The Best London Street Art To Visit With Teens

This post is part of our archived content. While we’ve shifted focus, it still may be useful.

As our kids get older, it becomes harder and harder to find activities to do together.

As petting zoos and playgrounds lose their appeal, we find ourselves constantly searching for creative new activities to do with our teens and tweens.

Thankfully, London is an incredible city with a culture that can engage even the sulkiest teens, if you know the right spots.

While perusing Parliament and Big Ben may work for some, ours definitely find their phones more interesting. 

Watching our tweens take hundreds of selfies reminded us that London is a perfect backdrop for their Instagram pages, as the London street art scene here is one of the best in the world.

We’ve compiled our favourite London street art to take our teens to, serving as proof that we used to be cool.

Shoreditch

Shoreditch is definitely a can’t-miss spot for London street art, as the most famous artist of all, Banksy, has tagged one of his masterpieces in the yard of Cargo Club.

All of Rivington Street features work from various artists and is definitely worth a stop.  

Cremer Street includes an ode to the selfie, where French street artist Zabou has adorned the front of ‘Fiorella Shoes’ with her own artwork.

While Fashion Street includes imagery throughout, including Batman and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the colourful tableau.

Stay at the art’otel Hoxton which showcases incredible art including Banksy originals.

Camden

As Camden continues to get redeveloped, its epic art scenes are beginning to disappear, so we suggest trying to hit this area sooner rather than later.

Hartland Road’s Grime Lords by Carleen de Sözer is a two-story masterpiece of graffiti, while the walls of Hawley Mews are filled with selfie-worthy backgrounds both abstract and realistic. 

Camden High Street features a ‘Truffle Shuffle’ scene by JXC from the 80’s classic movie Goonies that any teen who has seen the throwback will definitely enjoy. 

Brick Lane

Considered the epicentre of the London street art scene, Brick Lane is definitely high on the list of must-see spots.

Housing the ‘street art quarter’ that is made up of Hanbury, Sclater, Heneage, Pedley, Grimsby, Bacon and Cheshire Streets, some of the best art in the world is found right in London’s East End.  

Pedley Street’s bright colours serve as a stylish backdrop for tweens and teens, with colourful illustrations and a legendary Bart Simpson piece.

A moodier vibe can be found on Heneage’s black and white backdrop. Brick Lane’s galleries offer an indoor respite and more eclectic works.

Hackney Wick

Newly emerging as a hub, Hackney Wick’s industrial streets are filled with artists living in warehouse spaces.

They seem to have chosen the streets of Hackney Wick as their sketchpad. 

Bream Street on Fish Island in particular features art from some of the most celebrated street artists, with a number of illustrations by the popular Sweettooth.

A trip to Wallis Street has a new gorgeous mural by Martin Ron Murales. While the towpath on Old Fort Lock is an easy stroll with a myriad of designs.

Leake Street Tunnel

This ‘secret’ 300-metre tunnel under Waterloo Station is completely covered in street art.

Serving as one of the only authorised graffiti areas in London, there is almost always someone spraying there. Consequently, the walls are consistently changing with new art emerging daily. 

The area was first developed by Banksy himself when he used it for his Festival of Cans in 2008.

It has since become one of London’s best-kept secrets, and any tween or teen visitor will marvel at the display of talent and creativity. Your coolness factor just doubled.

To really immerse yourself in London’s art scene, try the AlternativeLDN street tour and workshop.

You’ll see the capital come alive with vibrant designs while travelling through the city’s East End, finishing at an in-house workshop where you will be left poised with a spray can and your imagination.

We also like:

  • The Giant Chihiuahua, Poplar
  • Votes For Women, Bow
  • Nuclear Dawn, Brixton
  • Stik, Southbank
  • Peace Carnival, Dalston
  • Phlegm, Whitechapel
  • NYX Hotel, Southampton Row
  • His + Hers, Deptford High Street

Street Art Outside London

Street art isn’t exclusive to London so if you fancy heading further afield to see some fab street art, try:

Brighton

In a collaboration between street artist REQ and Enter Gallery, you can go on a two-hour guided tour through the city’s eccentric art.

From famous murals to wandering down the backstreets for hidden artistic gems, you’ll see another side to Brighton.

Edinburgh

If you’re in Scotland, look to Colinton Tunnel for a kaleidoscopic subway full of dazzling rainbows and a whole host of stories to discover.

To see Scotland’s largest mural, should hop on a bike for a two-wheeled adventure along the city’s Union Canal using National Cycle Network’s Route 75.

Bristol

Home of graffiti icon Banksy, Bristol’s Bedminster district sees the annual UPFEST bring 400 artists to its urban landscape (canvas).

Expect indie stalls, street food and creative workshops, alongside plenty of eye-catching art.

If snapping Bristol’s street art has left you wanting to show off your creative flair, grab a spray can and give graffiti a go at one of Graft’s workshops.

You’ll get to create your own tag and learn about how the graffiti scene developed from its roots in the USA to the world stage.

Or for a crash course in stencil art – made famous by Banksy – experience one of Where the Wall’s spray sessions.

Coventry

Weave through Coventry’s streets to discover splashes of colour in some of its most unique places – such as Dreph’s poignant homage to Britain’s first black theatre manager, Ira Aldridge, on the city’s Belgrade Theatre.

Birmingham

Birmingham’s quirky neighbourhood Digbeth boasts several colourful art pieces.

Once an industrial hub, it has since hosted major street art and graffiti festivals City of Colour and High Vis Street Culture.

Take time to wander through the area known as Birmingham’s creative quarter for graffiti-soaked buildings, indie shops and tasty street food.