Street Art in London

Spend your time outside appreciating London's street art. You'll discover historical statues, contemporary sculpture, murals, installations and more. And of course it's free for you to enjoy!

Want to see some controversial modern art? Check out the Fourth Plinth. There are four plinths near the base of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. The first three have statues of George IV and two generals. The fourth was supposed to be home to a statue of a horse, but the money ran out in the 1840s and the plinth was left empty for more than 150 years.

Since 1999, the Fourth Plinth has become a display space for specially commissioned art, including Antony Gormley's One & Other where members of the public stood on the plinth for one hour each. Currently on display on the Fourth Plinth is Powerless Structures, Fig. 101 by Elmgreen & Dragset, a golden statue of a boy on a rocking horse.

The streets of London have been a canvas for Guerilla artist Banksy's work for more than 10 years. Cropping up on walls around the city, he stencils pictures of people and animals engaged in unexpected behaviour. Some of the art makes a hard-hitting political point, while other works are extremely funny; often they are both. You'll find a map of the locations for some of Banksy's works here. 

Other street artists to look out for include Eine, who paints huge and brightly coloured words and letters, and Stik, whose stick men can be found across Shoreditch and East London.

If you are a sculpture fan, you'll love exploring public art in Canary Wharf. The shops and offices are surrounded by spaces full of statues and greenery. It's a modern area that manages to combine commerce with cultural charm. Look out for exciting temporary exhibitions and events.

Spitalfields is another area of London with a passion for public art. The art in Spitalfields reflects the history of the area. Kenny Hunter's I Goat stands 3.5 metres high, gazing over Bishop's Square. This unique sculpture represents the independence and non-conformity of local people, while Lines of Communication by Craft + Pegg reflects London's civil war fortifications. 

There are more than 60 artworks across the borough of Lewisham, from the traditional to witty murals by Artmongers to popular pieces such as the Catford Cat. Public art commissions come and go; see the Lewisham Council website for the latest public artworks, including details of the artists, year of installation and commissioning bodies, as well as a downloadable public art map. 

You can even buy art outside every Sunday at the Bayswater Road Artist's Gallery, where the art is displayed on the park railings, and at Spitalfields' regular Art Market.