Head South This Winter: Brixton, South London

This winter, if you need a break from the cold and could use some Caribbean food and flavor, why not head south—to South London, that is Brixton, just a few short tube stops away from a selection of New York Habitat accommodations in London, is one of the city’s most vibrant and culturally rich areas. Stop by and see why locals say you haven’t truly seen London until you’ve gone south.

A borough of Lambeth, Brixton boasts one of the best market scenes in the city. With the covered Granville Arcade, the famed Brixton Station Road Market and Market Row all within steps of each other, visitors can find everything from prayer candles, original paintings and vintage clothes to stalls selling breadfruit, jerk chicken and other Indian, Afro-Caribbean and Vietnamese food. Here, you can get your hands on some of the best roti you’ll ever taste—and one of the best bargains in London, to boot.

A few blocks away, on Coldharbour Lane, you’ll discover another Brixton institution: Bookmongers, an independent, second-hand bookstore literally filled to the ceiling with great finds. Once you’re done scanning the shelves, head over to—or, better yet, rock down to—Electric Avenue. Made even more famous by the Eddie Grant hit of the ’80s, Electric Avenue is also the address of Photofusion, one of the top photo galleries in London that always features exciting exhibits and first-rate talents.

If you’re looking for entertainment, you don’t have to search far. Brixton is home to the O2 Academy, with its nonstop lineup of stellar musical acts (look for Vampire Weekend in February and Tiësto in March), as well as the classic Ritzy Cinema, with its eclectic film screenings, the sleek Crush bar with foosball tables, and the sumptuous, old-school movie theatre surroundings. After a show, stop for a pint at the local Prince Albert, one of the finest and friendliest pubs in all of London.

For a convenient place to stay a short tube ride from Brixton and all the attractions of central London, consider these New York Habitat rental accommodations in Lambeth:

• A gorgeous, loft-style 2-bedroom vacation rental in Lambeth (LN-711) on the second floor of a converted walk-up with courtyard entrance. Both bedrooms boast double beds and open out to a terrace with vine-covered pagoda. This flat also features two baths, Baltic pine plank floor and fireplace.

• A modern 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Lambeth (LN-234) on the second floor of a walk-up conversion that used to be a former tea factory from the 1850s. This open plan flat retains original features such as wooden floors and exposed beams and brick, and also has a state-of-the-art kitchen, two baths, a double bed, single sofa bed, laundry/dryer, and weekly cleaning service.

• A charming  1-bedroom vacation rental in Lambeth (LN-1036) on Tradescant Road. Situated on the second floor of a 20th Century Victorian walk-up, this apartment features  a decorative fireplace, high- end kitchen appliances, as well as laundry facilities for you convenience.

Who needs a trip to the islands this winter when you can take the tube to Brixton? Visit South London from your very own New York Habitat rental flat in Lambeth—and let us know some of your favorite spots with a comment below.