Oh, what a place…Oh, what a city. For me, there’s no place in Blighty quite like Bristol. It’s unique. It has vibes of Kreuzberg in Berlin, Shoreditch in London and a real mix of culture from all over the shop. The architecture is c’est magnifique and the view from Clifton Suspension bridge is breathtaking. Street art is literally everywhere and gives the city a real identity. After a few years away it was good to be back…
Bristol is a street art Mecca and a homage there is a must for anyone into the urban graffiti scene. Areas like Stokes Croft and Bedminster are home to some incredible pieces, while Bedminster is also the host of Europe’s largest street art festival Upfest. It’s worth visiting just for that. I went a few years ago and it was mega.
It’s also home to the one and only Banksy making it a birthplace of urban culture and guerilla street art.
It’s a playground for street artists from all over the world and many of the big boys have work dotted around the city including the likes of: MR CENZ, PHLEGM, STIK, SWEET TOOF, FANAKAPAN, IRONY, EL MAC, GREGOS, NICK WALKER, PIXEL PANCHO, ARYZ, STINKFISH and many more!
One of my first missions back in Bristol was to see what Banksy pieces were still knocking around, and if there was any I haven’t seen previously. Sadly some of his most recent pieces have been and gone, including the ‘Valentine’s Day’ mural and the ‘Aachoo’ piece – the latter which appeared in the midst of the pandemic and has already been sold.
Before we go on, let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty of Clifton Suspension Bridge:
Okay, so starting with Banksy, here’s some of the pieces you can still find in the city centre. There’s still a number of Banksy pieces around in 2022, however I’m only going to showcase what I saw in my short weekend there, and these were all located nice and central.
For all the Banksy’s still in Bristol visit this guide.
1. Well Hung Lover (Park Street, BS1 5HH)
This piece has been in Bristol since way back in 2006 and is still hanging in there today (mind the pun). It’s had some attempts at sabotage over the years but it’s still near perfect. It’s a fine example of Banksy’s work (and one of my favourites) and a must-see. It’s also one of the easier ones to find in the city as it’s right by the Harbourside and up a main shopping street.
2. You Don’t Need Planning Permission (99 Lower Lamb St, BS1 5TL)
Sticking around Park St and located near the Cathedral is the ‘you don’t need planning permission to build sandcastles in the sky‘ piece. This Banksy is actually on the side of Bristol Library which you can access via an alleyway behind College Green. The work dates back to 2011 and originally used two air vents on the wall along with the stencilled quote to make it look somewhat like a smiley face :). That said, in that time the side of the building has had a face lift so it’s no longer the original wall and a door was added to the exterior, and one of the vents was also removed – which has ruined the aesthetic of the piece and it doesn’t look that smiley these days. It is, however, still worth a visit and it’s one I haven’t seen in my numerous visits to Bristol.
3. The Girl with the Pierced Eardrum (Albion Dockside Estate, Hanover Place, BS1 6UT)
Another favourite of mine and located around the Harbourside/ Bristol Marina area is Banksy’s depiction of Vermeer’s famous ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’. Instead of an earring for his piece Banksy used an alarm on the wall. Classic.
Not too sure how much longer this one will be around for, the building it’s on is pretty derelict and there’s new flats going up in the ever-changing area. Try see it before it goes.
4. The Mild Mild West (Stokes Croft, BS1 3QY)
Up in Stokes Croft you can find The Mild Mild West piece which appeared on the side of a building way back in 1999. Proper vintage Banksy this one. It’s still in great condition for its age and is a prime example of the illusive artist’s work and message. This graff was done on the back of riot police attacking ravers at a New Year’s Eve party and showcases Banksy’s fight against the Government.
5. Rose on a Mouse Trap (Thomas North Street, BS2 8LX)
Sticking in Stokes Croft and a few minutes away from The Mild Mild West is the Rose on a Mouse Trap piece, which dates back to the early 2000’s. This is the only Banksy in Bristol with protective covering, which says a lot about the respect for the artist in the city. The locals in the area chipped in and paid to get this work framed, leaving it in pristine condition to this day. Some rebels did try and paint over it, but given it’s covered in plexi the joke was on them.
And there you have it. A nice, cool five Banksy pieces to enjoy in and around Bristol City Centre. As I said, there are more in Bristol, I just didn’t have the bloody time to get to them all.
So without further ado, let’s move on to some of the other incredible street art in the city.
There’s lots of it about (and I mean lots) so the best thing to do is just walk around and enjoy the sights and see what you come across. As with the Banksy’s above, a lot of it is in walking distance from the centre of town, but key areas to note are Stokes Croft and Bedminster.
CITY CENTRE
STOKES CROFT
That brings to an end my short weekend in Bristol and some snaps of the street art scene. If you haven’t been yet then make sure it’s in your travel plans for the year.
As always feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
Peace X
Street Art Everywhere 