IN YOUR FACE ART | Sharon Henry
Graffiti in Bristol, Stokes Croft makes walking the neighbourhood feel like a visit to a street art gallery. Love it or hate it, there’s no more in your face art than street art and it’s great for anyone seeking free things to do in Bristol.
We were blown away by the work of spray paint artists from around the world who left their mark on Stokes Croft, Bristol.
Bristol graffiti is renowned and the city is labelled as the street art capital of the UK. It’s famous for Banksy the graffiti artist (he cut his teeth here) and for Bristol graffiti festival ‘Upfest,’ one of Europe’s largest. Actually, Banksy is considered the best graffiti artist in the world, the most famous for sure (and we know his uncle!)
Bristol Street Art – Free Admission
Art graffiti has transformed the urban landscape of cities the world over into informal art galleries; walls, buildings and alleyways are the canvas for striking works of art. In that regard it’s similar to the old time painted adverts.
We can wander for ages admiring different graffiti art styles especially the stencil and mural types. Graffiti wall art splashes colour and breathes life into their environment. They make you think, smile and most of all, marvel at the skills required to create them. Bristol street art is no exception. It’s certainly one of the fun things to do in Bristol.
We’ve already gushed about street art we stumbled upon in Toronto.

Graffiti in Bristol Stokes Croft – this is a unique way to have a farm house in the city.

Graffiti Bristol. When the street art is so good it’s hard not to ignore the sage advice of not wandering down alleyways!
Graffiti In Bristol Gets Jesus Breakdancing
Stokes Croft is trendy and gritty. Its streets have the Banksy graffiti art of the Mild Mild West, there’s a breakdancing Jesus, boycott Tesco appeal and a hillside of farm animals.
We did a self-guided graffiti tour and took a route from Nine Tree Hill to Cheltenham Street through to the Bear Pit in the centre of St James Barton roundabout. Snapping graffiti pictures along the way.
Graffiti art may be controversial, but it’s possibly THE most accessible form of public art. There’s no admission fee or closing hours, making the list for things to do in Bristol today and every day. In this respect, street artists’ contribution to society is priceless.
Here is our collection of photos of graffiti in Bristol, Stokes Croft. We hope you enjoy the artistry of the ‘exhibits’.

Things to do in Bristol for free – street art tour.

Stokes Croft graffiti. This large mural was painted by Brazilian artist Stinkfish.

Graffiti in Bristol. This ‘Boycott Tesco’ mural was part of a local campaign to stop Tesco opening a branch in Stokes Croft.

One of the best things in Bristol is the street art. This is inside the Bear Pit Bristol.

Banksy graffiti in Bristol. The Mild Mild West Banksy original was painted in response to riot police attacking partygoers at unlicensed raves in the 90s. A teddy bear is armed with a Molotov cocktail aimed at riot police.

Bristol graffiti tour around the Stokes Croft #community.

Bristol graffiti artists using bricks instead of a huge building mural. Just as cool.

Stokes Croft, Bristol. Mind Full or Mindful? Hmm… Each brick displays individual expression.

Things to see in Bristol – urban street art scene. The People’s Republic of Stokes Croft headquarters.

Cool graffiti art of birds on a wire, what’s real and what’s paint?

Graffiti art stencil used to paint a life-sized cat.

Blue Mountain nightclub at 2 Stokes Croft Bristol.

Breakdancing Jesus by artist Cosmo Sarson. Commissioned work by The Canteen diner. A kilo of gold glitter was used on this 28ft high mural.

Bristol street art at Stokes Croft. A memorial for ‘Bob RIP 2014’.

Things to do in Bristol – see the city’s graffiti wall art exhibition.

Bristol graffiti down inside the Bear Pit. Notice the Bear Statue in the background.
Love it ! I feel inspired to go wild in St James Place 🙂
Make sure to practice on some cardboard first before you take the spray cans out! 🙂