Love the hustle and bustle of walking in an urban environment? We’ve pulled together a list of some of the best routes for street art and culture to help you discover some of creative gems of our towns and cities.  

While some street art can be big and bold, other artworks can be harder to spot, situated high above the streets, tucked down low along paths or pavements, or can even involve repainting everyday objects to create visual interest. It’s worth keeping an eye out for street art on any urban walk! 

Don’t miss out in National Walking Month: Routes marked with (NWM) are free to access during National Walking Month, thanks to our friends at Cotswold Outdoor. You can also gain access to all our Ramblers Routes by becoming a member.

 

1. Bristol  

When it comes to street art, one name immediately comes to mind: the famously anonymous, Banksy. It’s thought he has roots in Bristol and this route takes in one of his local artworks, which you’ll see as you cross the bridge over Frogmore Street. You’ll also pass several art galleries, museums and architectural features.  

While the nature of street art is that it can evolve and disappear quite quickly, Bristol is a hub of creative and artistic communities, so you are sure to spot other street art examples on this short city walk too. 

Bristol: A Tourist’s View of the CIty 

 

2. Manchester 

With a bustling cultural quarter and permanent installations placed high on the skyline, this northern city route offers a tour of the Northern Quarter, taking in live craft workshops and plenty of interesting features. The Bee is the symbol frequently associated with Manchester, and is widely used in street art, murals and signs around the city. Combining this route with this brilliant street art map, will help you discover the latest creations alongside finding out more about the artists behind them.   

Manchester: Piccadilly and the Northern Quarter 

 

3. London 

It’s no surprise that the UK’s capital city and surrounding boroughs are home to a huge amount of street art including works by ATM, Dreph and Dale Grimshaw. This South Bank route takes you through one of London’s designated graffiti areas, meaning that aspiring and professional artists alike can try their hand at creating a street masterpiece. 

Leake Street, also known as the "Banksy Tunnel" or "Graffiti Tunnel", is about 300 metres long and runs off York Road and under the platforms and tracks of Waterloo station. The walls are decorated with graffiti initially created during the "Cans Festival" organised by Banksy in 2008. 

London: Tunnels, wheels and mosaics on the South Bank (NWM)

 

4. Brighton  

With a reputation for a vibrant city arts culture and creative festivals, Brighton is home to large permanent and transient street art displays. This walk takes in the old and the new, including architecture, the cultural quarter and ends with the impressive Prince Albert Mural, which was painted by artists Sinna One and Req on the wall of the Prince Albert Pub facing Frederick Place. It was originally painted in 2013 and was replaced with an updated version in 2017. The mural consists of deceased pop icons (plus Oliver Reed and John Peel) against a multicoloured background. 

While we’ve collated some of our best street art routes for you to explore, there’s plenty more out there to discover! In fact, street art is such a broad description that you could have fun finding your own favourite forms of it too – such as the ‘yarn-bombing’ knitted tops on post boxes or painted stones left in public parks.  

Brighton: Sightseeing Brighton’s vibrant city centre 

 

Don’t forget to share your favourite street art routes with us on social media too.