In keeping with the London Shoes ethos of lesser know and the more unusual aspects of London – the other day my London Shoes trotted off to the Waterloo Station area of South East London (ie the ‘dark side’) for the specific purpose of visiting a certain location with an interesting visual bit of recent history to it……..namely:- “LEAKE STREET” – London SE2.
Now – in the past ‘graffiti’ was usually viewed as a form of vandalism – but in today’s world, it is very much looked upon as a significant art form – and ‘Leake Street’ plays a big part in glorifying the acceptance of ‘street art’ in London.
The ‘Leake Street-Arches’ (also sometimes referred to the ‘Leake Street-Graffiti Tunnel) – is a 300 metre long road in South East London that runs underneath the Waterloo Station rail lines and platforms.
The road is named after John Leake (1729-1792) who was a doctor of medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons – and who devoted his working life to midwifery – and also created the Westminster Lying-In-Hospital. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.
Way back in the day the Leake Street-Arches were used to store train cargo and railway equipment. In the 1920’s it became a notorious place for legal and illegal drinking dens and places like that.
In recent decades Leake Street was the main roadway leading to the Eurostar Terminal, when it was situated at Waterloo Station.
In 2007 the Eurostar Terminal moved to St. Pancras International after which Leake Street became pedestrianised and was just another dimly lit London alleyway.
In 2008 following significant promotion and raising of awareness, the legendary street artist ‘Banksy’ got involved in transforming Leake Street into a legalised graffiti site where anyone can display their works.
Today, Leake Street attracts visitors and graffiti artists from all over the world – anyone can simply rock-up and paint there – and as a result the walls and ceilings of the Leake Street-Arches are an ever-changing canvass.
The place is a sort of celebration of urban art – it’s a massive London attraction these days – and its always busy and buzzing down at the Arches – no matter what time of day.
As with most examples of street-art, there’s some weird stuff on display down in Leake Street and also some profound statements, which I’m sure mean something to someone. Reading some of this stuff, I couldn’t help thinking of the Simon & Garfunkel song ‘Sound of Silence’ where the Paul Simon lyric says…….”the words of the prophet are written on the subway walls and tenement halls – and whispered in the sound of silence” !!!
The Leake Street-Arches (or Graffiti Tunnel) is definitely worth a visit, should you ever find yourself down by Waterloo Station.
So – having spent an interesting hour or so walking up and down Leake Street, admiring the décor – it was time for a little liquid refreshment travelling back over the east side of London, I found myself in a extremely popular drinking hole – that’s situated within the concourse of Liverpool Street Station…….the ‘Hamilton Hall’ !!!!
Hamilton Hall is a Wetherspoons pub located within the structure of what was once the Grand Ballroom of the Great Eastern Hotel.
The pub is named after Lord Claude Hamilton (1893-1923) once chairman of the Great Eastern Railway Co. which built Liverpool Street Station in 1874.
The ornate features on its walls and ceilings of this Grade II Listed building, are the original designs.
The pub is frequented by all types of customer – rail travellers / office workers / tourists / passers-by / folk nipping in for a swift half on the way home from work / folk nipping in for a swift half on the way to work (it opens at 7am).
I used to pop in there quite regularly for a swift half on my way home from work, when I worked up in the City during the early 2000’s – and I remember it quite often used to get a bit lively and sometimes naughty when football supporters, especially travelling away fans would congregate there for a few pre-match beers.
Anyway – hope you enjoyed this summary of London Shoes little jaunt out down to the Leake Street-Arches – and hope my photos help bring this story to life a bit for you.
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See below is the entire gallery of photos taken to accompany this ‘Leake Street blog
Waterloo Station – Leake Street is situated just behind the mainline station
Leake Street is located just behind Waterloo Station
An entrance to the Leake Street Arches- London SE1/ also known as the Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel / or the Banksy Tunnel
Another entrance to the Leake Street Arches London SE1 – also known as the Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel / or the Banksy Tunnel
Me – inside the Leake Street Arches/Graffiti Tunnel
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
A graffiti artist hard at work – deep in the heart of the Leake Street graffiti tunnel. Anyone can slam a bit of graffiti on the the Leake Street walls
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
My London Shoes – inside the Leake Street Arches – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
My London Shoes – inside the Leake Street Arches – London SE1
Another graffiti artist hard at work down in the Leake Street Arches
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
My London Shoes – inside the Leake Street Arches – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
My London Shoes – inside the Leake Street Arches – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
My London Shoes – inside the Leake Street Arches – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
My London Shoes – inside the Leake Street Arches – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
My London Shoes – inside the Leake Street Arches – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
My London Shoes – inside the Leake Street Arches – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
My London Shoes – inside the Leake Street Arches – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
Scenes from inside the Leake Street Arches / Graffiti Tunnel – London SE1
My London Shoes – inside the Leake Street Arches – London SE1
The main concourse of Liverpool Street Station – the location of the Hamilton Hall pub
The ‘Hamilton Hall’ pub – Liverpool Street – London EC2
The ‘Hamilton Hall’ pub exterior – Liverpool Street – London EC2
The ‘Hamilton Hall’ pub exterior – Liverpool Street – London EC2
Inside – the Hamilton Hall pub
Inside – the Hamilton Hall pub
Inside – the Hamilton Hall pub
Inside – the Hamilton Hall pub
Inside – the Hamilton Hall pub
Inside – the Hamilton Hall pub
A refreshing ‘cheeky’ lager just waiting to be consumed by my London Shoes – following a jaunt down to the Leake Street – graffiti tunnel
Me – neckin’ down a cheeky lager in the impressive Hamilton Hall next door to Liverpool Street Station
Thank you 😀
A short and sweet blog from you here I know, but interesting nonetheless.
I never realised there is an official place in London where it’s legal to do graffiti, and what an array of different styles there are…..
That Hamilton Hall pub looks like a very grand place.
Nice little blog Mr. Shoes👍
Never heard of Leake Street until now! Very Interesting. A real original. Thank you, Geoff.
Very interesting – a different world – and Liverpool Street Station is so much improved since my commuting days.
Amazing ! Beautiful works of art there
Beautiful artwork, could spend hours there. Thanks Geoff great subject 😀
I have passed this so many times and just avoid it to be honest! Next time I’m going to actually walk through it and look at some of the actual art!
I really like good street art. Do new artists just paint over existing work and are any protected in any way .
Some really some amazing art works there in the tunnel – and thank you once again for my virtual visit to my favourite city – where I was born 🇨🇦