Your TL;DR Guide to Visiting Leake Street Arches
TL;DR: Located adjacent to Waterloo Station, Leake Street is a graffiti-covered tunnel where anyone is welcome to add their own artwork (yes – it is legal!). While the art is the main reason people visit, there are also various dining options and other entertainment nearby. However, some people may find the paint fumes too strong to fully enjoy their time in the tunnel. All in all, you can easily enjoy this free attraction in under an hour.
During my last visit to London, I happened to stumble upon Leake Street during a walk. And I was hooked. Vibrant artwork lined the walls and groups of people strolled around adding their own ideas onto the tunnel. I personally am sensitive to the paint fumes, so I couldn’t stay in the tunnel too long, but I made sure to check-out as much of the art as I could. There were beautiful, thought-provoking pieces covering the tunnel that reflected the diverse backgrounds of the visiting painters. If you’re looking for something unique to see, then you’ll certainly want to add Leake Street onto your must-visit list.
The History Behind Leake Street Arches
It’s not too surprising that this English street art haven is connected to the famous street-artist and activist Banksy. Also known as the Banksy Tunnel, Leake Street Arches was born out of a Banksy-led movement in 2008. This movement, called the Cans Festival, encouraged artists to add their artwork to the tunnel walls as a way of transforming the “darkness” into “beauty.“
Since then, Leake Street Arches has become exactly the oasis Banksy described, where people from all over the world can visit to add their own artwork to the tunnel walls. The tunnel has a unique and wonderfully-funky vibe, and is carefully monitored to ensure everyone is respectful to the art and one another. Curious about the rules? Check out the Leake Street Arches website to learn more.
Where is Leake Street
The Leake Street Arches have several openings near Waterloo Station. If it’s your first time navigating the area, it is easy to get turned around in the tunnels, but don’t fret! It’s much easier to get to the right place once you are above ground. The tunnel itself is only 300 meters in length, so you won’t be venturing too far from your starting point if you do lose your bearings a bit.
Public transit in London is great, and with a convenient location at Waterloo, you should easily be able to make your way to the arches. Just know the tunnel is only open to pedestrian traffic, so cars will need to be parked elsewhere. For more specific transport instructions, check out this guide. You can get into the tunnel from York Road, Waterloo Station Approach Road, Lower Marsh, or find the entrance next to Park Plaza County Hall.
What to Do
Anyone is welcome to add their artwork to the walls, provided you follow a few rules. I saw people of varying ages and backgrounds painting while I meandered around and if I had planned ahead, I would have added something of my own too. The tunnel itself feels very safe – but as I said before, the paint fumes are a bit strong so you may need to limit your time down in the Tunnel.
Aside from painting, you can check out the local pubs connected to the tunnel: Draughts, Mamuska (polish food), and Passyunk Avenue (American Philly-style). If you are looking for something else (for example, you would prefer to avoid bars for whatever reason), you can easily find a Nando’s (connected to Waterloo) and other great eateries in this very tourist-y district.
For the adult crowd, Leake Street also has a few venues that host special events. Check out what’s coming soon here.
Before we end our discussion on this destination, I wanted to address a question I’ve seen pop-up. One of the most common Goggle queries for Leake Street is “Is Leake Street Safe?” – or some variation of that question. While a tunnel covered in graffiti could put some off (as Google search indicates, anyway), honestly it’s a wonderful community-project that encourages self-expression. Personally, I felt very safe here – I think the most dangerous part was the paint fumes…
Leake Street Arches is a vibrant London destination, with a unique and immersive experience. This tunnel opens up the opportunity for creative expression and exploration for guests from all over the world. Whether you’re adding your own artwork or checking out the scene, Leake Street Arches is a must-visit attraction that reflects the artistic spirit of the city. Let me know if you had the chance to visit Leake Street!
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