Explore the Vibrant Street Art on Brick Lane: Grab a Map for a DIY Tour
Discover the Vibrant Street Art Scene of Brick Lane and East London
Brick Lane, a historic heart of London’s street art scene, offers a diverse mix of styles and a constantly changing range of large-scale murals and graffiti art by both famous and emerging British and international artists.
Exploring Brick Lane
Your self-guided street art walking tour begins at the corner of Wentworth Street and Brick Lane. As you stroll along Brick Lane, you'll spy several small, brightly painted broccoli sculptures attached to buildings, a quirky creation by Adrian Boswell, aka Broccoli Man.
Jimmy C has a mural on the corner of the second shop on Fashion St. Continue past the bridge, turn left into Cheshire Street, then take the first left into Grimsby Street, where you'll find some awesome large-scale murals. At the back of Grimsby St is a large mural by Hackney-born artist Stik, known for his iconic black and white stickmen.
Exploring the Side Streets
Chance Street and Whitby Street, running parallel to Brick Lane, host some of the most spectacular, large building-sized murals. A huge black and white mural of a crane by Belgian artist Roa is a long-standing piece on Hanbury Street.
For an immersive street art day, a recommended itinerary starts at Shoreditch High Street Station, moves through Brick Lane and its side streets like Hanbury Street, then continues to Redchurch and Great Eastern Streets, and ends at cultural hubs like BOXPARK Shoreditch.
The Best Time to Visit
The best time to take this walking tour is either on Sunday or on a weekday evening, as many shops have artwork painted onto their shutters that can only be seen when the shops are shut and the shutters are down. If you're visiting on a Sunday, the railway bridge is where the Brick Lane Street Market really kicks off.
A Hidden Treasure Trove of Colorful Art
Just after the Quaker St/Buxton St junction is a railway bridge over the Overground tracks, usually covered with various tags and a few fun murals. A small alleyway leading to an off-road car parking area behind some shops on Brick Lane is a hidden treasure trove of colorful art.
The two most famous pieces are the Space Invader tiles (by artist Invader) at the entrance to Back Yard market and just after the entrance to the Truman Brewery complex.
Brick Lane is one of the most famous streets in London, known for its colorful graffiti, rich history, awesome curry houses, and vibrant culture. On Sundays, the street is closed to traffic for the street market. Street art in Brick Lane includes murals, stencils, stickers, posters, paste-ups, mosaics, tiles, and 3D art.
The walking tour around Brick Lane and the surrounding sidestreets provides a perfect introduction to the area. For anyone interested in the current vibrant street art scene in East London, Brick Lane and its adjacent streets provide a concentrated, diverse showcase, while surrounding areas like Shoreditch offer complementary large-scale and commissioned murals.
- embark on a self-guided food-and-drink tour, exploring the diverse culinary offerings of Brick Lane and East London, known for its famous curry houses and rich cultural fusion.
- to gain a comprehensive understanding of the street art scene in East London, consider supplementing your street art walking tour with education-and-self-development resources on the history and evolution of street art.
- incorporating a fashion-and-beauty stop at one of the many vintage or designer stores in Brick Lane or its surrounding streets would provide a rounded lifestyle experience while traversing the vibrant region.
- should you wish to take a more leisurely pace, home-and-garden cafes and boutiques scattered throughout Brick Lane and East London offer an ideal setting to rest and reflect on your day's travels and discoveries.
- a visit to Brick Lane and its neighboring areas would not be complete without immersing yourself in the local entertainment scene, attending live performances or music events, or watching street artists at work.
