Street art can be found almost everywhere in London, and it’s free for everyone to enjoy. Discover contemporary sculpture, abstract art, modern murals and quirky installations dotted across the capital.
Street art in London
London has one of the biggest and best collections of uncommissioned street art in the world. Local and international artists have decorated the streets of London with a staggering array of creative works, from miniature bronze statues to painted murals several storeys high.
One of the most famous street artists to date is the anonymous Banksy, whose distinctive stencil artwork has regularly appeared in London for more than a decade. Some of his art makes a hard-hitting political point, while other works of his are extremely funny; often they are both.
Look out for Banksy’s pelicans on the side of Bonner’s Fish Bar in Walthamstow enjoying a fish dinner of their own, the rhino mounting a silver car in Charlton and a mountain goat balancing on a pillar in Kew. There’s also a rebellious gorilla lifting the shutter and letting the animals out of London Zoo and two elephants in Chelsea.
You can also hunt for unique pieces of street art around north London, search for colourful artworks in Camden or admire the super-cool graffiti-filled Leake Street Tunnel near Waterloo Station – a hidden gem for street-art lovers.
In Soho, look out for the Seven Noses of Soho by Rick Buckley, which are hidden around the area. Then head over to Covent Garden, where you can also search for Tim Fishlock's little-known ear sculptures.
If you’re looking to find more London street art, check out the LDNGraffiti website, plus don't miss the annual London Mural Festival in September, with more than 100 murals on display across the city.
Street art in Shoreditch
One of the best areas in London for street art is Shoreditch, where the works change almost daily.
Join a Shoreditch Street Art Tour, a guided walking tour, to discover pieces by many of the best graffiti and stencil artists in the world, or combine your love of street art with east London food on an Eating London Tour.
This sprightly part of east London is an ever-changing canvas for street art, filled with spectacular graffiti art, magnificent murals, painted shutters, cool stickers and many more kinds of urban art in London:
- Look out for the huge 30ft (9.1-metre) bird on Hanbury Street.
- Admire the stunning murals adorning the walls of Fashion Street.
- Spot monster sculptures hidden on rooftops along Grey Eagle Street.
- See works by the world-famous Banksy on Rivington Street.
- Check out the Insta-worthy art decorating Brick Lane.
Street art in Croydon
Head to Croydon to see some of the capital’s best street artists and public art:
- Find compelling street art in the neighbourhood north of Queen’s Gardens. Katharine Street, Park Street, High Street and St George’s Walk are all hotspots for local artists.
- Head to the hip area around Surrey Street Market to see some of the most recent works by local artists.
Memorial street art in London
You can also find moving examples of memorial street art throughout the capital, pieces that pay tribute to some of London’s greatest music artists:
- Celebrate the life of Amy Winehouse in Camden, where you’ll find beautiful artworks by well-known artists including Pegasus.
- See the stunning memorial dedicated to music legend David Bowie in his home town of Brixton.
- Visit the poignant tribute that pays respect to the iconic Prince in Turnpike Lane.
Public art in London
Public art is also free for visitors to view, but unlike street art, it has been officially commissioned and installed.
Illuminated River
Take a stroll along the river Thames at night and see London's iconic bridges glow as part of the Illuminated River installation. Designed by Leo Villareal and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, the public art trail uses LED technology to bathe bridges in stunning light.
The Fourth Plinth
For some controversial modern art, check out the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. There are four plinths near the base of Nelson's Column. The first three have statues of George IV and two generals. The fourth was made in 1841 for a statue of King William IV, but the costs couldn't be met and the plinth was left empty for more than 150 years.
Since 1999, the Fourth Plinth has hosted temporary commissions, including Antony Gormley's One & Other (2009), where members of the public stood on the plinth for one hour at a time. Currently on display is Antelope by Samson Kambalu.
Canary Wharf
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 and often hosts exciting temporary exhibitions and events.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Follow The Line – a self-guided walking tour in east London that links The O2 and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – and discover a series of sculptures from artists such as Alex Chinneck and Gary Hume.
Spitalfields
Spitalfields is another area of London with a passion for public art, much of which reflects the history of the area. Kenny Hunter's I Goat stands 3.5 metres (11.4ft) high, gazing over Bishops Square, and represents the independence and non-conformity of the local people, while Gillie and Marc’s Dogman and Rabbitgirl with Coffee encourages people to come together and appreciate their diversity.
Lewisham
There are many artworks across the borough of Lewisham, from the traditional to witty murals by Artmongers, and popular pieces such as the Catford Cat.
20 of the best street artists to find in London
Here are just a few of the best London street artists who currently have work on display in London:
Stik: One of the most recognisable street artists in the scene. His Past, Present, Future piece in Shoreditch overlooks Old Street roundabout and reflects on the area’s continuing gentrification. @stik
Bambi: Anonymous London-based artist who creates striking art inspired by politics, modern society and contemporary icons. @therealbambistreetartist
ROA: A Belgian artist who created The Crane, an icon of Brick Lane. His trademark black-and-white animals can be seen around the globe. @roa
C215: A French artist who produces highly detailed, multilayered coloured portraits. @christianguemy
Phlegm: A Sheffield-based artist who has a whole world of characters, often on a huge scale. @phlegm_art
Pegasus: A Chicago-born north London artist known for his portraits of pop culture icons. Meghan, Madonna, Whitney, Amy, Tina – he’s stencilled them all. @pegasusart
Space Invader: This Parisian mosaic artist is one of the most prolific. His pixelated computer game characters invite "players" to collect points by finding his hidden works. @invaderwashere
Jonesy: His quirky pieces, which sell for thousands of pounds in galleries, sit out of peripheral vision on top of posts around east London, particularly along the canals. @jonesy_street_art
Ben Wilson: This north London pavement artist's work is probably the hardest to find. He turns discarded chewing gum into intricate works of art and has more than 400 pieces on the Millennium Bridge alone. @benwilsonchewinggumman
Frankie Strand: Londoner Frankie Strand’s work features dragons, giant squid, super-sized crocodiles and many other fantastic beasts. @frankie_strand
Amara Por Dios: Swedish-born Amara Por Dios’s work often features colourful goddesses inspired by her South American heritage. @amarapordios
Sweet Toof: This London-based artist is well known for vivid street art that features his trademark teeth surrounded by bright pink gums. @thesweettoof
Fanakapan: Pioneer of Balloon Graff, Fanakapan creates work that looks 3D until you get up close, and often features pop-culture icons such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Sonic the Hedgehog. @fanakapan
Eine: He may be the first living British artist in history to have his work hung in the White House, after former prime minister David Cameron presented one of his pieces to President Obama. @einesigns
Jimmy C: Painter of striking artworks and the iconic David Bowie mural, this Australian artist makes vibrant street art that can be found in London and around the world. @akajimmyc
Dreph: A Nottingham native, Dreph, the former secondary school teacher turned visual artist, is known for his vividly coloured large-scale portraits painted around London buildings. @dreph_
Mr Cenz: Mr Cenz has had a presence in the street art scene since the late 80s. His showstopping futuristic art is painted on large murals in places like the UK, Canada and Sweden. @mrcenzone
Carleen De Sözer: Specialising in afro-futuristic art, Carleen brightens Shoreditch with her stunning murals using bold colours and golden tones. @carleendesozer
Candie: A lover of letters, Candie sprouts up buildings with her script art, a passion that has allowed her to cover walls in buzzing cities like New York, Barcelona and Milan. @candie_bandita
Vanessa G: Better known by her stage name VANE MG, she combines bright colours with portraits, creating stunning murals that made her the first artist in the world to have painted inside the walls of Kew Gardens. @vanemg.art
