Brixton to Herne Hill: markets, archives and the lido: a walk in London

South London's Black British heartland: the electric-lit market street, the covered arcades with Caribbean bakeries, the Black Cultural Archives on Windrush Square, then up through Brockwell Park to the Art Deco lido and Herne Hill.

Best time: Saturday, when the markets are fullest; summer for the lido

The route, stop by stop

1
Brixton station and Electric Avenue
Electric Avenue was built in the 1880s as one of the first streets with electric light; Eddy Grant's song is about it. Street market stalls start here. 10 min.
2
Brixton Village and Market Row
Covered 1930s arcades (Granville Arcade, opened 1937, now Brixton Village), Grade II listed for their place in Brixton's social history since Windrush. Time Out sends you to Market Row for Healthy Eaters' Jamaican patties and hard dough bread. 45 min.
Two covered market arcades where Brixton eats: Caribbean cafes and takeaways, seafood, fishmongers and long-serving butchers such as Dombey & Son, plus vintage and homeware…
3
Windrush Square
The town square, named for the Windrush generation who settled here. 5 min.
4
Black Cultural Archives
Archive and exhibitions on people of African and Caribbean descent in Britain, founded 1981 by Len Garrison; since 2014 in the Grade II Georgian Raleigh Hall, 1 Windrush Square. 40 min.
5
Brockwell Park
Grade II registered park with clock tower, water garden and Sexby's walled garden; from the hill there are views over the London skyline (Time Out). 30 min.
6
Brockwell Lido
Art Deco lido opened July 1937, saved by a local campaign and reopened 1994; swimmers use it all year. 15 min or a swim.
A 50-metre unheated lido from 1937 in Grade II listed art deco buildings, a south London legend with a dedicated army of year-round swimmers. On hot days the queue goes round the…
7
Herne Hill station
End at Herne Hill village, across from the park gates. 5 min.

Walking directions

Brixton to Herne Hill: markets, archives and the lido

The route, stop by stop

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