Explore Street Art on Brick Lane: Navigate a DIY Tour with a Map Provided
Exploring Brick Lane's Vibrant Street Art Scene
Brick Lane, a bustling hub in East London, is renowned for its colourful graffiti and rich culture. Nicknamed Graffiti Alley, this small alleyway leads to Brick Lane Station Park, and serves as the starting point for a self-guided street art walking tour.
The tour takes you through the vibrant neighbourhood, with stops on Fashion Street, Hanbury Street, and a hidden alley or carpark. Cheshire Street, jam-packed with fascinating shops, can be accessed by taking the first left into Grimsby Street, where you'll find several awesome large-scale murals.
One of the highlights is a mural by Hackney-born artist Stik, known as The Screamers, on a wall in Grimsby Street. Another noteworthy spot is the railway bridge over the Overground tracks, usually covered with various tags and a few fun murals, just after the Quaker St/Buxton St junction.
If you visit on a Sunday, the railway bridge is where the Brick Lane Street Market really kicks off. The market provides a diversion while exploring the street art scene, as Brick Lane is closed to traffic for the market.
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 closed. For those who don't want to explore on their own, there are recommended tours available, such as guided walking tours and spray painting workshops.
Brick Lane is known for its ever-changing art scene, where graffiti, paste-ups, and sculptures cover almost every free surface. Famous local artists include Jim Vision, Jimmy C, Ben Eine, Stik, Malarkey, and Mr Cenz. Street art isn't just about scrawled nicknames tagged on the side of buildings; it includes murals, stencils, stickers, posters, paste-ups, mosaics, tiles, and 3D art.
The tour continues up Brick Lane towards the junction with Buxton Street and Quaker Street, where you'll find smaller artworks surrounding the former Truman Brewery, including tiles, mosaics, and stickers, particularly on building corners.
One unique find along the tour is Adrian Boswell's, also known as Broccoli Man, small, brightly painted broccoli sculptures attached to buildings along Brick Lane, including on the corner of Woodseer St.
Two famous Space Invader tiles can also be found on Brick Lane: #ldn_25 next to the entrance to Back Yard market, and #ldn_24 on the left just after the entrance to the Truman Brewery complex.
Beigel Bake, considered by many to be the best bagels in London, can be found on the other side of Bethnal Green Road at the end of Brick Lane.
For the most current updates on Brick Lane's street art scene, monitoring London street art blogs, local art organizations, or visiting the Brick Lane area would provide real-time insights into the newest evolutions in artworks and venues.
Whether you're a street art aficionado or simply looking for a unique way to explore East London, Brick Lane's street art walking tour offers an engaging and colourful experience. The best underground stations to start from are Aldgate or Aldgate East, both exiting onto Whitechapel High Street.
- Brick Lane's street art walking tour also encompasses its vibrant fashion-and-beauty scene, with stores along Cheshire Street and shops with artwork painted onto their shutters.
- On Fashion Street, one can find a variety of food-and-drink establishments, offering a taste of different cultures, which adds to the overall lifestyle experience in Brick Lane.
- Home-and-garden enthusiasts may be interested to know that, along with street art, Brick Lane is home to several antique and vintage shops, making it a destination for those who appreciate unique finds.
- General news outlets often cover the entertainment aspect of Brick Lane, with live music venues and comedy clubs offering evening entertainment.
- After a day of exploring street art, tourists can visit the Brick Lane Market on Sundays or sample the best food-and-drink offerings from Beigel Bake, a well-known establishment on the other side of Bethnal Green Road.
