Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by Home in the World
London is sometimes accused of being drab and grey – and it can be, especially when it turns on its notorious grim weather. But delve a little deeper and, even on the bleakest of days, you can find a vibrant palette of trippy street art, quirky sculptures and signage, and curious but striking doorways. I have barely scratched the surface, but below are some examples of London street art I have encountered on my wanderings around this artistic metropolis.
Camden Market is famed for being one of London’s most eclectic markets, a haven for all things alternative and hipster. And this vibe is duly reflected in the eccentric street stalls, colourful graffiti art, and psychedelic building façades.
Over at the eastern end of town is the hip, multicultural Brick Lane and surrounds in the Shoreditch & Spitalfields district. Originally famed for being home to London’s Bangladeshi community, many street signs and shopfronts are still in both English and Bengali. Similar to Camden, the underlying vibe is one of grunge, where traditional Bengali and Indian curryhouses alternate with hipster eateries, hole-in-the-wall businesses, and some very vibrant and striking murals.
Some more examples of elaborate London street art in and around Brick Lane:
Then there are the unexpected pops of colour that emerge in the most random of places – as a solitary, jungle-themed piano in Canary Wharf, a little clothes-pegged tag bearing words of wisdom on South Bank, a pretty mosaic at Gabriel’s Wharf, or an edgy mural at Borough Market.
And speaking of murals, perhaps the most famous of them all is the one found in Brixton, dedicated to music icon David Bowie, who hailed from the South London area, and who had died just a few months before my April 2016 visit, prompting numerous heartfelt messages to be scrawled across it. It was actually first painted by Australian artist James Cochran in 2013.
Sometimes the pops of colour come in the form of otherwise nondescript buildings that happen to have had their exteriors jazzed up, like this one near St Pancras station..
..or in inherently interestingly shaped structures whose aesthetic is further enhanced by a rainbow-like effect, such as here at the award-winning Two New Ludgate..
..or even just a vivid shopfront:
And sometimes it can be the tiniest, simplest of things that catch your eye and inspire a great photo:
But London street art is not always about the colour. Urban spaces can be equally enhanced through expressive sculptures and statues, and there is no dearth of these across London.
From contemplative figures in Canary Wharf, to the jovial pair of Roosevelt and Churchill on a bench in Hampstead, to the thought-provoking monument dedicated to the women of World War II on Whitehall, to a skeleton dangling in a cage outside the Clink Prison Museum, to evocative portrayals of travellers at St Pancras Station – mixed in with some giant orbs near City Hall and a larger-than-life thumbs up at Trafalgar Square – the spectrum is very broad.
Walking around the streets of South Kensington, I was surprised to find even construction-site hoardings had some philosophical musings to offer:
And was also moved to see this poignant sign near Borough Market and London Bridge, where, a few weeks after this photo was taken, another devastating terrorist attack would unfortunately occur.
I do also love me a good doorway photo, and reds and yellows seem to be the hues of choice for many Londoners wanting to brighten up the often drab brown-brick building exteriors. In some cases, these are coupled with black-and-white chessboard-like doorsteps, which add another dimension to these vivid pops of colour.
One business on The Strand – I don’t remember whether it was a shop or restaurant – also took advantage of its corner location to hang dangling flowers and mini birdcages at its entrance. That’s one way to attract attention!
And I will leave you with one particular doorway amongst the rows of identical terraced houses in Kensington, which I initially walked straight past without giving so much as a second glance, only deciding to retrace my steps after a few seconds to take another look. It offers a pretty cool motto to live by 🙂
If you enjoyed this post on London street art, you might also want to check out my other London posts: Classic London and Alternative London sights. And if you are a fan of street art, consider also reading my post on some of the great new murals in my hometown of Perth.
** This post, like everything else on this website, has been written entirely by me. No ChatGPT or any other AI tool has been used. It takes longer to create, but I value 100% human-generated content and I hope you do too! **
Trip facts
When I visited: Many occasions, but the photos in this blog post are from October 2015, April 2016, October 2016 and May 2017
Weather: Let’s be honest, London is never going to win any awards for having the world’s best climate, but it’s not always as grey and rainy as its reputation suggests. I have never actually been in peak summer, and have still managed to enjoy numerous mild, if not sunny, days – and nowhere near as much rain as I expected.
Based on the months I have visited on my most recent stays, April was the least pleasant (mostly grey and cold, about 10°C/50°F), October was reasonably mild and generally dry (about 17°C/63°F), and late May was beautifully sunny and warm (28°C/82°F). My advice would be to bring clothes for all weathers, regardless of the season – and never forget your trusty umbrella!
Where I stayed: On all of my most recent trips, I have stayed at the Marriott Kensington
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