This Brixton neighbourhood is situated in the southern London Borough of Lambeth. Brixton has a reputation for the strikes and marches that happened here in the early 80s, however the area has gone through a large amount of change and development in recent years. This area has a bustling town centre right near Brixton tube station, as well as many restaurants, bars, and music venues sprinkled throughout, including, the Blues Kitchen, Hope and Anchor, and Boqueria, as well as numerous local Caribbean and African restaurants. Next to all of these bars and restaurants are rows of mid- to late-Victorian two-, three- and four-storey terrace houses and mansion flats, along with a few earlier Georgian and early-Victorian terraces. With Brixton station on the Victoria line and Clapham North station on the Northern line, residents enjoy an easy commute into central London, which has made the area increasingly popular with commuting young professionals.

In the early 19th century, this area was mostly rural and made up of farmland and market gardens, with only a few small settlements just to the north. It was on the high ground of this neighbourhood that a windmill was built in 1816, and leased to the Ashby family, who ran a business milling flour. The mill fell out of use for some years, but in 1902 an enterprising family member bought new, gas-powered milling equipment that was installed in the old windmill and once again it was producing flour. Milling continued until the last member of the Ashby family died in 1934. After this, production ceased, and the windmill fell into a derelict state until after the Second World War, when it was purchased by the London County Council for preservation.

There is a public restaurant called the Clink inside the Brixton prison. The food is prepared and cooked by the prison’s inmates as part of their rehabilitation process and helps them gain hospitality qualifications that they can use when they have finished their sentences.

Ashby’s Mill is the only windmill that remains in the London area today and there is a much-loved pub and live music venue down the street called the Windmill in honour of the heritage site.

Violence and theft are the highest reported crimes in this neighbourhood area. The larger neighbourhood of Brixton, and its main centre, have a reputation for a higher rate of crime compared to the rest of London. However, residents report that Brixton Hill has a bit of a slower pace than the lively centre, so crime is lower away from the bars and clubs. Additionally, many residents report feeling perfectly safe and comfortable there.

Lambeth’s Grade II listed Town Hall was refurbished by Muse, preserving its features and assembly rooms, while making it more accessible to the community. Part of the extensive redevelopment as well, Hambrook House was developed as a mixed tenure scheme by the same developer. It consists of a social rent block, plus a mixed block combining private sale and shared ownership homes. The original building was demolished to make way for a new building, providing 48 affordable and 46 private apartments and one 1,800 sq ft retail unit. The restoration of the locally listed Ivor House was also completed, providing 26 private apartments and 11,400 sq ft of ground floor and basement restaurant/ retail space. This neighbourhood has seen a lot of development in recent years and it is likely that it will continue to do so.