Brixton underground station and Electric Avenue at night.

Things to do in Brixton London

One of London’s most culturally rich neighborhoods, Brixton has a bit of something for everyone. Glorious green space rubs shoulders with vibrant urban street art and the best saltfish fritters you’ll taste this side of the West Indies.

Brixton Village life

Image of Food, Food Presentation, Meat, Pork,

Brixton’s kaleidoscopic Afro-Caribbean heritage is writ large across its bustling market. A huge neon sign points the way to Electric Avenue – the street immortalised in Eddy Grant’s 1983 smash hit – where you’ll find stalls selling fresh produce from plantains to crustaceans, as well as fashion accessories and household goods.

Cross the road to enter Brixton Village beneath the railway arches, where trains rumble overhead and the delicious aromas of jerk chicken and freshly roasted coffee vie with dozens more intimate independent eateries. Here, you’ll find everything from artisan pizza to Chinese and Vietnamese street food, burritos, burgers and authentic, modern Caribbean cuisine: think cod fish fritters, curried mutton roti and fried plantain. Yum.

On the other side of the railway arches is Pop Brixton, a buzzing pop-up mini-village built from shipping containers. Drop by for poetry nights, community yoga, open mic events and yet more sizzling street food, independent bars and boutiques. Follow the railway line a few yards further to find the Brixton Brewery Taproom. Tucked away under the arches, this local success story serves up a thirst-quenching range of small-batch craft lagers and pale ales from Wednesday to Sunday. Grab some of their colorful cans – inspired by the vibrant batik fabrics sold in Brixton market – to take away.

Brixton’s cultural heritage

Image of Garbage, Trash, Adult, Bride, Female, Person, Woman, Male, Man,

Eye-catching street art is on display at almost every turn in Brixton. It’s like one enormous open-air gallery of contemporary artworks and, best of all, it’s free! Up-and-coming local graffiti artists ensure this highly Instagrammable ‘exhibition’ is ever-changing, but many of the neighborhood's best-loved murals are here to stay.

Fully restored to its former glory in 2021, Nuclear Dawn is a Cold War-era masterpiece that depicts a grimacing skeleton striding over a bomb-ravaged London. It’s just across the street from Brixton Village. Meanwhile David Bowie – one of Brixton’s most famous sons – is immortalized in a much-loved portrait on the side of Morley’s department store. The painting has become something of a shrine for fans since the starman’s death in 2016.

Many other murals reference the area’s Black heritage and the Brixton uprising. Steven Pusey’s Children at Play is well worth checking out. This huge painting just off Brixton Road was created in the wake of the 1981 riots and portrays racial harmony among local kids.

For more on the history of Black heritage and cultural identity in the UK, head to the Black Cultural Archives on the east side of Windrush Square. Inside this Georgian townhouse, you’ll find important collections and temporary exhibitions documenting the Black British experience and celebrating prominent Black Britons. Windrush Square itself – named for the ship that brought the first Caribbean immigrants to the UK in the 1940s – carries huge local significance and is frequently used as a site for celebrations and events including mini-festivals and food markets.

Arts and culture in Brixton

Image of Concert, Crowd, Person, Lighting, Adult, Female, Woman, Stage, Indoors, Theater, Male, Man,

Brixton’s Ritzy cinema has been keeping locals entertained for over a century, since its inception as the Electric Pavilion during the silent movie era. Nowadays it’s as much community hub as cinema, with a trendy bar serving food and craft beers, and tables that spill out onto the street in summer. Expect a mix of the latest blockbusters, independent movies and old classics showing across its five screens. Head to the top-floor bar, Upstairs at The Ritzy, for nightly entertainment including live music and DJ nights.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Brixton isn’t short of a music venue or two. Within the hallowed walls of the O2 Academy, a striking Art Deco building that dates back to the 1920s, fans have witnessed epic performances from the likes of Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, the Foo Fighters and Iggy Pop. Grab yourself the latest hot ticket and follow the crowds towards the venue’s near-iconic neon-lit dome. Gallery seating upstairs and a clever sloping floor downstairs mean you get a decent view of the action even if, inevitably, you’re stuck behind the world’s tallest person.

Over on Brixton Hill, the Electric’s mix of live bands, celebrity DJs and reggaeton club nights caters for an eclectic range of tastes, whilst Windmill Brixton is the place to go to catch up-and-coming acts before they make it big enough to graduate to the Electric or O2 Academy.

The great outdoors

Image of Nature, Outdoors, Pond, Water, Garden, Bench, Backyard, Yard,

Stroll a few minutes south from Brixton’s intoxicating urban thrum, and you’ll find yourself in the enormous expanse of green space that is Brockwell Park: 50 acres of gently undulating hills with splendid views across the city. Scan the skyline and even the untrained eye will pick out The Shard, the London Eye and the distant dome of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Entering the park from Brixton’s Water Lane, the paths diverge left and right. Head left for the popular Brockwell Lido, a 50-meter outdoor pool that’s open year-round. It’s unheated though, so you might want to consider a wetsuit if you’re visiting in January! Just beyond the lido, hop aboard the cute miniature railway that operates from spring through fall.

Bearing right from Water Lane, you’ll pass a fantastically fun kids’ playground with tunnels, rope bridges and fortresses, before emerging at the duck ponds, home to a range of wildlife including swans and gray herons. There’s a delightful walled English garden just opposite the ponds, with a central fountain and mulberry tree, as well as lots more to discover around the park: wildflower meadows, BMX tracks, tennis courts and, perhaps most importantly, a hilltop café serving ice cream.

Save on things to do in Brixton

Save on admission to London attractions and explore Brixton and beyond with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

Continue reading

Blog

Top 10+ Things to Do in London for First Time Visitors - Must See & Do Attractions

Looking for some of the top things to do in London? We've rounded up some of the most popular attractions and things to do so you can make the most of your trip and pack your sightseeing list with the best. Our list includes: The Coca-Cola London Eye Madame Tussauds London Wembley Stadium Tour The British Museum The London Dungeon And lots more... Save on Admission to Top Things to Do in London Many of these top things to do in London are included on the London Explorer Pass®. Make your own sightseeing itinerary and choose as you go from lots of top London attractions and things to do and save up to 35% off combined admission vs. paying at the gate. See all available passes, attractions, and prices - learn more. Looking for more structured itinerary ideas to follow? Then check out our popular One Day in London or 3 days in London itinerary for first-time visitors. The Coca-Cola London Eye Take a spin on London's most popular attraction, the Coca-Cola London Eye (also known as the Millennium Wheel), for an unbeatable bird's-eye-view of the city. You'll get 360-degree views of London from the top at 443 feet above ground level atop Europe's tallest observation wheel and each pod features interactive tablets that lend more information and details about the landmarks you'll see during your spin around the wheel. Looking for some more of the best places to take photos in London? Check out our blog on other famous London landmarks to visit during your trip. Insider tip: plan to get there right when it opens (usually at 10:00 am) to avoid large crowds. Getting In: Coca-Cola London Eye tickets are available on the London Explorer Pass. Madame Tussauds London Visit the original wax museum that started it all – Madame Tussauds London. This amazing museum combines the art of wax sculpture with British celebrity culture for an experience that's completely unique to London. Visitors can see their favorite celebs and snap photos with famous historical figures, like Her Majesty the Queen of England and other members of the Royal Family, Benedict Cumberbatch, Cara Delevigne, Muhammad Ali, and more. You can even get up close to two of Britain's most popular vloggers, Zoe Sugg and Alfie Deyes. Getting In: Madame Tussauds London tickets are available on the London Explorer Pass. SEA LIFE London Aquarium Situated on London’s trendy South Bank, SEA LIFE Aquarium is London's largest aquarium and home to a large variety of sea life, including sharks, octopi, colorful fish, turtles, penguins, and more. Don't forget to look up when you go through the underwater tunnel, Shark Walk, in the Pacific Ocean tank that takes you underwater with views of sharks swimming around overhead. This is a great place to visit with kids. Want some more ideas? Check out our blog on other things to do in London with kids. Getting In: SEA LIFE London Aquarium tickets are available on the London Explorer Pass. DreamWorks Tours: Shrek’s Adventure! Fans of the Shrek movie franchise will have a blast experiencing the themes, characters, and adventures in a new way with this 4D experience. This 75-minute 4D bus ride will take you through 10 live fairytale themed shows with captivating special effects. You'll see all your favorite characters from Shrek including other figures from the Dreamworks Universe, making this a pretty comprehensive encounter with your kids’ favorite characters like Po from Kung Fu Panda, the penguins from Madagascar, and the characters from How to Train Your Dragon. Getting In: DreamWorks Tours: Shrek's Adventure London tickets are available on the London Explorer Pass. The London Dungeon The London Dungeon is notorious for its more-than-slightly terrifying interactive experience. Costumed actors recreate gory historical events with 18 different shows that highlight some of the darker moments of London's history. An unbelievable mixture of special effects and illusions make this one of the most popular attractions in London. Getting In: The London Dungeon tickets are available on the London Explorer Pass. London Eye River Cruise See London from the River Thames on a relaxing, fully narrated 40-minute sightseeing cruise. You'll cruise along the Thames, which runs right through the middle of London, and get views of iconic sights along London’s skyline like Big Ben, the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, the Coca-Cola London Eye, and more. Getting In: London Eye River Cruise tickets are available on the London Explorer Pass. Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus London Tours One of the best ways to get around and make sure you see all of the top sights is a narrated sightseeing bus tour. You'll have the flexibility to hop-on or off at any of the over 50 included stops. Use it to plan your attraction visiting itinerary, or stay on for the entire loop for a comprehensive tour. Popular stops along the way include: Hyde Park Corner Piccadilly Market Trafalgar Square The Coca-Cola London Eye St. Paul's Cathedral London Bridge Parliament Square Buckingham Palace And more Getting In: Hop-On Hop-Off London Sightseeing Tour tickets are available on the London Explorer Pass. Wembley Stadium Tour Nothing draws a crowd in London like a football match. Sports fans will want to visit Wembley Stadium – the most famous stadium in the world and home to the English soccer team for a fully-guided tour. You'll get access to areas of the Stadium not open to the public, like the Player's Tunnel, English changing rooms, press conference room, and more. Your guide will walk you through historic moments that took place on the field you'll even get a chance to see a realistic replica of the FA Cup. Getting In: Wembley Stadium Tour tickets are available on the London Explorer Pass. TV & Movie Walking Tours Take a guided stroll around London to see the real life sights from your favorite British TV shows and movies, like Doctor Who, the James Bond movies, and Sherlock Holmes. You'll get to see iconic sights where the shows have been filmed and get to check off some iconic landmarks and famous London neighborhoods, too. Getting In: A number of some of the Best London Walking Tours are available on the London Explorer Pass. Fat Tire Bike Tours of London Go to the places in London the tour buses can't and get in a little exercise on a London bike tour. This guided biking excursion takes you to some of the most popular sights throughout London, including: the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Royal Parks, Kensington Palace, Trafalgar Square, and more while expert guides fill you in on the history of each site. Bike tours are one of the best ways to get to know the city and experience London like a local. Getting In: Fat Tire bike Tours of London are available on the London Explorer Pass. St. Paul’s Cathedral Designed in 1710 by one of the most famous architects of the time, Sir Christopher Wren, St. Paul's Cathedral remains one of the most iconic architectural structures in London with its notable dome and surrounding spires. Serving as the seat of the Anglican Church in England, there's a lot of history behind St. Paul's Cathedral. Take a self-guided tour with one of the multimedia tablets provided or plan your visit around the daily scheduled tours (subject to availability). You'll get to climb up the 528 steps to the top of the dome for sweeping views of London, including the River Thames, Tate Modern, and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Getting In: St. Paul's Cathedral tickets are available on the London Explorer Pass. The Sky Garden The Sky Garden is a lush, indoor garden open to the public with three stories of perfectly landscaped greenspaces and floor-to-ceiling 360-degree views of the city. Getting In: Admission is free but you do need to book your free tickets about three days in advance with a time slot to visit. Tickets are available three weeks in advance and can be booked up to an hour before you go, depending on availability. The Royal Parks London has one of the highest values of green space per capita in the world. With 47% of of London classified as green space, it's hard to ignore the thousands of green spaces and parks scattered throughout the city. Make the most of the very green city and plan to spend some time getting to know London's greener half. Locals love to stroll, picnic, relax, play games, and more in these lovely spaces, so you'll certainly fit right in. Pack a picnic and head to Hyde Park, near Kensington Palace or Green Park near Buckingham Palace. Or, explore the beautiful grounds of Notting Hill, one of the more upscale areas of the city. Getting In: Admission to the Royal Parks are free. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Image credit: Old Globe Theater Facebook page. The original Globe Theatre was built by William Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, in the late sixteenth century but was destroyed in a fire in 1613. A reconstruction of the theatre was built on the same site in 1614 but was later closed in 1642 due to a ban on theatrical performance and spectating. The current structure, called "Shakespeare's Globe" was built in 1997 and stands as a testament to the importance of the theatre industry and to one of its most playwrights, William Shakespeare. Getting In: Admission to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre is not available on the London Explorer Pass. King’s Cross Railway Station Harry Potter fans will know it as the home of Platform 9-3/4, where you can get a picture of yourself pushing your luggage cart through the brick wall. "Best to do it at a bit of a run." - Mrs. Weasley. Certainly one of the most popular things to do in London for Harry Potter fans. Other than platform 9-3/4, there's lots to see at King's Cross, look up at the intricate ceilings and admire the architecture, or hop on a train and take a trip to nearby destinations like Yorkshire or Scotland. Getting In: There is no ticketed admission to visit the King's Cross Railway Station. British Museum By Ham (Own work) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia CommonsDedicated to documenting the history of human culture, the British Museum is one of the largest and most comprehensive museums of its kind with over 8 million works and artifacts on display, perhaps most famously, the Rosetta Stone. Free guided tours are offered daily or you can choose to take an audio tour with a headset full of pre-recorded expert commentaries that coincide with the exhibits. Getting In: Admission to the British Museum is free. Abbey Road By Sander Lamme (Own work) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia CommonsSnap an iconic tourist photo of you and your crew crossing the famous crosswalk (in London referred to as a "zebra crossing") on Abbey Road. Most recognizable from the album cover of Abbey Road, by The Beatles, it's also home to Abbey Road Studios, formerly EMI, a recording studio. Submit your photo to abbeyroadcrossing.com and you could be featured on their site! Just be careful when crossing, it's actually a pretty busy road! Getting In: There is no ticketed admission to visit this location. Remember to Save on Admission There you have it. Our list of some of the most popular and top things to do in London for your upcoming trip. Whether you're in London for a couple of days or a couple of weeks, the London Explorer Pass is a great way to see the city and save up to 35% on top things to do in London. Plan to visit some of these top attractions during your trip. Whether you are traveling with young kids, teens, or just adults, we're sure you and your family will have a great time.
Casey Makovich
Outdoor Activities in London
Blog

Outdoor Activities London

You know how it is. Sometimes, it's fun being inside. The feeling of relief when someone else cancels plans you really weren't up for attending. Meanwhile, you get to stay inside guilt-free, splaying out on the sofa absorbing terrible TV like an unsociable husk. It's magical. Other times, you've got that pep in you, that desire to get out there and show the world who you really are. You're an outdoors person. You like going outdoors and doing things outside of those doors. And, if you're living in London or are visiting the English capital, you might be wondering what outdoor thing to do. Well, wonder no longer, for we have curated this list of the very best outdoor activities in London. So read on, get inspired, and find something new to do today! Featuring: Parks Rooftop drinks See a film Urban escapes Animal hangouts and more! Go to a park Let's start with something so cheap it's free. Walking, the human's favourite mode of physical transport. Walking is excellent for both the body and mind, getting those endorphins pumping and breathing in some fresh air. And where better to get your step on than at a park? Trees, grass, tiny woodland critters. Parks really do have it all. And in London, you're simply spoiled for choice. Hyde Park, Victoria Park, Ally Pally, Finsbury Park, and Regents Park are all heavy hitters in the London park department. Want something smaller? Try Barnard Park and Islington Green in North, Shoreditch Park or London Fields in East, Ladbroke Square Garden or Holland Park in West, or Clapham Common in South. Wherever you are, there are big and small green places all around. So get up, go out and find them! Simple yet effective, parks walks and hangouts are some of the best outdoor activities in London! Check out a rooftop bar If the weather's right, the sun's out, and the clouds are on holiday, why not grab a cool refreshing drink at one of London's many rooftop bars? You've got low-key affairs like The Castle and Vagabond, which offer no-frills terrace drinks and tasty bites. For higher-energy trips, head to Brixton Beach or Bussey Building, which both offer great drinks, pumping music, and great party vibes. Or, if you want to be active while on a rooftop sipping cocktails, try Skylight in Tobacco Dock or Peckham. You can play a few rounds of croquet or boules with your friends as the sun shines down on you. Who ever knew that throwing or smacking balls with a mallet could be so much fun? Go there, and you will know. See a film beneath the stars Yes, you read that right. Films, but outside. That's techinically an outdoor activity in London, right? If you simply can't be without the talking pictures, you can make them an outdoor activity too! Relive the glory days of drive-in cinema. You've got plenty to choose from too. Perhaps the biggest one around is Rooftop Film Club. With venues in Stratford and Peckham - at the good old Bussey Building - they're the best in the business. Showing a mix of old classics, Oscar winners, modern films, and musicals, you're sure to find the perfect flick to watch under the stars. You could probably sing along too, if you're so way inclined. Alternatively, check out Film4's 'Summer Screen Festival' at Somerset House for an eclectic mix of cult classics, new releases, and lesser-known indie hits. Or, if you're feeling courageous, why not take to the sea with 'Movies on the River'? Adorably, they play an assortment of river-based films like Wind River, The River Wild, and Mystic River. River-ting. A little wordplay never hurt anyone. See the sights on an open-air bus Does the thought of sitting down outside yet moving around sound like fun? Why not hop aboard an open-air bus tour of the city? You'll get the chance to see the city's sights with the wind running through your hair, or what's left of it. You'll pass iconic London sights like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace. And thanks to a handy, informed guide, you'll learn all about them too. It's like school, but fun. And outside. An escape room, but outdoors So, you're looking to outdoor activities in London, are you? Well, how about this doozy? London is under threat, from hackers or something. Do you have the wits and smarts to save the city? If you answered 'yeah, sure,' why not check out Urban Missions? This outdoor escape room slash scavenger hunt takes place entirely outdoors. You work for The Agency, a shadowy organisation that stays in the shadows. Your task? Use WhatsApp to receive clues and codes, then use your brains to solve them. This adventure will take you all through the city, just like a real phone detective. Groups of two or more must work together to solve every clue, unlock every code, and save London from an unknown threat. Are you up to the task? There's only one way to find out. Try it for yourself and see what you're made of. Go to the zoo And, finally, why not add some fauna to your outdoor adventure? Walk, talk, and other things with the animals at London Zoo! There are a whopping 20,000 animals for you to mingle with from all over the planet. All you cat lovers are in for a treat. You can visit Land of the Lions, a space dedicated to the majestic and sadly endangered Asiatic Lions. There are only 400 left on the planet, which is incredibly sad. Alternatively, if you like your cats with a few more stripes, go see Tiger Territory, which is dedicated to Sumerian Tigers. Learn about their day-to-day habits, and the issues we have with conserving their natural habitat. Or, if you sleep all day and the night is your time to shine, go check out Night Life, an entire exhibit dedicated to the exotic critters that own the night. On top of all that, you've got gorillas, penguins, butterflies, and even kid-friendly offerings like The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Here endeth the list of all the best outdoor activities you can experience in London. So go forth, and be active. And outside.
Dom Bewley

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

Thick check Icon