Banksy’s Street Art in Bristol

Bristol Street Art

Banksy Locations Bristol | Banksy Art Bristol | Banksy Work in Bristol

You do not have to walk far in Bristol to discover cutting-edge pieces of graffiti art decorating the walls. Along narrow alleys, down side streets, across building walls, and boldly displayed on bridges. Many of the pieces are by world-famous artist Banksy, who hails from Bristol.

Stay close to some of the most famous Banksy artworks by booking your stay at Future Inn Bristol.. Perfect for street art lovers, couples, families, and groups, the hotel offers spacious bedrooms with large Canadian-style beds, free Wi-Fi, and tea and coffee facilities.

Guests also benefit from free parking in Bristol city centre, making it easy to explore the many Banksy street art locations. Plus, with an on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Future Inn Bristol is the perfect base for discovering Bristol’s vibrant street art scene, including famous Banksy pieces and hidden murals tucked away in the city’s creative neighbourhoods.

Who is Banksy?

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Born in Bristol in 1974, Banksy was involved in the wave of street art that took Bristol by storm in the 1980s. Throughout the following decades, his work has cropped up in London, LA, and New York, and, of course, in his hometown of Bristol. In 2009, Banksy held a spectacular homecoming.  Under strict confidentiality, he overtook Bristol Museum and Art Gallery for an exhibition that drew crowds queuing for hours for a glimpse of his work.

Before Banksy became a world-famous artist, he was just another Bristolian on the streets with a can of spray paint in his hands. Some of his earliest works are hidden around the city, and spotting them makes for a great self-guided walking tour. Many of the pieces are controversial, and Banksy is well-known for spotlighting social issues and difficult subjects.

Banksy’s street art to look out for

One of the darker paintings is near the M-Shed Museum and harbourside, of The Grim Reaper. The white hooded figure is rowing a boat displayed outside the Bristol Life Gallery. It used to be on the side of a former cargo ship known as the Thekla, which was moored in the harbour.  It was too exposed to the elements and was deteriorating rapidly. It is now on a long-term loan to M-Shed, where you can also see Banksy’s Tesco Value Petrol Bomb poster on display in the Bristol People Gallery. 

Passing Brunel's SS Great Britain, Aardman headquarters and looking over to see the coloured houses of Cliftonwood, is the newest of Banky's Bristol works.  The Girl with the Pierced Eardrum first appeared on the side of a building in Albion Docks in Hanover Place, in Bristol's Harbourside, in October 2014. You can find it near Bristol Marina, look out for the clock tower.

Another famous piece is the artwork Well Hung Lover, a naked man hanging from a window. It is actually on the side of a sexual health clinic on Frogmore Street. The best views are from the bridge at the bottom of Park Street, which crosses Frogmore. At the top of Park Street, in the foyer of the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, is Banksy’s sculpture called Angel Bust, a statue of an angel with a paint pot on her head.

Stokes Croft, the heart of Bristol’s cultural quarter, is where you'll find plenty of trendy clothes shops, record stores and quirky boutiques.  Banksy's painting Mild Mild West is located next to the creative hub The Canteen. The whole area resembles an outdoor gallery with colourful graffiti that transforms the walls and buildings.

Slightly further out of the centre, in Easton, where Banksy used to live, are some of his oldest works, and so it is a mecca for enthusiasts. Cat and Dog - an early Banksy painting of a graffiti-spraying cat, being approached by two threatening dogs - is located on Foster Street, on a wall covered in fantastic street art by many different artists.

Again in Easton, along Fishponds Road, you will find his hugely popular Gorilla in a Pink Mask on a wall of the former North Bristol Social Club. It was mistakenly painted over in 2011, then partially restored and now appears as a ghostly figure looming out of the mist. 

Follow the Banksy Bristol Trail

You can also download the fantastic Banksy Bristol Trail smartphone app (iPhone and Android versions available), featuring an interactive map which guides you to each of Banksy's remaining pieces in Bristol. It is also packed with in-depth features on Banksy, his work and his formative years in Bristol - a must for those who want to delve a little deeper.

Banksy Walking Tour

A Banksy walking tour in Bristol is a great way to discover the city’s famous street art and learn more about the mysterious artist behind it. The self-guided trail takes visitors to several well-known Banksy works across the city, including iconic murals and early pieces hidden in side streets. Along the route, you can explore areas such as Stokes Croft, Park Street and the harbourside, while learning about Banksy’s story, his influence on the local art scene and the wider world of Bristol street art.