The abundance of street art in London is one of the first things visitors notice as they explore the city. Visit Whitechapel, Shoreditch, or Camden and you won’t be able to help but be awed by the incredible artwork that surrounds you. It is fascinating for those unfamiliar with street art to see finished works that are out in the open, vulnerable to the elements and the possibility of being covered up by newer pieces.
Fortunately, there are people in London who are well-versed in street art and are willing to act as docents in the open-air “museums” (streets and alleys) that house this genre of artwork. For those interested in learning more about this fascinating cultural phenomenon, I have compiled a list of the top street art tours in London so you can pick one or two (perhaps in different parts of the city) to embark upon.
These street art tours give you the opportunity to appreciate and learn about street art, just as they do for me. All of them are fantastic places to take photos for your Instagram feed, and some of them even let you try your hand at making street art. Get your walking shoes on and your mind ready for the best street art tours London has to offer.
Tour of Alternative Street Art in London
The East End, London’s cultural and creative heart, was the focus of Alternative London Tours’ first tours, which began in 2004. There are four distinct itineraries focusing on London’s street art. the origins and significance of the works you’re seeing, you can take a tour that focuses on providing historical context as you explore London’s extensive art collection.
You might enjoy their Street Art Tour and Workshop if you’re the artistic sort. Upon arrival in London, your first stop will be in the East End, where you can get a bird’s-eye view of the city’s world-famous street art. Next, you’ll go to their private workshop, where they provide introductory lessons in street art. Local artists are happy to teach you the ins and outs of stencil creation and help you make your own one-of-a-kind work of art. The following stage is to study the use of a spray can to create unique stencil designs.
The tour leaders are all professionals in the arts and considered authorities on urban lifestyles. And therefore, you can be sure that you’ll leave with a profound appreciation for and unique impression of this remarkable location.
Tours of the Public Art on Camden’s Main Street
Since the 1980s, when this new form of urban expression first gained popularity in the United Kingdom, Camden has been home to a thriving street art scene. The amazing murals and art-filled streets of Camden are the focus of the tours provided by Camden Street Art.
Their two-hour walking tours take in more than a hundred pieces of graffiti and street art. Nelly, your tour guide, is pretty knowledgeable, so you’ll learn a lot of interesting stuff about the world of street art. She will reveal insider secrets and fascinating anecdotes about the street artists, their codes, and the meanings behind their works. Their tour is for those interested only in the background of street art, but if you’d like to get your hands dirty, they also offer graffiti workshops.
Intimate tours like the ones offered by Camden Street Art are great for tourists who are short on time but still want to see the city’s famous artwork. When you contact this company, they will do what they can to work with your schedule and make the tour work for you. If you have a large group or just want to book the experience for your family, they also offer private tours.
Walking Tour of Graffiti and Street Art, Free of Charge (Strawberry Tours)
Stunning excursions can be experienced even on a tight budget. In a logical move, Strawberry Tours also provides its own street art tours. For those who share the company’s values, the Free Street Art & Graffiti Tour is a comprehensive two-hour experience at a price that won’t break the bank. On this tour, you’ll learn about the vibrant graffiti and urban art scene in London, as well as the many debates it has sparked since its 1980s heyday.
Young adults who volunteer as Strawberry tour guides have a genuine interest in and appreciation for graffiti and public art. They’re very likable, and they’re not shy about talking about what kind of street art they like and why they think it’s important for the city. Many artists, such as Banksy, Zabou, Roa, and Jim Vision, are represented on their tour. The famous Brick Lane in Shoreditch will also be on your route.
These London street art tours, which run Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays for a sliding scale fee, are entirely staffed by volunteers.
London’s Graffiti and Street Art Tour (Free Tours by Foot)
East London and its colorful street art are among the stops on Free Tours by Foot. Whitechapel, Liverpool Street, the Old Jewish Quarter, Shoreditch, and Brick Lane are the five areas covered on the London Graffiti and Street Art Tour. Throughout the tour, you’ll come across works by some of the most renowned artists in history.
You won’t find another tour like this one because the guides will take you to places like parking lots and alleys that you would otherwise pass by without a second glance. You will be exposed a wide variety of street art and have the opportunity to learn interesting backstories for each piece. The guides are probably fans of street artists themselves, so you can expect to pick up some street art jargon as you go.
The tour focuses on London’s street art scene, but it also includes historical tidbits about the development of the East End into the vibrant, artistic neighborhood it is today. You’ll gain some insight into the area’s colorful history, from its time as Victorian slums to its current status as a hip neighborhood, and into the lives of the immigrants who made the East End their home.
Tour of the Graffiti and Street Art in Shoreditch
Dave leads the Shoreditch Street Art Tour, which has a 4.9-star rating on Google and is widely considered to be the best street art tour in all of London. Several reviewers have referred to Dave as “an absolute professor of street art & graffiti” for his extensive knowledge of London’s street art scene. He is well-versed in the culture of London’s street art and can help you pick out hidden meanings, artists, and techniques.
In case you didn’t know, street art has been a powerful political tool in London and around the world, and this book will explain the thinking behind some of the city’s most provocative works of art. Additionally, Dave is not only well-versed in the street art scene in London, but also in the global street art scene, sharing the most recent updates on international artists and their works.
I think his tour is a great way to learn about the diverse group of street artists living and working in Shoreditch right now because of how thorough it is. Tours are given between 10 and 12:30; for the most up-to-date schedule, however, visit his website.
Excursions of London’s Street Art
When it comes to London street art tours, Street Art London offers the most variety. There are currently three bids on the table. Shoreditch, home to some of London’s most impressive street art murals, is the primary focus of their tours. These excursions depart at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Hackney Wick and Dulwich tours provide an alternative for those who wish to see less visited (yet no less fantastic) areas of London where street art is alive and well. There has been a growing street art scene in Hackney Wick over the past few years.
Abandoned factories have become canvases for murals by artists like Ben Eine, Paul Insect, Broken Fingaz Crew, Faith 47, Sweet Toof, and Paul Insect, which your guide will show you. Tourists can view works from the 2013 Dulwich Street Art Festival on their tour of the area. Some of the most well-known names in street art, including Phlegm, ROA, Conor Harrington, MadC, REKA, RUN, and Pablo Delgado, have all contributed murals to this book. You need not be familiar with these names or their achievements in order to be impressed by them.
I think their Shoreditch tour is great for people who have never seen street art before or who aren’t familiar with the culture. Tours of Hackney Wick and Dulwich, on the other hand, are ideal for people who are already familiar with London’s most famous pieces of street art.
London’s Unexpected Street Art Tour
On this Unexpected London Street Art Tour, your guide, Savio, will take you to some of the city’s most creative spots. He is well-known for leading small-group tours that cover not only London, architecture, and general history, but also a specific topic or area (in this case, street art and music).
The three-hour tour visits several areas known for their vibrant street art scenes. He provides context for the city’s past, illuminating the social messages conveyed through street art.
Savio also stops briefly at well-known coffee shops and buildings in the area, all while listening to excellent music from his backpack. Oh, and on this tour of Ghana, you’ll stop at a fabulous chocolate shop serving the most delectable gourmet chocolate you’ve ever tasted.
Which area is famous for its street art in London?
One of the best areas in London for street art is Shoreditch, where the works change almost daily. Join a Shoreditch Street Art 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.