walking tour – led by a guide with experience of homelessness, as part of a not-for-profit social enterprise.

Things to see in Brixton

The Bowie memorial

When you arrive at the tube station, cross the street and the first thing you’ll see is one of the most famous pieces of street art in London – the Bowie Memorial.

David Bowie grew up in Brixton and this mural was painted by artist James Cochran back in 2013.

After his death it became a shrine. People write messages and leave flowers, photos and letters next to the wall.

You can also see this mural as part of a London Bowie guided tour.

Eat at the trendy Brixton Village

A few minutes walk from the station you’ll find two popular covered food markets – Brixton Village and Market Row. 

It’s the place to go for cafes, restaurants and food stalls with food from all over the world – Afro-Caribbean, Indian, Brazilian, Japanese, Mexican and the list goes on…

I’ve been there many times, but the first time I went I soon realised it was a bit hard to find your way around… use this map so you don’t get lost.

On your way to Brixton Village you’ll pass through another iconic Brixton market on Electric Avenue.

It’s a street market with fresh produce and local shops. This is the place where you’ll get a good idea of the community vibe in Brixton.

A tip for vegans (and everyone else) – don’t miss Ms Cupcake, the vegan bakery on Market Row.

Get inspired at Pop Brixton

While looking for fun things to do in Brixton, I came across Pop Brixton.

It’s an alternative space for entertainment, food, indie shops and social enterprise. So, a pretty eclectic place.

I first went there for a music concert and on my last visit I found a community garden among the shops and food stalls.

The place can get crowded at times, especially if there’s an event going on at Pop Box. They run all kinds of shows and workshops. Check their website for what’s on.

Get educated at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton

One of London’s hidden gems, this one celebrates black heritage in Britain and it’s one of the best things to see in Brixton.

The Black Cultural Archives is one of my personal favourites that I keep returning to. The exhibitions change every few months and are always fascinating and very well curated.

Apart from the changing exhibitions, there are events all about black culture in Britain, from music to poetry to lectures.

Make something at the Remakery

Makers and artists will love this place. It’s a co-operative workshop and makerspace where you can make things out of recycled waste, learn how to sew or fix your bike or maybe make some art.

Have a look at their list of workshops and sign up to whatever excites you!

See a live music show or go clubbing in Brixton

Brixton is one of the best parts of London for music lovers.

It has a lot of clubs and a lot going on every night of the week.

During weekends, this is an ideal place to go clubbing, as the Victoria line runs 24 hours.

Here’s my selection of music clubs in Brixton:

Upstairs at the Ritzy – A few minutes walk from the station, this music venue is right above the Ritzy Cinema. It’s got a good range of styles, DJ nights, a lot of world music and jazz.

The Blues Kitchen – A restaurant with a large live music venue (with more locations in Shoreditch and Camden). It’s not just a Blues club, despite the name. The musical styles include a lot of soul, funk and jazz. 

Hootananny Brixton – A spacious venue for live shows and parties in many different styles from many different countries. A great place for weekend partying.

Brixton Jamm – Another good place for parties, live music and DJ club nights. Expect a lot of Hip Hop, funk, ska, bass and similar musical styles.

The Brixton Academy (aka O2 Academy Brixton) – For big rock and pop concerts in Brixton, check out the events at the Brixton Academy. It’s one of the largest and most famous music venues in London. 

Get an offline map of things to see in Brixton

This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours in  London. 

How to get to Brixton

The easiest way to get to Brixton is to take the Victoria line on the London Underground. It’s the last stop when you go south.

It may seem a bit far if you are new to the city, but in fact getting to Brixton station should  take you no more than 15 minutes from central London (from Oxford Circus Station).

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