Leake Street Arches
2019
“Imagine a city where graffiti wasn’t illegal, a city where everybody could draw whatever they liked. Where every street was awash with a million colours and little phrases. Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that felt like a party where everyone was invited, not just the estate agents and barons of business. Imagine a city like that and stop leaning against the wall…it’s wet.”
- Banksy - Wall and Piece
Leake Street Arches is a new find for me and one of London’s hidden gems for any art lover. As the city’s largest legal street art area, it’s been showcasing incredible creations for years, including some original work by Banksy. It has now become one of the most famous street art spots after Banksy hosted the Cans Festival in 2008, where 30 artists turned the tunnel into an ever-changing art gallery. The tunnel is now professionally lit, making it easier than ever for visitors to appreciate the art work and it has now been tagged in over 4,000 photographs on Instagram.
NEAL’S YARD
2019
“There's a reason we don't see the world in black and white.”
- Celerie Kemble
Neal’s Yard is located in the heart of Seven Dials in Covent Garden and is named after British entrepreneur, project-manager and politician Thomas Neale. With a rainbow of colours visible in signs, windows, restaurants and shop fronts, Neal’s Yard is one of the most colourful spots in London and is a vast contrast to the grey of the numerous skyscrapers in the city. The courtyard is also incredibly popular among both photographers and visitors, with close to 130,000 images being tagged with #nealsyard on Instagram.