Brixton is a patchwork of Victorian terraces, converted flats above shops, mansion blocks and busy market streets. That mix means there is no single "right" CCTV layout. A camera plan that suits a three-storey house off Brixton Hill will not suit a unit on a busy parade, and a flat with a shared entrance has different needs again. This guide walks through the layouts we see most often, what to ask before you buy, and how our packages fit. Prices below are for installation by our engineers and all prices inc. VAT.
Start with the entry points, not the camera count
Most break-ins and attempted entries happen through a small number of routes: the front door, a rear garden or yard door, a ground-floor window, or a side gate. Before you think about how many cameras you want, walk the property and list those routes. In a typical terrace that usually means:
- The front door and the approach to it.
- The rear door and any back-garden or yard access.
- A side return or alley gate, if there is one.
- Any basement or lower-ground entrance.
A camera that covers an entry point from a sensible height, with a clear view of faces rather than the tops of heads, is worth more than a wall full of cameras pointing at nothing in particular.
Layouts for houses and terraces
For a typical Victorian or Edwardian terrace, a four-camera layout covers most needs: one on the front door, one on the front approach or street side, one on the rear door and one covering the garden or yard. Our Home Protect: £1,499 inc. VAT package is built around exactly this. It includes 4 x 4K ColorVu cameras that record in full colour 24/7, a 2TB drive with 3-4 weeks of footage, smart human and vehicle detection, instant alerts to your phone, and active deterrence with a strobe and siren.
If you want a lighter starting point, Home Starter: £899 inc. VAT gives you 2 x 5MP turret cameras in grey or white, a 1TB drive with around 2 weeks of footage, live viewing from your phone and motion detection alerts, installed neatly in a single visit. Two cameras suit a front and rear door plan well.
Layouts for flats and shared entrances
Flats are different. You usually cannot mount cameras on communal walls or common areas without the freeholder's or managing agent's permission, so the plan often starts and ends at your own front door. A video doorbell or a single camera aimed at your own entrance is often the most practical answer. If you have bought a doorbell already, our Video Doorbell Fit: £129 inc. VAT covers fitting, wiring to an existing chime or transformer, app setup and alerts. If you would rather we supply the hardware, Video Doorbell Pro: £399 inc. VAT includes 2K HD video with night vision, two-way audio via the app, smart person detection and an indoor chime.
Our wired versus wireless CCTV guide explains why a flat where drilling is difficult may lean towards wireless, while a house with accessible loft or wall routes can be cabled neatly and reliably.
Layouts for shops and small businesses
Brixton's shopfronts and market-side units need different thinking. The priorities are usually the shop floor, the till point, the entrance and the stockroom or back door. Our Retail Essential: £1,399 inc. VAT package includes 4 x 4K vandal-resistant dome cameras, a dedicated cash till monitoring view, 2TB commercial-grade storage and remote manager access from any device. Vandal-resistant domes are a sensible choice where cameras sit within reach.
Whatever you choose, check where footage is stored, who can view it, and how long it is kept. If your cameras capture a public footpath, you have data protection duties as an operator, so ask us about camera angles and signage during the plan.
Already bought your own kit?
Plenty of people buy cameras online and then struggle to place and cable them well. Own CCTV Kit Install: £449 inc. VAT covers up to 4 cameras mounted and cabled, connected to your NVR or Wi-Fi, with app, alerts and recording configured and cable runs neatly concealed. It is an installation of your customer-supplied kit, so the equipment itself is yours.
Get the plan right before you spend
If you are unsure what your property needs, our Home Survey & Design: £99 inc. VAT puts an engineer on site with a written recommendation, a fixed quote and a camera placement plan. The fee is credited in full against any booking of £500 or more. For businesses, Commercial Survey & Spec: £199 inc. VAT gives you a full site walk, a risk review and a written specification, credited against the installation.
You can see more about our local coverage on our Brixton CCTV installation page, browse the full CCTV and security services, or check the areas we cover.
When you are ready, tell us about your property and we will recommend a layout.