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On our radar: 10 best street art in Central London to check out

mural on mortimer
Visiting Fitzrovia

Central London isn’t just about grand architecture and famous landmarks – it’s also home to a growing street art scene that adds colour, wit, and personality to the city’s everyday spaces. Walk around Fitzrovia, Soho, Covent Garden or Camden and you’ll spot murals, sculptures and unexpected details that make you stop in your tracks.

Some pieces are bold and impossible to miss, while others are tucked away like secrets waiting to be discovered. Together they show a different side of London: creative, playful, and constantly changing. If you’re curious about what to look out for, here are ten highlights that should be on your radar.

Mural on Mortimer (Fitzrovia)

Brightening up Fitzrovia’s Mortimer Street, this large-scale mural has become a focal point for art in Central London. It’s not just decorative – it’s a statement piece that connects with the area’s identity and creative energy. Once you’re giving Fitzrovia a visit, don’t forget this in your Fitzrovia itinerary!

  •   ★  Location: 63–65 Mortimer Street, Fitzrovia (This building is ready for letting. The detail can be found in the attached link).
  •   ★  The artist: The most recent commission was created by Oliwia Bober, selected through an open call as part of the London Festival of Architecture 2025.
  •   ★  Background: The wall is curated by the Langham Estate, which has been using it to support public art and give emerging talent a highly visible platform
  •   ★  Extra info: You can read more about the project and its ongoing commissions on the Langham Estate website
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Hawley Street Art

Camden’s Hawley Street (and the tucked-away Hawley Mews) offers more than just a passage – it’s a vibrant open-air gallery full of colour, character, and storytelling. With every step, you encounter a fresh burst of creativity.

Location: Hawley Street and Hawley Mews, just off Chalk Farm Road, near Camden Town
The artists you’ll spot:

  •   ★  Otto Schade (aka Osch), whose signature ribbon-style imagery often includes his portrait of Amy Winehouse, a now-iconic fixture in Camden
  •   ★  Fanakapan, known for hyper-realistic “balloon graffiti” that looks three-dimensional
  •   ★  Irony, who creates large-scale, photo-realistic portraits in sweeping freestyle strokes
  •   ★  (Bonus names: contributors like Damitta and Aspire Artwork with their own standout styles)

What it looks like: A mix of styles coexists: hyper-realism, playful ribbons that twist into figures, photorealistic faces that seem to stare back, and surreal pop culture twists.

Art in Braithwaite street

Braithwaite Street sits at the edge of Shoreditch, right by Shoreditch High Street Overground station, and is one of the most photographed stretches of street art in London. Though just outside the boundary of Central London, it’s close enough to pull in visitors who are exploring Liverpool Street or Spitalfields. The walls here act like a living canvas — constantly refreshed, layered, and renewed.

Location: Braithwaite Street, Shoreditch (adjacent to the Overground station and within walking distance of Liverpool Street)

The artists: The street has hosted works by internationally recognised names like ROA, Stik, Shepard Fairey, and C215, alongside emerging local artists who regularly add to the mix.

Why it matters: Braithwaite Street is an unofficial open gallery — it changes so often that returning visitors always see something new.

Luke Gray Art

Luke Gray is a British muralist and illustrator whose work stands out for its surreal, dreamlike quality. While many street artists favour bold, urban edges, Gray’s art draws on influences from Asian patterns, surrealism, and intricate linework.

Location: Exhibition Road, South Kensington, Central London, painted live during the Great Exhibition Road Festival on 7–8 June 2025. After the festival, Luke Gray’s piece  was installed on permanent display at Imperial College London’s White City Campus, adjacent to Perkin’s Green

What it looks like: The mural, “Cellular Siege,” visualises the microscopic battles plants wage against fungal invaders – bringing to life Tarhan Ibrahim’s scientific research on strengthening plant resistance.

This work is available for longer display at Imperial’s White City Campus through mid-September 2025.

 

Great Eastern Art Wall

One of the largest canvases in Central London, the Great Eastern Art Wall has become a showcase for ambitious, large-scale murals. Stretching along Great Eastern Street near Old Street Roundabout, the wall has hosted striking artworks by some of the most respected names in the urban art world.

Location: Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch/Clerkenwell border, a short walk from Old Street station.

The artists: The wall has featured commissions by international stars such as Stik, Shepard Fairey, and Ben Eine, as well as rotating works by newer artists who use the wall as a testing ground for big ideas.

Insider tip: Because works are repainted over time, it’s worth checking in on the wall every few months. If you’re exploring Old Street or heading toward Shoreditch, make it a stop on your walk.

Ear Sculptures - Covent Garden

Hidden around Covent Garden are a series of sculpted human ears attached to walls, created by artist Tim Fishlock in the early 2000s. They’re easy to miss, but once you spot one, you’ll start looking for more.

Location: Scattered on Covent Garden Street, often near building entrances. This works perfect if you go on a fun hunt with your friends in Central London.

The artist: Tim Fishlock, a London-based sculptor and designer.

What to look for: Small, realistic plaster ears fixed at about head height.

Why it matters: These subtle works play with the idea of “the city listening” – a playful twist compared to the bold murals London is known for.

Seven Noses - Soho

If Covent Garden has its hidden ears, Soho has its hidden noses. In the 1990s, artist Rick Buckley secretly installed plaster casts of his own nose onto buildings around the neighbourhood as a protest against surveillance cameras.

Location: Scattered across these streets:

1. Great Windmill St & Shaftesbury Ave
2. Meard St – Keep your eyes high.
3. Bateman St – Watch out the doors.
4. Dean St – There are two  noses here.
5. Endell St.

If you want to go on an adventure hunt for grown-ups in Soho, this could be a fun activity for your friends group.

The artist: Rick Buckley, British sculptor.

What to look for: Small, life-like noses in plaster, often blending into the brickwork until you notice them.

Why it matters: They’ve become a quirky urban legend — locals say if you find all seven, good fortune will follow.

 

 

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Leake Street Arches (“Banksy Tunnel”)

Tucked beneath Waterloo Station is London’s most famous graffiti spot: Leake Street Arches, often called the “Banksy Tunnel.” Originally brought into the spotlight by Banksy’s 2008 Cans Festival, it has since become a legal graffiti zone where anyone can paint.

Location: Leake Street, under Waterloo Station (accessible via York Road or Lower Marsh).

The artists: Open to all — from first-timers with spray cans to established street art names. Banksy’s involvement gave it international fame, but today it’s a community canvas.

Essential info:

  • ●  A 300-metre tunnel with walls, ceilings, and even the floor covered in bright tags, stencils, and murals.
  • ●  It’s one of the few legal graffiti spaces in London, offering freedom for creativity without risk of removal.
  • ●  Best visited during the day for light, though evenings give the tunnel an atmospheric glow under neon and lamplight

 

Some famous figures’ memorial tributes to visit

Amy Winehouse’s tribute – Camden: Camden’s most beloved voice is remembered with murals that celebrate her talent and spirit. Otto Schade’s ribbon-style portrait is particularly iconic, and fans often leave flowers at the site.

David Bowie – Brixton: The mural of Bowie as Aladdin Sane by artist Jimmy C is one of the most visited street artworks in London. It’s a place where fans still gather, especially on his birthday or anniversary of his passing.

Princess Diana – Camden Road: A softer, more delicate portrait that captures her enduring place in London’s history.