The well-known multicultural neighbourhood of Brixton, located in the south of London, is home to one of the best-known markets in the British capital: Brixton Market.
In this famous market we can find a wide range of food and clothing products, but it is best known for the large amount of African and Caribbean products and food that we can find here.
This London market began around 1870 in the street called Atlantic Road, and over the years it was extended to other streets. An interesting fact about the Brixton area is that Electric Avenue, located next to the underground station, was one of the first streets to have street lamps with electricity.
What day is Brixton Market?
Certain areas of Brixton Market are open every day, but the whole market is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm. Each Saturday there is also a market area which changes its theme depending on the Saturday of the month, and from Wednesday to Friday there is a market area called Food Corner which consists of numerous takeaway food stalls.
How to get to Brixton Market
Underground
Brixton Station Road is just 190m from the Underground station. Simply, Turn right when you get out of Brixton tube station and cross Atlantic road (you’ll go under the railway bridge). Brixton Station Road Market is the wide pedestrian street on your right.
If you want the market on Electric Avenue, go left out of the station. Then it’s the first street on your left.
Train
Another option is Brixton overground station. Located on the Victoria to Orpington line. Follow the signs to “Brixton Station Road exit” and you won’t get lost.
Bus
Lots of buses pass through Brixton. P4, P5, 2, 3, 35, 36, 37, 45, 59, 109, 118, 133, 159, 196, 250, 322, 333, 345, 415, 432, 689 or the 690.
Car
Although we don’t recommend it… this guide to parking in Brixton from Lambeth Council should help you (Download Brixton Parking guide).
What is Brixton market famous for?
Today, there are 3 different market areas that together create what we know as the famous “Brixton Market”.
Brixton Village
Covered market formed by several streets in which we can find numerous shops, restaurants and cafes. The shops are no bigger than a typical market stall, and we can find a wide variety of shops, butchers, greengrocers, fishmongers, clothes, gardening articles, florists… a bit of everything.
The restaurants and cafés in this area of the market deserve a special mention, many of them of high culinary quality and it is a very popular place for Londoners to go for a typical English breakfast, especially at weekends.
Reliance Arcade
An arcade featuring a variety of clothing and beauty shops.
Market Row
An arcade with a variety of shops and food stalls.
I have to say that when walking around Brixton Market, the things that most caught our attention were the Afro-Caribbean products and fish stalls. It is possible to buy fish and seafood that is not easy to find in other places in London, and the prices are quite reasonable. We recommend you to go on a weekend, and try a typical English breakfast in Brixton Village.