Explore Brixton

[Streetwalker]

Now half of Brixton is occupied by yuppies, whilst the other half is a giant drugs factory.

Cuts down on the travelling I suppose  

[Wiggles]

I know Brixton well, and although now safer than Stretham, it's not somewhere you want to go after dark. It is a bit like the  New York  tourist board advising people they visit Harlem.



I first worked there in 1979, not to long before the riots. I ran a shop, and could stand outside and watch the drugs being sold on the front line. We had to employ twice as many staff as we needed in an attempt to stop shop lifting. The insurance company insisted on two separate alarm systems, because of the very high break in rates. On one occasion two black guys came in looking for some trousers. One of them dropped his lighter, I picked it up and handed it to him, but his friend grabbed me by the collar, pinned me up against the wall, and told me to get my f$£%ing white hands of his mates property. One of my staff had to drag him off of me. They say black people can't be racist, I beg to differ. On a  daily basis we were between £20 and £30 short in the till. The guy who owned the shop was well aware of this, but had built it into the business plan, knowing that if we replaced the staff they may be worse. By the way, all the staff were Afro Caribbean. I lasted about six months until the nights became dark. At that point I lost my bottle, and found another job.



Back in 2004 as an area manager I opened a new store in Brixton. To be fair the area had improved, and felt a lot less threatening. Now half of Brixton is occupied by yuppies, whilst the other half is a giant drugs factory. If the UK wants to show tourists the cultural side of London, I wouldn't send them to Brixton.

[Streetwalker]

I remember my first visit to Brixton. I think it was in the early 80's and I had never driven through a place where there were no white people on the streets.

I admit to being slightly shocked at the time!

Indeed  Brixton had a large West Indian population at that time and to be fair it had its problems with under investment in many areas . Having got investment though a gentrification rapidly took place which led to the black population ,unable to afford housing and generally excluded from the benefits of re development  upping sticks and moving out ,generally to nearby Croydon .



Its a more multi ethnic area these days and maybe the market has more leather handbags than Breadfruit but its still decent .

[Barry]

I remember my first visit to Brixton. I think it was in the early 80's and I had never driven through a place where there were no white people on the streets.

I admit to being slightly shocked at the time!

[Streetwalker]

Personally I would not go anywhere near Brixton.

 The market was always very good and had a good vibe even in the days when you would get out of town before dark . But its just another part of London now  with a mixture of council estates and very expensive houses .

Not sure I would go as far as saying its a tourist attraction mind though for better prices than Camden or Borough markets its worth a trip to do a bit of shopping .

[papasmurf]

Personally I would not go anywhere near Brixton.

[patman post]

We've got relatives from Canada visiting in May. They've already done some online research. One site they came up with highlighted this. Must admit, although we're regular visitors to Brixton, I'd not regarded it as a tourist attraction...



London's vibrant multicultural neighborhood

Your host will take you on a journey of discovery in the vibrant neighborhood of Brixton. Known for its unique art, cuisine and creativity, Brixton is a must-see destination for anyone visiting London. Discover the stories and messages behind the city's colorful street murals or meander through the exotic markets where you'll find everything from handmade leather bags to woven trinkets and eclectic food. Together with your host, you'll explore the food scene, view street art and visit community projects to feel the Brixton vibe yourself.

https://www.partner.viator.com/en/9347/tours/London/Brixton-Un-Tour-Tour/d737-30791P6">https://www.partner.viator.com/en/9347/ ... 37-30791P6">https://www.partner.viator.com/en/9347/tours/London/Brixton-Un-Tour-Tour/d737-30791P6



 Reviewed by: ollie, November 2017



Excellent tour for my daughter and I. We saw all the David Bowie sites and walked around Brixton. Our tour guide Luca could tell we were done with Brixton and suggested other places. We went to the Camden markets in Camden Town and then walked up Primrose Hill. An excellent day because Luca was such a fantastic guide!