What people once decried as graffiti is now recognized as a significant art form throughout the world. Street art can be found on sidewalks, on the sides of buildings, and even tucked away between spaces. Many of these works can be found throughout the streets of London. They represent societal themes and pop culture and even pay tribute to those who have passed away. Perhaps unsurprisingly, much of London’s street art is consolidated in neighborhoods as colorful as the works themselves. We have outlined five such places where you can see the best examples of London’s street art, and you can share your favorite works or places for them in the comments.
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is home to one of the city’s most vibrant art scenes, and it shows in many public spaces. As part of London’s East End, the neighborhood was pretty gritty for decades, but starting in the 1990s, younger people began moving here and turning it into the colorful place it is now. Brick Lane is one particular spot where you’ll want to check out the local street art and keep your eye out for any remaining works by Banksy, who got his start tagging buildings in Shoreditch.
Camden
Right behind Shoreditch, Camden is one of the top places in London for street art in London. Camden High Street is a primary location for some of London’s (and the world’s) best street artists, along with the area surrounding the Camden Market. Like Shoreditch, Camden has enough street art throughout the borough that there are organized and self-guided tours available to catch most of it. Here, you’ll see some of the best of the best, such as Amara Por Diós, Señor X, and many, many more. Camden was also home to the late singer Amy Winehouse, who has her dedicated art trail in the borough that serves as a memorial to her life and career.
Leake Street Tunnel
While local authorities still frown upon public graffiti, they have designated a few places as legal graffiti zones, including the Leake Street Tunnel. It’s a place where rookies, up-and-comers, and well-known artists can practice their craft. As such, the art present in the tunnel changes on a regular basis as it’s painted over, so you will likely never see the same collection of works twice. It’s also been home to several street art festivals, such as Femme Fierce All Female Street Art Takeover and Banksy’s CANS festival.
Southbank Skatepark
As it is with the Leake Street Tunnel, the Southbank Skatepark is another popular place for legal graffiti and street art in London. Found in the Undercroft of Southbank Center, the Center has donated the skatepark’s walls to local artists of all kinds. Also, like the Leake Street Tunnel, this means that art is never permanent, and new works appear all the time. Keep in mind that it is an active skatepark, so you may not be able to get as close to the art as you might like, but be sure to bring a camera since your favorite pieces are unlikely to be there the next time you visit.
Brixton
Brixton has long been a multicultural part of London, and as such, it presents some of the most diverse street art in the city. Its large Afro-Caribbean community is mainly responsible for turning Brixton into the vibrant place that it is today, and much of its street art reflects this community. Atlantic Road, Pop Brixton, Beehive Place, and the Duke of Edinburgh Pub are all excellent places to find street art in Brixton. Additionally, most fans of art and music will want to head down Tunstall Road, which features a famous memorial of David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust era.
Author: John Rabon
John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.