FLY-ON-THE-WALL BRIXTON VILLAGE

I haven't been a Brixton resident for well over a year now but, in a bid to bin or share what has become a slightly untidy Drafts folder on my blog (read: a hoard of unfinished ideas that get jotted down as and when they come to me), I thought I'd share this one.

Brixton Village is an informal, feel-good, London hotspot; you're likely to be greeted with maracas, a steel band and a resident cat. It boasts a hub of rainbow-coloured fresh fruit stalls, homeware shops, cafes and inexpensive restaurants – including Franco Manca, Honest Burger and Champagne & Fromage all under one warehouse-like roof. When it comes to eating, tediously, queues are a good sign. But stick with it!

Outside the village, Boqueria on Acre Lane is a firm favourite for delicious, authentic tapas and worth the little extra walk (Clapham North and Clapham Common tubes are also doable).

Not least, it's well worth a visit for the riot of mood-boosting colour – hopefully these images will act as some sort of antidote to this grey, very wet, Monday.

Read more on Brixton Village here