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Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)
Bristol is synonymous with vibrant street art. We aren’t talking graffiti daubs here – hundreds of beautiful and thought-provoking illustrations are painted on walls throughout the city, and what’s on display is ever-changing. From Stokes Croft to Montpelier to Bedminster, the walls tell stories of the history and culture of the city.
Bristol’s most notorious export is the elusive graffiti artist known only as Banksy. His work has been lauded as the beginning of a revival of ‘intelligent graffiti’, and his anti-establishment cartoons and slogans have popped up all over Bristol and the world.
Bristol is also home to an annual celebration of all things graffiti when the (free) Upfest Festival of Street Art takes place for two weeks each summer. Painting demos, live music and food stalls crowd together along North Street in Bedminster, bringing together international artists. Most of the artwork is here for a good time, not a long time, and there’s always something fresh to see every time you visit.
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Destination Guide >The largest selections of art are to be found in the city centre and the neighbourhoods of Stokes Croft, Montpelier and Bedminster. Seek them out on your own with help from Visit Bristol’s Street Art Map, or download the Banksy Bristol Trail app for a Banksy-specific art-spotting adventure. Or cheat and visit them from home on Google Street View.
Alternatively, join a guided walking tour – Where the Wall, Graft and Upfest all offer regular walking tours of different neighbourhoods, a great way to learn more about Bristol’s creative underbelly.
The glory of Bristol’s street art scene is that it’s free and open to everyone, but a tour of the artworks is definitely best enjoyed on a clear dry day. You can easily go walking or cycling around the artworks alone, but a guided tour makes it easier to find the most tucked-away gems.
The Upfest Festival of Street Art is usually held over two weeks in August.
Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)
An annual celebration of all things graffiti, Upfest takes place for two weeks each summer, transforming the neighbourhood of Bedminster and bringing together international artists.
Best for ages: 10+ | Free | 2 weeks
Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)
Bristol’s best and longest-running urban art gallery, with regular exhibitions from the UK’s top graffiti and street artists and a wide range of contemporary, urban and illustrative artworks to buy.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)
Surely the best room with a view in Bristol? The Hotel du Vin Avon Gorge offers rockstar-worthy suites in exclusive Clifton Village.
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Bristol , United Kingdom (UK)
Glamorous country house vibes just six miles from Bristol and with 18 acres of grounds to explore.
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Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)
A contemporary boutique guesthouse in the heart of Bristol with the added quirk of four Retro Rocket airstream caravans on the roof.
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Bristol, United Kingdom (UK)
A stylish boutique hotel set in a gorgeous old bank heritage building, ideally located in the best part of the city. There’s a fine seafood restaurant, and a luxury spa housed in the former bank vaults.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
United Kingdom (UK)
Bristol is the beating heart of the UK’s South West, with an offbeat focus on culture and the arts plus interactive history, a cutting-edge independent food scene and street eats all on offer.
