As the capital city of England, London is one of the most prominent creative hubs in the world, providing some of the most incredible collections of arts and culture in the world. From the world’s best actors to the singular music of Amy Winehouse and The Clash, it’s no surprise that an often cited reason for holidaying in the city is its wealth of creativity. Guests of hotels in Park Lane are situated in an historic and important area of London for culture – Hyde Park and Kensington gardens.
Just a stone’s throw from your 5 star hotels in London are the statues, sculptures and art galleries of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. From Peter Pan statues in memory of writer JM Barrie to water features built in honour of Princess Diana, London’s art scene is second to none for official works. But whilst Hyde Park is teeming with historic public artworks, another type has risen in prominence across the streets of the city – modern street art.
The broad term “street art” can technically define the official sculptures and statues across the city’s central royal parks. Technically speaking the Albert Memorial and Nelson’s Column are street art, but most Brits will use it for a more specific arena of creativity, printmaking and graffiti works on public walls and buildings. Whilst the legality of such works are often called into question, the pieces found across areas like Shoreditch and Brixton imbibe their areas with a unique sense of character and style. Once upon a time, they weren’t even considered art, but as modernisation and urbanisation have changed the way we view cities, street art has evolved into a unique form of self-expression.
If you weren’t looking for them, you might have missed them. Street art is everywhere in London and often created by contemporary artists you may very well have heard of. Whether you’re staying in luxury suites in London or in a suburb on the outskirts, the chances are that you’ve passed several pieces without even realising.
Areas To Discover
There are many areas of London that have stellar street art, but the ones listed below are teeming with work and excitement. So much so that it’d be difficult to miss them!
Waterloo Vaults
The Waterloo area may not be the first place you’d think of looking for street art, especially amidst the commuters and tourists, but take a side alley to the pedestrian tunnel beneath the station and you’ll find an ever-changing mural collection that is an official street art area. Graffiti artists can often be found spray painting the walls of this tunnel, and it’s accessible at all times of day.
Shoreditch
It’s unsurprising that one of London’s trendiest areas is a street art haven. Situated not far from the Montcalm Hotel on Chiswell Street, Shoreditch and its surrounding area has long been associated with artists such as Banksy and Robbo, as well as more local creatives. In fact, the Shoreditch Street Art Tour is one of the most exciting cultural excursions available in London.
The Line
London’s first public art walk, The Line’s name refers to the line of Greenwich Meridian which acts as the starting point of this stunning art walk. The walk itself runs past the O2 Arena and Queen Elizabeth’s Olympic Park, providing ramblers with a periodically changing collection of sculptures and installations. You can download the affiliated app through Bloomberg Connects and the walk is about 3 miles long.
Brixton
Brixton has long been associated with creativity. The modern day district in South London is home to famous independent cinemas and music venues and the walls across its streets reflect this too. From jazz musicians to punk rock, the streets are brimming with culture and political statements. This is unsurprising, the Brixton riots of 1981 represented a major act of protest against police racism and political oppression, and they are still remembered, whether directly or metaphorically on the streets of Brixton today.
Works To Seek Out
Below are just a few of the historic street art gems that have had a cultural impact on not only London, but the street art scene in general.
Banksy’s Falling Shopper On Bruton Lane
Banksy is [probably the best known of the British street artists, which is ironic because no one actually knows their identity! There are many Banksy pieces in London, including gas mask clad rats and red balloons, but one of the most fun is the Falling Shopper, printed on a dull grey office building in London’s wealthy Mayfair district. One of the only pieces not to be protected by perspex (partly because it’s 20 feet up a building), the Falling Shopper will make even the surliest of commuters smile.
Vhils’s Chiselled Man On Hewett Street
Street art is most often spray painted, but Vhils bucks the trend with his textural, chiselled pieces that are installed on walls across the world. Unsurprisingly, this piece is located in Shoreditch off a main thoroughfare but if you seek it out you can get up close and personal with the Chiselled Man to see how Portuguese native Alexandre Farto achieved this beautiful masterpiece.
Space Invaders
So far, we’ve mentioned several striking and hard to miss [pieces, but the French street artist Invader belongs in a different realm entirely. The Where’s Wally of street artists, the simple mosaics of Space Invaders by the aptly named Invader can be found in cities across the world. There are dozens across London, resembling the Space Invader from the popular arcade game. You’ll find them subtly stuck to street walls in areas like Soho, Shoreditch and Walthamstow. Can you spot all of them?
How To Find Street Art
Apps such as Street Art Cities and MASA provide in depth databases of works in London and beyond. Street artists using MASA can gain wide publicity thanks to the use of optional QR codes that they add to their works. These will connect viewers to a digital bio about the artist and the piece. There are also free graffiti and street art tours available across the areas previously mentioned, often hosted by contemporary London artists and historians.
