Banksy Street Art Trail
Roughly 3km if walked as a loop from the city centre through Stokes Croft and back ·
About
A free, self-guided walk through the real, weathered street art Bristol is known for, not a gallery version of it. The anchor piece is the Mild Mild West on Cheltenham Road in Stokes Croft, a teddy bear lobbing a Molotov cocktail at riot police, painted in 1999 and still one of Banksy's most durable outdoor works. Stokes Croft around it carries a constantly changing density of murals from other artists, since the district treats street art as a living scene rather than a museum piece. Not every well-known Banksy survives in its original spot: the Grim Reaper has moved indoors to M Shed for preservation, and other pieces have been removed, sold or painted over over the years, so treat any specific location as subject to change and check current status before planning a route around one piece alone.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓The Mild Mild West on Cheltenham Road, Stokes Croft, Banksy's teddy bear piece from 1999
- ✓Stokes Croft's wider, constantly changing mural scene
- ✓Banksy's Grim Reaper, now preserved indoors at M Shed
- ✓Free and completely self-paced
Tips
- →Bristol's often-grey light suits photographing street art evenly; do not wait for full sun.
- →Pieces can be removed, sold or painted over without notice; check current status before a special trip for one specific work.
- →Combine with a stop at Poco Tapas Bar or one of Stokes Croft's other independents.
- →M Shed's indoor Grim Reaper is a good wet-weather add-on to an outdoor walk.