Brixton Windmill: I took a tour of one of south London’s most charming landmarks

When you think of iconic landmarks and tourist attractions in London, you might think of Big Ben, the London Eye, or maybe the Tower of London. 

Tucked away in south London is a lesser known attraction, Brixton Windmill, the last remaining windmill in the capital, and one that is still working to this day.

Brixton Windmill is over 200 years old, built in 1816, and today uses the same millstones that were used in 1902 to grind flour. 

While it's London's last remaining windmill today, you could find a lot more if you go back a few centuries.

Many of the things bought in London used to be made locally. London was surrounded by fields and farmers could bring their grain directly to windmills to be made into flour for bread.  But windmills were important for other things too — grinding drugs and spices, and using their wind power to saw wood and pump water.

The earliest windmill in Lambeth we know of is from the 16th century, although there were probably mills before then too. 

There have been at least 12 windmills in Lambeth at different times — the maximum number at any one time was the beginning of the 19th century, when there were five including Brixton Windmill. 

These days the windmill is part of the local community, hosting open days, yoga and Tai Chi classes, and baking workshops.

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Visiting Brixton Windmill

Location: Blenheim Gardens, Brixton, SW2 5EU. Nearest station is Brixton. 

Opening hours: Brixton Windmill opens on the second weekend of each month between April and October, and on other miscellaneous dates too. See the full list of dates.

Entry: tours are free, and come in two types. A short tour takes you round the gardens and ground floor, whilst a full tour shows you all the sights of the mill. You’ll need to book in advance to go inside – and spots usually fill up very quickly.