Take the escalator which starts near Platform 14 and this will bring you to the right exit near to Eataly on Bishopsgate
Short read:Bombing with Banksy & Co.
Long read: This isn’t a walk. It’s a hit. A blast of colour, wit, rebellion and razor-sharp commentary splashed across the walls of east London. One minute you’re face to face with a Banksy. The next you’re decoding a Ben Eine alphabet. Turn a corner and — bang — a Shepard Fairey or an Invader mosaic winks at you from the brickwork.
Street art has a habit of appearing, disappearing — and leaving you wondering who put it there.
Banksy read: “People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish… but that’s only if it’s done properly” – Banksy.
There’s no other London Walk like this one. It’s intense on the senses.
It’s a corkscrew of a route that pops cork after cork of east London’s vibrant, heady, dynamic street art scene.
It gets up close and personal with Banksy and Ben Eine and Shepherd Fairey and Invader and Co.
It decodes them. Like a great jazz musician it improvs (because this outdoor gallery – aka Shoreditch and Spitalfields – gets “rehung”* every few months). *Six months is the average lifespan of street art in east London. So the walk – true to the scene – changes all the time. Makes for a unique buzz. Okay, Banksy, here we come.
IS THE STREET ART TOUR RIGHT FOR ME?
Yes, if you’re curious, smart and open-minded
WHO ARE THE LONDON STREET ARTISTS?
They’re people who have something to say and a singular vision.
THE STREET ART TOUR – THE PRACTICALS
The Street Art Walk takes place mostSundays at 11 am. Meet David D., Leo, Laura, Jackie or Fabrizio just outside the Bishopsgate West Exit of Liverpool Street Tube. Meet at the top of the escalator. N.B. the Street Art Walk ends in Shoreditch High Street, a short walk from Old Street Station and Liverpool Street Station.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
N.B., David D., Leo, Laura, Jackie and Fabrizio are all experienced, top-flight, professionally qualified (Blue Badge) guides – top-flight Blue Badge guides with a speciality in the East London street art scene. “If I’m going to have my brain operated on I want a neurosurgeon, not some schlubber with a scalpel and a copy of Gray’s Anatomy.”
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, The Street Art Tour it can always be booked as a private tour. If you go private you can have the The Street Art Tour walk – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. Ring Fiona or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS
A private London Walk makes a fab gift – be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
This was an amazing experience! Our guide was funny, knowledgeable, and passionate about the subject. On our tour, he discovered that a once-stolen Space Invaders tile had been replaced with another, and his delight was contagious. This was one of the best tours of the city I’ve ever been on, and I can’t wait to do it again. The beauty of this tour is you can take it over and over; the street art is constantly changing. A must-do for everyone!
Rated 5 out of 5
Sheila –
I have been on dozens of London walks and have never, well maybe once, been disappointed but this walk was off the charts fantastic. Fabrizo made every stop mesmerizing. I saw Art I would never have discovered. He was so enthusiastic about the work, the artist, and the placement of the art. This was one of a kind. Thank you
Rated 5 out of 5
Anne –
Excellent tour, guided by Leo, really enjoyed it
Rated 5 out of 5
Baruch Pinnick –
Excellent. Fabrizio is passionate and extremely knowledgeable about the subject. He talks clearly and is full of interesting and amusing anecdotes. The street art that we saw was amazing.
Rated 5 out of 5
Philippa –
We LOVED this tour! Our guide was so knowledgeable about the street art scene and threw in some extra historical factoids about the local area. I’m already recommending it to everyone I know!
Rated 5 out of 5
Matt –
Leo gave us a fantastic tour of the amazing street art and graffiti in and around the vibrant area of Spitalfields, with fascinating and insightful stories of their background. Really enjoyable couple of hours. Thank you.
Rated 5 out of 5
Linda Baker –
I made it! And so glad I came! So much fantastic art around Shoreditch. Our guide, Fabrizio, really knew his stuff. Made it so interesting. The artwork is constantly changing so will definitely go again in a few months time 🎨🎭🧩
Rated 5 out of 5
Ozlem Wipperich –
We had a wonderful street art tour with Jackie yesterday in spite of challenging weather conditions. Jackie showed us all the hidden corners of Shoreditch area painted beautifully, quirkily by different street artists. it was very interesting to learn the background of the artists, story of the wall arts. There were 4 teenagers with us. Jackie successfully managed to have their attention. Thank you Jackie! we will definitely suggests your tours to our friends.
Rated 5 out of 5
Meg –
One of the best London Walk tours I’ve joined. There was so much to see, and David was a great guide.
Rated 5 out of 5
Dianne Wilkinson –
Jackie’s Street Art walk was notable not only for the hidden gems which she introduced us to, but also the background detail and information with which she textured her talk. She is great with children, encouraging their input and she also delivers her talk in a clear voice easy for the hard of hearing (me!). Jackie’s walk was an excellent use of valuable tourist time, yet good for locals (“I didn’t know that”) also.
Susan –
This was an amazing experience! Our guide was funny, knowledgeable, and passionate about the subject. On our tour, he discovered that a once-stolen Space Invaders tile had been replaced with another, and his delight was contagious. This was one of the best tours of the city I’ve ever been on, and I can’t wait to do it again. The beauty of this tour is you can take it over and over; the street art is constantly changing. A must-do for everyone!
Sheila –
I have been on dozens of London walks and have never, well maybe once, been disappointed but this walk was off the charts fantastic. Fabrizo made every stop mesmerizing. I saw Art I would never have discovered. He was so enthusiastic about the work, the artist, and the placement of the art. This was one of a kind. Thank you
Anne –
Excellent tour, guided by Leo, really enjoyed it
Baruch Pinnick –
Excellent. Fabrizio is passionate and extremely knowledgeable about the subject. He talks clearly and is full of interesting and amusing anecdotes. The street art that we saw was amazing.
Philippa –
We LOVED this tour! Our guide was so knowledgeable about the street art scene and threw in some extra historical factoids about the local area. I’m already recommending it to everyone I know!
Matt –
Leo gave us a fantastic tour of the amazing street art and graffiti in and around the vibrant area of Spitalfields, with fascinating and insightful stories of their background. Really enjoyable couple of hours. Thank you.
Linda Baker –
I made it! And so glad I came! So much fantastic art around Shoreditch. Our guide, Fabrizio, really knew his stuff. Made it so interesting. The artwork is constantly changing so will definitely go again in a few months time 🎨🎭🧩
Ozlem Wipperich –
We had a wonderful street art tour with Jackie yesterday in spite of challenging weather conditions. Jackie showed us all the hidden corners of Shoreditch area painted beautifully, quirkily by different street artists. it was very interesting to learn the background of the artists, story of the wall arts. There were 4 teenagers with us. Jackie successfully managed to have their attention. Thank you Jackie! we will definitely suggests your tours to our friends.
Meg –
One of the best London Walk tours I’ve joined. There was so much to see, and David was a great guide.
Dianne Wilkinson –
Jackie’s Street Art walk was notable not only for the hidden gems which she introduced us to, but also the background detail and information with which she textured her talk. She is great with children, encouraging their input and she also delivers her talk in a clear voice easy for the hard of hearing (me!). Jackie’s walk was an excellent use of valuable tourist time, yet good for locals (“I didn’t know that”) also.