Brixton Market, entirety of markets in Brixton south London: covered market areas in arcades and street markets
Brixton Market is an indoor and outdoor market in the London Borough of Lambeth, made up of several covered arcades and an open street section along Electric Avenue. The covered sections, including Granville Arcade and Market Row, contain a mix of food stalls, small shops, and food vendors operating side by side.
The market grew out of informal street trading in the 1870s, driven by the rapid expansion of South London at the time. After the Second World War, it became a central trading point for Caribbean communities settling in Brixton, and that connection has shaped it ever since.
Walking through the market, you hear a mix of languages and accents that reflect decades of migration from the Caribbean, West Africa, and beyond. The stalls selling plantains, yams, and jerk seasonings sit alongside fabric shops and barbers, giving the whole place a neighborhood feel rather than a tourist one.
The covered arcades are best explored on foot at a slow pace, as the walkways are narrow and can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Weekday mornings tend to be calmer, which makes it easier to browse stalls and speak with vendors.
Electric Avenue, the street that runs alongside the open-air section of the market, was one of the first streets in London to be lit by electric light in the 1880s, which is how it got its name. The street later gave its name to a well-known song by Eddy Grant, recorded in 1982.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
