London Long Weekend: The Graffiti Tunnel

The weather was rather cooperative, and so I remained outdoors for this day. And somehow, I stumbled upon the Graffiti Tunnel, near Waterloo Station.

The Graffiti Tunnel is also known as the Leake Street Arches, and is London’s largest legal graffiti space and a major hub for urban culture. Originally a dark access road for the Eurostar terminal, it was transformed in 2008 when the renowned street artist Banksy organized the "Cans Festival" there. Today, it serves as a 300-meter "gallery of the streets" where artists from around the world are free to paint legally. And yes, when I visited, there were some people painting. I suppose what I saw during this day is not there anymore, and someone else might have painted something over it.

I lingered here for a bit, as while the paintings were fascinating, the smell was a little bit overwhelming. It is the smell of paint after all, that permeates the atmosphere. So I went through this tunnel, admiring the art, but also with my hands over my nose.