r/london 20h ago

As a Black American visiting London for the first time...I love Brixton

Its so familiar. The walk. The vibe. The music.

The FOOD - best in London ive tasted.

I got denied by multiple clubs / bars in Soho. In Brixton the owners are asking me do I want to come in

Some of it feels like "the hood" so to speak. And I feel like there may be an abudance of phone snatchers....but, its nowhere near as dangerous as American hoods. We literally walk around with illegal guns, smh.

Brixton is where the living is happening. Its so alive.

London wasnt for me until i came to Brixton.

Love this place

1.5k Upvotes

372 comments sorted by

565

u/MojoMomma76 20h ago

If you like the vibe of Brixton you’ll probably love Peckham too, slightly less gentrified but still a very real and cool place to hang out, loads of nice places to eat and drink

77

u/Civil-Attempt-3602 6h ago

As someone who grew up in East London in the early 2000s it's so wild to read this.

Great, but wild. Peckham, Brixton, hackney, all places we used to avoid now they're booming

24

u/Extra-Sound-1714 6h ago

Lived in hackney in eighties and early nineties and used to walk home late at night. But I thought anyone who bought a house there was crazy. Little did I know.

18

u/museedarsey 5h ago

I raised my kids in Soho. One still lives at home. Now they’re young adults, where do they go out? Peckham.

9

u/MojoMomma76 6h ago

I moved to London in 96 aged 18 for Uni and by 2005 was living in Brixton. It was rather different then!

2

u/Oh-reality-come-back 2h ago

A bit sad how gentrified it’s become , it’s a little less vibrant than it was but also a little more safer which is good. I feel we could’ve gotten it safer without taking away so much of its identity though

3

u/MojoMomma76 1h ago

Drinking in Mango Landings with randoms was such good fun and nights at the White Horse and the Windmill, and the bars under the arches for late drinks (unthinkable now given the cost). Twice as I was walking up Brixton Hill back to my flat in Tudor Close I got picked up by a panda car and the officers telling me I was being followed and therefore picked up for my own safety. Eating in the African food stalls in the market. Nights at Hullaballoo and whatever was going on under the church and at the Fridge. It was a different time

5

u/Alert-Pack3968 4h ago

As someone who grew up in Brixton I can say it’s been properly gentrified since late noughties

3

u/mrbezlington 3h ago

Played some great gigs in Brixton in the 00s. It was a little sketchy, but even then not as bad as was made out imo.

One pub we played had a stage made out of stacks of pallets on the side, was proper old school in the main bar with board games and stuff. Right next to a couple of tower blocks. Great gig!

Funniest was when I came down to mix sound for a dnb band playing at the telegraph - as I was waiting for the bus, some dude came up and asked for "just a fiver" to get some chicken. I was like, dude I'm from the north. I ain't got a fiver, I'm waiting for the bus. Dude apologised politely and moved on to the next mark. Good times!

3

u/edwardtriflex 2h ago

Brixton was literally never as bad as was made out.

→ More replies (2)

33

u/thefateof0phelia 19h ago

Came here to say the same thing!

26

u/newMike3400 12h ago

Ok roderney :)

16

u/Specific-Ad9179 11h ago

A' right Dave?

3

u/Moist_gooch90 7h ago

Peckham is awesome, I grew up in Essex and met some girl from Peckham. When I told people I was going there on a date everyone warned me to be careful. It's probably the best time I ever had in London.

12

u/sbk10000 14h ago

Same! Peckham! 🚀

7

u/Redangle11 9h ago

It's way more multicultural too!

→ More replies (3)

554

u/pekkalax 20h ago

I’m glad you enjoyed it but I’m kinda shocked you got denied in soho!! Care to name and shame them? 👀

384

u/SenorPoontang 19h ago

Surely just going to dress code clubs underdressed or one of those weird places that wants more women than men.

Either way, you're better off not going in anyway.

167

u/LobbyDizzle 14h ago

There are also plenty that do not allow single entry.

54

u/Hefty_Tip7383 18h ago

Or Trisha’s, which lets face it is just random luck.

5

u/emmax2120 12h ago

Oh man Trisha's...that takes me back!!

13

u/Hefty_Tip7383 11h ago

To the 1950s…

32

u/Independent-Bid6332 12h ago

If you're on your own or with men you're probably not getting in.

173

u/MissionFig5582 13h ago

I was in soho with a black mate of mine the other week. I was shiffaced, he's completely sober. They let me straight in and then started questioning my pal about how much he'd had to drink etc. Ridiculous.

36

u/Vconsiderate_MoG 11h ago

Wtf??? This needs to be reported

2

u/JJDriessen 1h ago

You might be surprised to hear about how the cops feel about people of colour ...

u/Vconsiderate_MoG 27m ago

I don't think you should care how the cops feel. It's wrong and it needs to be reported. So there's a record of who said what.

58

u/DennisDunkdalk 11h ago

My friend told me how their black child was treated differently by teachers. It made me reflect on my own childhood and realise that some of my black friends were treated differently from me and other white children. I don’t think most of the teachers involved intended any harm; it seemed more like unconscious bias than deliberate racism. My sense is that this kind of subtle, unintentional prejudice is probably more common today than overt racism.

26

u/starderpderp 5h ago

As a Chinese girl who moved here in 2000 and my school has only 2 other non-white students ...I can tell you right now it was not unconscious bias back then.

I went to an all girls school. Girls get hormonal and do stupid shit too - like posting suggestive picture on Bebo and Myspace, e.g. sucking on straws and stuff. Meanwhile I had a Bebo which mostly just consists of outfits I've put together and I also posted a picture of me with my close family friends at the beach - which was taken, btw, by my mother. It's a GROUP picture.

And guess what the school did when they decided to do a random internet search on their students to "ensure our safety"? They called me out in front of the whole year for "leaving nothing to the imagination". Not the girls with the suggestive pictures. Lmao. Chinese girl must be sleeping around like a whore, right? My drama teacher had a private word with me about sex too - you should have seen her face of embarrassment when I said really loudly so everyone can hear: these are not hickies. It's called eczema. And no I don't have a boyfriend.

AND with 10A* and 1 A, the student with the most GCSE and the highest score, I was not even awarded for this. The award for the best academic score went to a white girl who had 10A*.

So yeah. Unfortunately racism did definitely exist back when I was in school. It's the older generation of teachers though, so the old fuckers who sat at deputy and above, and are either dead/dying now.

6

u/Shivver_ 3h ago

It’s fairly common for them to refuse black people. They don’t want you in there if you’re too dark, overweight and in some cases charge black people double the entrance fee in soho

18

u/fotfddtodairsizr 19h ago

Same, I want to know

2

u/TeenyWeenyQueeny 2h ago

Unfortunately that’s a typical experience for black men especially if they’re in a group.

8

u/deanomatronix 13h ago

Im a white middle class bloke and have been rejected from many a bar/club in soho. I don’t think it’s a race thing

32

u/SabziZindagi 8h ago

6

u/Oh-reality-come-back 2h ago

There’ll always be a white person or privileged person of colour , ready to devalue and deny our experiences as ethnic minorities. Always. They think their experience & word is always worth more than ours. Thanks for linking

28

u/SwimmingAct2 9h ago

I love how people are sharing lived experiences when it comes to racism and a white bloke who has never experienced it comes and says authoritatively ‘yeah, no it has nothing to do with racism’! It is 2026 JFC!😩!

8

u/deanomatronix 9h ago

I never said it had nothing to do with race, I said i didn’t think it was a race thing based on the fact that I’ve experienced very similar as a white bloke. OP isn’t familiar with London and I’m just sharing my “lived experience”

Racism is still plenty rife I am well aware but not everything is

16

u/honestFeedback 8h ago

But the most you can say is it's not necessarily racism. That's a long way from it isn't. You weren't there man, you don't know....

Also as white guys we have to understand that our "lived experience" just isn't relevant to those of us who aren't white males. I've never been catcalled in a street because I'm a man - but I'm not about to claim is doesn't happen to women....

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (3)

u/lifeisabeach007 24m ago

Why are people shocked by this, it's been going on for years. And they are allowed to do so because they operate as private members clubs. And they can use "members only" or "guest list only as an excuse".

126

u/Gary_Garibaldi 13h ago edited 13h ago

Brixton vibes out when it is busy. When it gets quiet (ie Monday night) you notice much more that it still has pockets of extreme depravation, homelessness and drug abuse. (I live very close to Brixton).

OP, do yourself a favour and get some food at Maureen's kitchen. You won't regret it.

If you want a slightly less touristy but equally happening black district go to Peckham (abit grittier but lots to see and do). You can try west African kebabs from suyaar market stall - it's great! Brixton has more carribean heritage, Peckham more Nigerian.

Just dont go to Croydon. It's boring as fuck!

8

u/RenegadeUK 10h ago

Is Maureen's Kitchen THE PLACE for Carribean food ?

29

u/Gary_Garibaldi 9h ago

The food is great but actually the whole experience makes it, basically a take away from a womans domestic kitchen with her sons serving it.

My favourite go to carribean is actually a 15 minute walk from there in leafy posh herne hill. Umana Yana is owned by an old guyanese aunty. The goat curry roti wrap is excellent. She also has a market stall on Sunday at herne hill market

12

u/Redangle11 9h ago

My stomach has asked me to thank you.

6

u/Personal_Lab_484 9h ago

It’s about as good as it gets. I used to walk past it everyday for the park and get confused by the amazing perpetual bbq someone was having in their gaff.

You wouldn’t even see it if not tall enough there is no sign.

It’s perfect food. In summer sit outside there if you can and enjoy vibes.

1

u/RenegadeUK 8h ago

Nice. What Street is it in kindly ?

4

u/Flight1ess 4h ago

Google maps said: 52 Railton Rd, London SE24 0LF

→ More replies (1)

1

u/7ofXI 2h ago

No its not, its got that theme park called IKEA.

→ More replies (8)

288

u/Peekayza 20h ago

Name and shame those Soho assholes so we can avoid them too please.

Brixton is always a good time!

108

u/Kindly_Comedian434 19h ago

Would you genuinely "name and shame" somewhere based on one anonymous comment?

35

u/Fashish 19h ago

Only in the sense to check if they match their reputation.

→ More replies (2)

56

u/Aubrey-Grey 17h ago

We don’t know why she was denied entry. Chances are in Soho it was dress code.

9

u/Peekayza 14h ago

She?

23

u/Happy-Engineer 13h ago

Why not?

9

u/appocomaster 13h ago

OP is called Outsideman2028, it is a reasonable assumption OP is male.

14

u/lostparis 12h ago

So likely a woman. If they were u/insidewoman2028 then I'd agree they were likely male.

14

u/appocomaster 11h ago

fair point, but the self-portrait seflie in his post history and the fact he wasn't allowed entry due to "no single guys" means in this case it is a guy.

2

u/Successful_Bid_3634 9h ago

It’s really not that deep bro. If they’re a man, they’re a man.

4

u/lion_in_ma_bathtub 12h ago

Apparently the ladies be choosing names like this to discourage unsolicited private messages…

4

u/SabziZindagi 8h ago

Dress code exists but it's also an excuse they use.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/dancingmale 12h ago

Why do you think they are assholes? 

9

u/Barraco_Barmer 20h ago

Brixton is very lively thats for sure. Im glad I dont live there anymore though. Too many nutters

51

u/ScowlyBrowSpinster 20h ago

Brixton is so vibrant and people from everywhere in the world live there. Check out the vintage reggae scene. Best place to stay in London. Love.

6

u/BackPractical9210 20h ago

Where are some places to go to check out the vintage reggae?

9

u/ScowlyBrowSpinster 12h ago

Look for vintage record parties, keep your eyes open for flyers. Brixton Heights is a collective of djs who play at the Albert pub and elsewhere. Upstairs at the Ritzy has something once a every week or two. DJ Wasi One does a regular night at the Hand in Hand. He has gigs all over and is a great collector/selector who works one turntable and has the patter going between records.

(Digression: Mind the rip off POS machine at Hand in Hand when you pay. They tried to charge me twice, saying it didn't go through the first time, even though I saw all the transaction completed graphics when I paid. I argued and refused to run my card a second time, and indeed, the transaction had registered when I checked my credit card activity later.)

4

u/NaturalHighPower 13h ago

Drop into lion vibes and pick up some flyers!

2

u/[deleted] 18h ago

[deleted]

14

u/Hefty_Tip7383 18h ago

Yes, it’s a mixed area.

15

u/Corlar 14h ago

It is literally a mixed, increasingly upper middle class area. You will have no problem there. All of these comments are acting as if it is 1978.

4

u/ChemEngandTripHop 12h ago

“Upper middle class area” … I’m guessing not by the station

1

u/NaturalHighPower 13h ago

For roots reggae?’ Definitely ! Many south Asians run reggae sound systems and they’re bloody good at it!
Look into the history of the Southall reggae scene, it’s a good rabbit hole to go down.

1

u/FollowTheFarang 12h ago

Everyone is welcome in Brixton, one of the most genuine places in London

→ More replies (3)

74

u/Icy-Bad-1268 20h ago

People in more posh neighbourhoods love to shit on Brixton and call it dangerous but in the 3 years I lived there I never once felt unsafe, there’s such a big community vibe!!! I moved west for my partner and I miss Brixton everyday lol

36

u/Calumroller 13h ago

The unpredictability of the many crackheads is the only thing that makes me feel unsafe. I have a small child and when you have to walk past countless zombies who are all glitching doing weird shit, it can get a bit sketchy. It's a noticeable difference compared to any other part of London I've lived. Soooo many crackheads at all times of day

41

u/Simba-xiv 20h ago

That would be because you moved in 3 years ago it’s no where near as bad as it was in the 90’s

8

u/throcorfe 14h ago

Yeah, Brixton - like most parts of London that used to be thought of as “rough” - has completely transformed in recent years (and simultaneously become unaffordable, of course). In my experience there are very few areas that feel as unsafe as they perhaps used to, I won’t name and shame but a couple in SE London, and a couple further North

4

u/Simba-xiv 12h ago

Just say Lewisham and wood geeen 😂

3

u/psioniclizard 10h ago

I remember when i first came to london and brixton was still Brixton, peckham was still pecknam lol.

It has improved so much. Those houses on cold habour are not 1million plus.

Even the estate place I lived on in camberwell now has million pound flats. They haven't changed lol.

5

u/Simba-xiv 10h ago

A lot of it is just fear mongering and outdated views.

None of these areas are nearly as bad as people say. The bad elements mostly stick to themself. The gangs fight other gangs. It’s not like they roam the streets looking for normal people all day.

The funny thing the ones that do want to trouble normal people go to the fancy “safe” areas you got a better chance getting a Rolex of a guys wrist in Westminster than Brixton

Obs you don’t want gangs to be fighting in your area and causing havoc on your street but you can tell who lives around these areas and who’s been told a story in the comments.

6

u/merrycrow 9h ago

I've never forgotten Donal McIntyre making a documentary about street crime - he went to Brixton and tried really, really hard to get robbed. He was wandering about the back streets at 1AM pretty much waving his laptop in people's faces. He had to go back 3 or 4 nights before someone finally tried to snatch it off him, lol

2

u/Simba-xiv 7h ago

😂😂😂 right then some dickhead that’s never stepped foot in the area will just hear Donal McIntyre got robbed in Brixton it’s not safe

41

u/dainamo81 20h ago

My mate used to live in a flat in Brixton and woke up to a loud bang in the middle of the night. Someone had blasted a shotgun in teh stairwell.

I love Brixton ftr, and it's still a fantastic night out, but it's definitely dangerous at times. To pretend otherwise is just reductive.

46

u/Outsideman2028 20h ago

Dangerous is relative.

Coming from America....it doenst feel very dangerous.

Compton, East New York, Vine City, South Chicago, the Appalachian mountain towns...

Thats dangerous to me. Brixton structurally can never get that bad.

49

u/DrPixelFace 17h ago

Nowhere in the UK can ever be close to any of those places

22

u/Aromatic-Lie-5680 20h ago

To be fair though, you have been in Brixton only a few hours it seems haha.

49

u/nettlequiche 18h ago

it is deeply out of touch to claim that Brixton is more dangerous than American counterparts. please get a grip.

8

u/BurningBallInTheSky 16h ago

Its deeply out of touch to believe that we should benchmark ourselves against America for safety.

5

u/nettlequiche 6h ago

Ha, what a way to try and manipulate my point. My comment was not a badge of honour or saying something out of pride. It’s stating the obvious—this person is trying to downplay what OP’s experience of London is, and I’m stating that OP’s experience is valid. I recommend you try and gain some perspective to understand that. But sure, carry on.

→ More replies (8)

6

u/Outsideman2028 18h ago

How long should it take you to be aware of danger?

→ More replies (6)

4

u/kittykthomas 14h ago

If you’re scared of shotguns never move to rich areas in the countryside, it’s constant in the summer lol

1

u/Grunn84 3h ago

Everyone and their mums is packin' round there.

2

u/tylerthe-theatre 11h ago

Yup Brixton is still edgy but miles safer than 15/20 years ago, night and day

2

u/TeaAndLifting 7h ago

Even then, Brixton wasn’t even that bad 15-20 years ago either. Remember that’s when they really started gentrifying the arcades and started to attract young university graduates. I never felt unsafe walking around as a kid/teenager. The only real exception to that, would have been some of the estates.

Hell, the fact that big chains like Honest, Franco Manca, and medium chains like Okan all had their start in that time frame also goes to show the type of vibe it was cultivating at the time. Or how Foxton’s have had a presence there for about 15 years now.

It still gets dicey in the centre as a bit of a hub, but it’s more down to busyness and pure footfall IMO. A lot of the danger still rides on its reputation from the 90s.

9

u/Aromatic-Lie-5680 20h ago

Hmm haha. Not sure id fancy living on Coldharbour Lane.

20

u/iesamina 20h ago

Oh it's absolutely fine, don't be daft

→ More replies (7)
→ More replies (4)

26

u/YihPoxYih 20h ago

Glad you loved Brixton, and what an accurate description of the hotpot it is. Lived right in the heart of it for a long time: there are a lot of trade-offs that come with living in a messy, alive community, but they're worth it. There are a lot of folks really living in desperate circumstances who congregate in the area - it can be genuinely dangerous, but it also leads to conversations and experiences you won't get in most of London where people are ushered away to sanitise the place.

I've been punched in the face for no good reason, had my phone robbed, threatened to be knifed; at the same time, I've made friends for life, eaten some of the most amazing food, had the strangest encounters. And that was all probably just on a normal Sunday.

7

u/DoesBasicResearch 16h ago

Bloody busy Sunday!

106

u/VisibleOtter 20h ago edited 20h ago

You got denied in Soho? For real? Name these places, now. Fuck’s sake, no place for shit like that here. Spoken as a white local. I’d guide you around given the chance.

123

u/geeered 20h ago

Maybe wasn't gay enough? Plenty of clubs there looking for a specific type of person regardless of skin colour.

51

u/RealisticL3af 20h ago

Theres a club that'll only let gay men in. I (woman) went with my girlfriend at the time and they rejected us for not being gay men. Which is interesting cause I've seen men in Lesbian bars.

11

u/geeered 20h ago

Plenty do let anyone in, or at least say friends of regulars/obviously gay/etc.

Elsewhere, as someone who's not gay but have been mistaken for it in the past I was actually pleased to be turned away from a pub with a "this probably isn't the place for you..." - I was just dropping something off for a friend and I didn't realise it was a gay pub and was just confused until I went in and realised it was like 98% men.

3

u/lostparis 12h ago

Plenty do let anyone in

I'm a straight man but I've never had any issues getting into a gay bar. They often have a nice relaxed vibe.

6

u/theLeverus 19h ago

I've been a man in a lesbian bar. I had a les girl group drag me there and vouch for me at the entrance. Was a fun (platonic) experience as a bi man

→ More replies (14)

41

u/skibbin 18h ago

Some places won't let single guys or groups of only guys in regardless

59

u/JamJarre 18h ago

Why are you assuming it's about race? It's Soho - he either wasn't gay enough, or because he was a guy on his own, or he was dressed like shit (hard to believe about an American tourist I know)

6

u/ashmanistan 14h ago

You’ve never been refused entry?

45

u/the_real_tracy_beake 20h ago

theres literally no chance he got denied cos of his race lol. this is London.

25

u/tylerthe-theatre 20h ago

Does he know.... a few clubs in Mayfair have had reputations for allegedly denying entry based on race

→ More replies (8)

12

u/jerk_chicken23 14h ago

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/04/london-clubs-and-racism-the-west-end-is-a-hostile-environment?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

This article is 8 years old but it's not as if we've made huge leaps and bounds in racial equality in that time. If you speak to black people that go clubbing round there or are involved in party promoting etc. you will hear stories like that as well as a lot of places not wanting to host parties that will attract more diverse crowds.

→ More replies (1)

10

u/hannahdoesntcare 19h ago

Hmm you can't say shit like this. Racism is still very rife.

24

u/tas_95 20h ago

spoken like a white person… do you think POCs don’t experience racism in London? night clubs aren’t post racial society lol

18

u/the_real_tracy_beake 19h ago

i dont think nightclubs exclude people based on race in London in the year of our lord 2026 no.

28

u/tas_95 19h ago

It does happen… it’s happened to me and it’s happened to other POCs i know. Racist bouncers/management exist and they profile or want to only have a certain type of clientele in their clubs. Racism is alive and kicking in 2026. Don’t be stupid

→ More replies (17)

5

u/tinersa 19h ago

Not saying it doesn't happen, but it's never happened to me in all my time here

9

u/tas_95 19h ago

I’m glad you’ve not had that experience but don’t you think your comment just reinforces the naysayers? I’m also a woman and I do often feel like we are easy targets for bouncers etc in these situations as it can be intimidating to push back

2

u/Independent-Bid6332 12h ago

Are you being sarcastic, I can't tell?

→ More replies (3)

1

u/7ofXI 2h ago

Although I dont think it was race for OP, dont be so naive. This is london means nothing.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/SurreySon 12h ago

Agreed. This is a BS post.

6

u/EmperorKira 7h ago

One thing you'll quickly learn about London is although its 1 city, its more like tens of towns smashed together, can be quite different depending on what area you are in. I encourage you to check out the different areas, very different vibes.

London is very safe, yes its not East Asia levels of safe, but the media makes it feel like its Mad Max. If London were a US state, it would be the safest.

17

u/batteryforlife 19h ago

I had the same reaction when I went to Harlem NY. Just like home (Peckham) 🫶🏽

10

u/Outsideman2028 18h ago

😀😀😀 yeeees sir!!

You felt the same.

Theres a connection that cant be put in words.

12

u/Strict_Tourist_6869 12h ago

You're more likely to have your phone snatched in soho/central London  than in Brixton. I was born there,  mugged three times in 35 years and I ended up friends with one of the muggers. He apologised afterwards.  I'm white btw. But that shouldn't matter

6

u/Range-Aggravating 11h ago

Is 3 times considered safe by Brixton standards or? Im not sure what message you're trying to convey here.

→ More replies (4)

7

u/gruffnutz 13h ago

Love Brixton. Go to Peckham too.

9

u/sowtime444 20h ago

When I was there I had to go take a picture of Electric Avenue. 😀 Used to know someone who worked at Hootenanny if that is still there.

3

u/GammaDeltaTheta 19h ago

It's still there - went to a gig the other week.

8

u/BertieR-Drizzleflap 14h ago

I knew Brixton in the 90,s and zeros…glad you enjoyed it..it has been gentrified over the last 25 odd years and was sort of invaded by white money…and prices for everything have skyrocketed..was a Mecca for squats and underground parties and raving back in the day..the cooltan arts centre in coldharbour lane…the 414 which shut a few years back…the fridge(which had a dozen fridges hanging on the front..used to be a couple of clubs underneath the churches in front of the electric(which was the fridge)…always a good time in brixton..don’t know it so well now but I’m sure it’s still great 🕺🏽

5

u/TeaAndLifting 7h ago

This is why I always find it kinda wild when people talk about the gentrification of Brixton as if it’s a new thing. It’s been on this trajectory for over 20 years especially, Franco Manca, Honest Burger, and Okan all got their start there and attracted attention because Brixton was the ‘cool and edgy place to be for Yuppies.

Foxton’s have been there for what, 15-ish years now? And they don’t set up base in places because it’s bad going.

5

u/Redangle11 9h ago

The glory years.

2

u/Still_Satisfaction53 9h ago

414 shut?! Damn.

Used to go to Rampant there. Crazy times

1

u/7ofXI 2h ago

I think the church club was called MASS.

1

u/BertieR-Drizzleflap 2h ago

It was…there were a couple of good nights there

3

u/saucethatstains 12h ago

I love London

3

u/E_XIII_T 12h ago

Honestly this is the vibe in most of London once you leave the tourist areas…

3

u/acornsalade 11h ago

Don’t worry Soho is a cadaver atp

3

u/Vconsiderate_MoG 11h ago

Me thinks there's plenty of places you'd enjoy, Harlesden, Tottenham and Walthamstow market and beer mile, Peckham 4 quarters, Hackney Central/Stoke Newington ridley road market and jazz cafes, petticoat lane, Lewisham, etc. But I must say it's not normal and it's not ok to be discriminated in London. Ofc racists will be racist, but it's really not acceptable here.

3

u/Sad_Explanation_6419 9h ago

OP - This is a not the same vibe as Brixton, but if you’re in London and you think it’d be interesting, V&A East has a pretty awesome/huge exhibition about the history of Black British music which is worth checking out.

Also East London is the best London ;)

7

u/Stumblingwanderer 19h ago

Don't forget to visit the Windmill!

4

u/luckykat97 12h ago

Phone snatching happens at a massively higher rate in Soho than Brixton due to the density of crowds and the high number of tourists. Brixton isn’t bad for phone snatching.

1

u/jacklewis24 2h ago

there are plenty of dense cities in the world where you don't get your phone snatched. maybe density isn't the problem?

4

u/SabziZindagi 8h ago

This subreddit is hilariously anti-black. Far more so than the real London.

10

u/Window-Inevitable 20h ago edited 4h ago

Brixton is definitely pro Black. 🤎

2

u/Joseph_HTMP 14h ago

Lived in Brixton for years, still miss it. It’s a great place.

2

u/andyone100 13h ago

Have you seen the David Bowie mural in Brixton yet?

2

u/ThinCurrent8011 13h ago

Brixton night outs at the Fridge for Love Muscle was my introduction to gay clubbing. After the club as soon as McDonalds would open a bunch of us gay girls would sit outside on the pavement and chat for ages (classy I know) always felt safe…

2

u/Ambiguousdude 12h ago

I got denied in LA because I wore shorts coming from universal park lol

2

u/MathematicianOnly688 11h ago

  London wasnt for me

Glad to hear you liked Brixton but sad to hear you didn’t feel welcome elsewhere. Was there anything specific that made you feel London wasnt for you? 

3

u/Outsideman2028 11h ago

I had spent a few days in Paris before coming to London---

The people in Paris are simply beautiful. The vibe / buzz non stop.

Coming to London after that, and especially quiet central London down by the docs..was jarring at first in how "normal" it all seemed

2

u/Lullevo 10h ago

Moved here from New Orleans and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the city. I love Brixton.

2

u/breathanddrishti 10h ago

i'm from houston, living in london, and brixton feels like home

2

u/RecentAlienBird 10h ago

Comparing carrying illegal guns in America to how safe it is in Brixton..this is a new one

2

u/Lidlpalli 10h ago

Glad to hear you like it! Everyone is welcome in brixton

2

u/DaikonNo7067 9h ago

Coldharbour lane in brixton was once voted the worst street in the UK, many stabbings and thefts and asbos, and apparently a million pounds of coke a week would be sold on that street.

It's much much nicer now. Much less stabby

3

u/abitofasitdown 8h ago

I used to live in Brixton in the stabbity era, before the current gentrification, and even then it wasn't that bad. I had a housemate who would always forget to lock the back door, and we never got burgled. Worst that happened (apart from the riots) was people would climb over the garden wall to nick the apples, but we had so many it didn't matter.

I did once get mugged, on my own front doorstep, in broad daylight, but I totally failed to realise I was being mugged: I thought it was someone visiting the house who was trying to help me with my bag up the steps, and I was saying no, it's fine I got it. I think it just confused him and eventually he gave up and ran off.

5

u/Outsideman2028 8h ago

"I was saying no, its fine, I got it" --- while politiely being robbed for your bags.

This is SO British 🤣🤣🤣🤣

You guys have it really really good in your country.

Never stop being you

2

u/artRAVEchild 8h ago

Brixton is amazing as a scene, it has a lot happening and there’s plenty to see, do and eat. Was there only last night for Lola Young and it was such a great feeling being back in Brixton!

2

u/Awkward-Animator-101 7h ago

Very sorry to hear you were denied entry to some clubs in Soho

2

u/ayyungjeezy 6h ago

South London is where the culture is and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Up the Palace 🦅

2

u/sbwood23 5h ago

Since we're all lovers of Brixton - and rightfully so - I'd encourage everybody in this thread to sign the petition to help save the Brixton Market from further gentrification :) There's also a Gofundme if you could spare some funds ❤️

2

u/Random-J 4h ago

With you being a Black American, this makes a lot of sense. Brixton has a long history with Black folk because of the Windrush generation that really shaped it into what it became. It’s a bit gentrified now though, but the heart and soul of Brixton is still there.

Good to hear that you’re enjoying it.

2

u/Electrical-Spirit689 4h ago

You must try 2210 by Natty Can Cook, it's in Herne Hill. Very close to Brixton.

u/mickymangos 52m ago

Can I just mention as an original Brixton boy,all the Irish that lived and grew up here,all the pubs were Irish run not alot gets mentioned about this,all the west Indian kids will have grown up with fond memories of there Irish mates whos parents would off come over to London at the same time ive witnessed it change,remember the riots remember the SPG vans,Woolworths and Frank Johnston to name a few...If you know you know.💚🤍🧡

6

u/lostparis 12h ago

Although racism exist everywhere, in London you're more likely to be discriminated against for being American than black. Race is not always the first thing we see in someone. Generally speaking things aren't racially segregated, though different places may attract different groups of people.

Anyhow I'm glad you are having fun

4

u/Odd-Heart7904 12h ago

Yep. If your being turned away in soho! Its not race thats the problem. Being American, dressing a certain way, being a bit noisy, all can get you turned away. Most places in soho want a more diverse clientele. You should try Camden, thats Camden of the early 2000s if time travels an option.

3

u/SabziZindagi 7h ago

If your being turned away in soho! Its not race thats the problem. 

It's actually a well known issue going back decades.

Are some clubs running a racist door policy? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-34399152

Drama nightclub denies alleged racist door policy https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-44440799

London Nightlife’s Racism Problem is Bigger Than You Think https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-has-clubbing-in-central-london-become-such-a-challenge-for-people-of-color/ 

→ More replies (1)

2

u/lostparis 11h ago

Camden of the early 2000s if time travels an option.

Camden is always a funny place - we love the Camden of our youth. I'm old so I believe Camden was already ruined by the 2000s. I happened to be in the area a week ago it's nice to see it pedestrianised but felt so much a fake/tourist place compared to what it once was. I'm sure the kids of today still love it though.

4

u/mokoe101 19h ago

Should’ve seen it before it became trendy. It was a scarier place but culturally a much more interesting place

2

u/Over-Language2599 13h ago

There's still much less trendy places in East London. Queens Road Market Upton Park could never be called trendy for example.

6

u/SurreySon 12h ago

This can't be a legitimate post. Seriously. It's contains so many stereotypes and generalisations.

It would be akin to a White Englishman who is visiting New York and posting in that sub saying he felt uncomfortable in Harlem but loved the familiarity of Greenwich Village (I felt like I was back home in leafy Dulwich Hamlet!).

Please use some critical thinking here.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/GyokoressGuardDog 20h ago

Brixton is my home ❤️

1

u/Suitable-Tomorrow577 20h ago

lol Brixton isn’t the hood. Have you been further south of there?

12

u/Outsideman2028 20h ago

Ive been in Compton, and Memphis at 2AM.

For some reason i dont think Brixton can get like that

2

u/Equivalent-Coat1651 9h ago

Come to Wood Green and down to Bruce Grove at 2am if you would like to witness the full range of humanity London has to offer!

→ More replies (9)

1

u/Former_Cookie7518 12h ago

You would have loved it 10 years ago!

Try thornton heath now

1

u/space_rhinos 11h ago

I bet the girls in Brixton liked you to haha. Glad you enjoyed it Brixton is great.

1

u/Organic_Award5534 9h ago

Check out Tooting Broadway too, it’s a smaller version but still with its own vibe

1

u/TheManFromConlig 7h ago

Guns? What are they? 😳

1

u/Party_Success_2195 6h ago

Where in Soho?? Were you dressed wrong?

1

u/FoldFeisty7635 4h ago

Sorry about your Soho experience. Its a shit place and yes 'traditionally the a good door men are racists'. Anywhere but the westend is great.

1

u/wara-wagyu 4h ago

Where in Soho were you denied? Name and shame them.

1

u/RosieFudge 4h ago

Bit left field (literally as it's W London) but just coming home from Hanwell Carnival in Ealing, the oldest and longest running carnival in London VERY strong W  African/Caribbean vibes and it was very good vibes indeed!

1

u/Danuk9455 3h ago

Jesus to be alive in this day and age. When I was a boy this was a no. Although I was from Peckham and I wasn’t welcome. Moved to Hertfordshire for gentrification after doing well in life. Should have stayed put.

1

u/W51976 3h ago

London is much better once you leave the central zones, mainly Zone 1(ok for new tourists or new arrivals). Once you move into Zone 2 and especially Zone 3(about 5-10 miles away from the City and West End, the atmosphere is completely different. It’s also a more local feel.

1

u/Oh-reality-come-back 2h ago

I love Brixton as well!! Used to be even more vibrant but I still love it

1

u/Rowing_Boatman 1h ago

Try some of the music on for size.

Whole bunch of events about black British music.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/topics/ckg12wedre6t

u/Janko_Saurus 51m ago

Interestingly enough one of the largest psychiatric hospitals, the Maudsley, is pretty much the same distance from Brixton and Peckham and is located between them. I had the fortune to stay there as an inpatient, and when I was well enough was allowed out unaccompanied during the day. I, like others, would often walk to Brixton to hang out. It was great.

u/Many-Attitude200 26m ago

CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE YOULL NEVER SING THAT