Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Living in Brixton

By Frank Gordon


Location

Brixton is a district in South London. It is part of the London Borough of Lambeth, whose council offices are located on Brixton Hill. Being less than four miles south of Charing Cross, and about six miles from the border of Greater London, Brixton is an inner-city area.

History

Until the middle of the nineteenth century, Brixton was essentially an agricultural settlement, although there had been a Roman village here and Brixton is mentioned in the Doomsday Book. The first development was in early Victorian times when Vauxhall Bridge linked Brixton to Central London; later, the arrival of the railway led to major residential expansion.

Community

Shortly after the Second World War, England's first West Indian immigrants arrived, and were housed in South London. Many of them settled in Brixton, which became an established multi-cultural area and the hub of Black cultural activity in London. Nowadays, in addition to its Caribbean community, there are ethnic groups from all over the world in Brixton.

Transport

There are very good transport links between Brixton and the rest of London. The Victoria underground line has its southern terminus in the centre of the area, and there are also above ground railway routes to Victoria and the Kent coast, as well as plenty of bus services.

Shopping

Brixton Market is the focus of the area's food shopping, drawing customers from a wide radius to its famous fruit and vegetable stalls, which sell a huge range of international specialities. In addition to the main market, which opens every day, there is a weekly farmer's market. Brixton has a wide range of shops, including Morley's, a long-established department store.

Business

Brixton has a reputation for creative industries, including its major role as a centre for Black music. There are companies specialising in film and TV production, and many small businesses involved in IT and web commerce.

Entertainment

Music-lovers from all over London and beyond flock to the Brixton Academy, which is a major venue. The Ritzy Cinema is a well-known Art Deco landmark which has been modernised and refurbished into an exciting multi-screen movie theatre. Brixton has a wide range of pubs and eating-places which attract a young cosmopolitan crowd.

Food

For good value and innovative international cuisine, it would be hard to beat Brixton Village, which is a covered area housing over twenty small cafes and restaurants. The local nightlife is always being supplemented by new bars and restaurants, encouraged by the lively after-hours scene.

Education

There are numerous schools and colleges locally, including Platanos College, rated as 'outstanding' and housed in an acclaimed new building. Lambeth College has a wide variety of academic and vocational courses.

Property

Traditionally, Brixton was known as an affordable place to live, which contributed both to its bohemian atmosphere and its attraction for new arrivals to London. However, regeneration in recent years, and Brixton's growing cultural reputation, have led to a rise in property prices. Though there are some good-value properties to be found, it is seen as an up-and-coming area where homes are likely to increase in value at faster than the London average.




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