Street Art In Brick Lane: A Self-guided Walking Tour (2025 Update)

Whenever I travel, I make a beeline for urban art, from the street art in Malaga to Penang’s world-famous murals. So I count myself lucky that I don’t have to travel too far from my home in London to indulge this interest.

The street art in Brick Lane and Shoreditch in London’s East End is among the best in the world. Building walls, hoardings, doors and shop shutters provide the canvas for the world’s most celebrated street artists.

These creations assume many forms, from massive murals to small stickers and you can see most of it in a few hours on a walking tour. I’ve joined a guided tour and pop down there regularly to check out the new arrivals and I’m excited to share my favourite places and pieces of art.

man walking by London scene painted on a wall of a red bus and cars reflected in a city street at night

IN THIS ARTICLE

How to Explore Street Art in Brick Lane & Shoreditch

East London is so rich in street art, it can be difficult to know where to start. Although you will see awesome urban art by simply wandering its streets, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on the good stuff.

I recommend using a walking tour as a framework to hang your visit.

My recommended guided tour is this one operated by London With A Local. James, our guide, was excellent, brimming with enthusiasm and knowledge. I learned a lot about London street art from him.

These tours work on a tip basis and you pay what you think it is worth. I handed over £20 but anything from £5 to £25 is good.

group of people on a london street art walking tour gathered in front of murals and graffiti in shoreditch — Our walking tour group. Photo credit @James from London With a Local.

A self-guided walking tour is an excellent option if you want complete flexibility when you visit Brick Lane and Shoreditch and want to go at your own pace. It is also free.

My Shoreditch and Brick Lane Street Art Self-Guided Walking Tour

My self-guided walking tour focuses on famous artworks that have become permanent fixtures on London’s urban art landscape, and streets that are artistic hotspots. As the artworks are ever-changing, I can’t promise you’ll find all the art featured here when you visit. Hoardings are torn down, buildings are developed, artists come and artists go.

When I updated this guide in 2025, many of the artworks I had loved in 2018 had gone. But I had huge fun making exciting new finds.

But where you find great street art doesn’t change. This is why I have focused largely on streets rather than individual artworks (with notable exceptions).

This London street art walking tour starts at Old Street station and finishes on Fashion Street, near Aldgate East station and covers a distance of 1.5 miles. For help with getting around London, head to the Transport for London website.

For step-by-step directions and to send the map to your phone, click here or on the image itself.

map-of-brick-lane-street-art-walking-tour — *Brick Lane street art walking tour (click on image for interactive map) Map Data @ Google 2024*

Rivington Street

From Old Street station, take the Cowper Street exit and walk along Old Street towards Shoreditch. Then turn right onto Great Eastern Street and left into Rivington Street.

I love Dan Kitchener‘s vibrant city street scenes and there’s a wonderful example in one of the doorways.

vibrant painting of person walking along a city street at night in rain carrying an umbrella

But most people come to Rivington Street to see the work by Banksy, the world’s most famous street artist. Known as Guard Dog, it depicts a policeman and poodle patrolling the designated street art area.

brick lane banksy — Work by Banksy in London’s East End

Holywell Lane

At the end of Rivington Street, turn right onto Curtain Street, left onto Great Eastern Street and then left again onto Holywell Lane.

Graffiti and street art are constantly evolving, with artists painting over the work of their peers. Some works exist for a matter of weeks; others become semi-permanent fixtures.

I loved this work by David Speed, which falls into the second category. This local artist is famous for his neon signature style.

street art of a smiling gentleman wearing a hat and bow tie

King John’s Court & New Inn Yard

You can view Connectivity Matters from King John’s Court and New Inn Yard (opposite the Amnesty International Office). Created by sixteen artists from across the world in 2018, it is the world’s largest mural,

brightly coloured abstract wall mural — Hunto and Mr Thoms

wall mural of a woman — Tizer and Captain Kris

wall mural of a candle and still life with flowers — Oliver Switch and BUSK

wall mural of two hands clasped together — Best Ever

If you are a fan of the Bard of Avon, you’re in for a treat. Shakespeare lived in Shoreditch and built his first theatre – simply called “The Theatre” – here. This was where Romeo & Juliet was performed for the first time.

bronze statue of william shakespeare sitting on a bench

At the end of New Inn Yard, there’s a free wall. This is where artists can express themselves without prior consent, without the threat of conviction. Slightly scruffy areas like this can be an artistic treasure trove.

wall mural of kurt cobain wearing a leopardskin coat and sunglasses — Kurt Cobain by Martin Barrantes

Redchurch Street

Cross the busy main road and walk down Redchurch Street, past another wonderful pink-neon David Speed mural.

pink and black mural of a man's face — By David Speed

Whitby Street

Turn right into Whitby Street. One of London’s best-loved pieces of street art is at the end of this street.

The Lady of Whitby was created by Jimmy C using his signature dot and drip effect (a bit like pointillism). I love the ambiguity of this portrait. Is she hopeful or wistful?

mural of a lady surrounded by coloured bubbles

Sclater Street

When you reach the end of Whitby Street, turn right and immediately left into Sclater Street. Brick Lane is at the end of Scalter St.

a wall with graffiti and street art and union jack flags

Around Brick Lane

Once rubbish-strewn and rodent-infested, today’s Brick Lane is booming with chic cafes, curry houses, vintage clothes shops and cutting-edge art galleries. It is one of London’s most famous streets and the epicentre of the city’s urban art scene.

Although there are a few cracking pieces of street art along Brick Lane itself, most of the area’s artistic treasures are on its side streets.

If you are feeling peckish, take a slight detour by turning left on Brick Lane to reach the 24-hour bagel shops at this end of the street (my favourite is Beigel Bake). These are a testament to the once-thriving Jewish community established here in the late 19th Century and sell you one of the cheapest lunches in London.

Otherwise, turn right and walk along Brick Lane until you reach a 2024 Banksy, three monkeys hanging on the side of a railway bridge.

Walk back along Brick Lane for three or four minutes and then turn left into Grimsby Street, home to Screamers by Stik. Using his signature stick people – each urban artist has their “thing” – it depicts a slanging match in the street.

wall painting of 2 shouting figures on either side of a dorrway — Screamers by Stik

wall mural of 2 groesque alien heads — By Scrapyardspec

wall mural of a pink and green elephant — By Cannesto

Double back to Brick Lane and continue until you reach Hanbury Street on your left. Once associated with the murders of Jack the Ripper, this is now one of the top spots for street art in Brick Lane.

The well-known large Pelican mural by ROA has been there since 2010.

wall mural of a pelican — Pelican by ROA

Although I was disappointed to see that the painting of a man setting light to his hair by Senor X is no longer there, this work by the Brazilian artist Cranio made up for its loss.

street art painting of cartoon character blowing a pipe — By Cranio

Continuing Brick Lane, you can’t miss the massive mural of Audrey Hepburn covering the facade of a brick building above the Brick Lane Brasserie. She was painted by the London-based French artist, Zabou, in 2020 and clutches a hybrid variety of white tulips named after her.

front of a brick building covered in a mural of audrey hepburb — By Zabou

Princelet Street is your next street on the left. At number 28, there’s a painting of a couple holding hands. This was painted in 2010 by Stik who specialises in stick figures.

painting on a doorway of 2 stick figures holding hands — *A Couple Holding Hands in the Street* by Stik

When you are finished in Princelet Street, continue along Brick Lane and you will reach an alleyway on your right-hand side that will take you into the Seven Stars yard. This is one of the top locations for street art in Brick Lane, attracting the best artists and a high turnover of content. It’s a riot of colour and styles.

a wooden hoarding completely covered with street art and graffiti in brick lane london

black and white wall mural of woman holding a machine gun

wall mural of a beast with long har and beard and red eyes

Continue along Brick Lane until you reach Fashion Street on your right-hand side. Once home to some of London’s worst slums, this road connects Brick Lane and Commercial Street.

brick-lane-street-art-by-dreph of woman wearing brightly coloured african necklace — By Dreph

painting of a man holding a small child — By Jimmy C

This marks the end of your Brick Lane street art walking tour. At the end of Fashion Street, turn left and continue along Commercial Street until you reach Aldgate East station.

And that’s a wrap!

Finally, don’t be afraid to go off-piste. Dive down some of the surrounding streets and keep your eyes peeled for hidden gems.

These places and pieces of art that I have mentioned aren’t the only kids on the block. And chances are when you do your street art tour, some of them will no longer be there.

If you’ve enjoyed this guide, check out my Camden Town street art tour. And did you know that exploring urban art is one of the fun things to do in Walthamstow?

Above all, have fun and share your discoveries in the comments below.

P.S. If you’ve enjoyed this Brick Lane street art guide, pin it for later!