In Pictures: Must-See Graffiti In London's Shoreditch

Shoreditch was traditionally an industrial hub populated by members of London’s working class. Recent years, however, have seen gentrification change the face of the area and the ‘Silicon Roundabout’ has developed as tech companies and creative industries have established themselves near the Old Street Roundabout.

Creativity has not been limited to the offices – walls, doors and entire buildings have been decked with stunning street art.

It all contributes generously to Shoreditch’s characteristic edge.

Statement art is a common feature in many of the murals.

It’s not unusual for people to interpret professional street art as a starting point and add their own elements to it. While this can detract from the murals in many cases…

…others are artistic in their own right and serve to enhance the original to the point where it is hard to tell which came first.

Multiculturalism is a big part of what Shoreditch and its cosmopolitan population stands for and this is reflected in many of the murals around the area.

Animals are a popular feature that can be found all over the place.

A few streets have become graffiti corridors through London’s East End.

Some of the artwork is quite patriotic…

…Her Majesty even makes an appearance…

…while other pieces are more political subtle.

But plenty are playful, too.

Some of the most incredible murals cover entire buildings.

It’s safe to say there has been a huge spike in the area’s creative output over the last decade or two.

Geometry might not have been everybody’s favourite in school, but with the right artistic application it can be pretty impressive.

Many of the murals have strong fantastical influences…

…while others are more grounded in the real world.

There are some pretty bold social statements around, too.

Artistic poetry also makes an appearance.

Some walls have inspired so much interaction that they probably put most hotel guest books and office birthday cards to shame.

Others are just awesome, plain and and simple.

Beauty is a recurring theme.

Whoever said monkey business can’t be constructive?

Junkyards don’t have to be boring. While many tyres are forced to retire after years of use, these lucky few have found a new purpose.

It’s now commonplace for companies to commission murals to make their businesses stand out. With so much creative competition around, this can be a tricky task.

A few tubs of paint and a decent artist can do more for a building than some architects ever could.

And some of the art is just straight up edgy.

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About the author

Ruaidhrí Carroll

London Travel Writer

Born to an Irish family, Ruaidhrí grew up in West London before moving to the East End to study history and politics at Queen Mary, University of London. He first joined Culture Trip as an intern, after gaining work experience at The Times, and soon took up the mantle of London Travel Writer. After a lifetime of committed research, it's safe to say Ruaidhrí knows the capital pretty well, but if you know about something cool, quirky or interesting going on, he wants to hear about it @RuaidhriCarroll