Here Banksy rather humorously juxtaposes the cliché artist, with moustache, beret and palette,…read moreworking on a decidedly less high brow art work depicting a scribble of a huge male member. The artist is also wearing a ball and chain, with a dollar sign on the ball. I'm not sure what conclusion I'd want to draw, but I guess the piece certainly summarises the debates about Banksy himself. Art or just daubs? Pretensions of grandeur? Destroyed by money, or elevated beyond his natural position by the hype? A couple of changes have been made. The council (apparently) have partially obscured the male member, though it's still pretty clear what it's meant to represent. As for the person who's added their opinion that Banksy is a **, I don't think they've given much thought to what they are doing. Their banal addition rather demonstrates they are the one with pretensions of grandeur if they think they can comment! This is on the side of a restaurant on the junction of Shafton Road and Victoria Park Road.

I've found this piece of art yesterday night (Feb 21st 2012) by accident as I was surfing Hackney…read moreby car in search of graffiti. When I saw it I almost had no doubt it was made by Banksy, and as it took me a good hour to find this first and only painting in Hackney, I interpreted it not only as the sign of the end of free art this would be no news! but also as the end of street art. All in all this classic looking artist is not trying to paint a beauty on a canvas, but a rebel sign on a public wall, while his leg is locked with this ball with the money sign. So when I associate all this with the fact that all Hackney walls are now purified from graffiti, I'm just left with the impression that art was finally killed, both indoor and in the streets. Ciao, Nicola Principato

I love Camden Market so much. Every time I visit I come home with so much great stuff. Lots of…read morelocal vendors selling their wares. You can get everything from vintage clothing and jewelry to artwork and records. It's a funky, artistic, electric, bohemian market with a collection of local artisans and indie, small business entrepreneurs. It's an open air market that quite literally has something for everyone. I always seem to find the best selection of vintage Levi's.

We were so excited to revisit Camden Market. But as a Brit making my return to the UK I found this…read moreplagued by the same issue I saw across London - the loss of the unique culture and lines blurred between this and any other similar place. Gone was the mix of locals and tourists, cool music playing, great shopping and tasty food! The place was full of shops loaded with cheap, generic junk! It makes Times Square or Pier 39 look eclectic! Want a cheaply printed tee or bag you can also buy on Amazon - check! Want a 'vintage' Amy Whitehouse vinyl for 80 pounds that you can buy on eBay for $5 - check! What about a 'French taco ' aka a tortilla filled with French fries ( seriously) check!! Want to walk shoulder to shoulder to shoulder with unsuspecting tourists buying all of the above - yep they have that too!! We ended up escaping the main drag and finding a local brewery - and even that was empty and devoid of culture! The cool market; with unique finds and great street food has been replaced with a generic experience that you could find at any tourist trap and it makes me sad that areas like this are losing the very identity that set them apart !

Sky Garden was closed for maintenance while we were visiting. This was recommended as an…read morealternative and was lovely. If it weren't such a windy day, we would have stayed longer to enjoy the views and beautiful garden which was serene.

The Garden at 120 is such a hidden gem in London! Free entry, no booking needed, and you can just…read morewalk right in, which already makes it less stressful than Sky Garden. The space feels open and calm, with lovely landscaping, water features, and plenty of spots to enjoy the view. The views themselves are great. You get a close look at the Gherkin, Walkie-Talkie, and St. Paul's. It's not as high up as Sky Garden, so you don't get quite the same feeling of being above the city, but it feels more like a genuine garden in the sky rather than a bar/venue with plants. Only downside: it's all outdoors, so weather really makes or breaks the experience, and seating is limited. I unfortunately experienced this in the rain. For a relaxed, less crowded alternative to Sky Garden, this place is fantastic. Definitely recommend on a clear rain free day!

The view from the Royal Observatory made it worth climbing the hill. The Prime Meridian is a brass…read moreband in the pavement showing the divider between the eastern and western hemispheres. To see the line up close requires paying an admission fee of about 20 pounds to get into the observatory. We didn't pay the 20 pounds and didn't get our photos taken with one foot in each hemisphere. But the view from just outside the observatory was amazing.

This is where the world gets the correct time from, everywhere sets their time from this post!…read moreThe prime meridian is a line of longitude defined a 0 . You can literally be standing in two different hemispheres, East and west. Definitely a tourist stop, great for photos. It was so much fun,

In a square off Brick Lane, around Dray Walk, The Old Truman Brewery is an old Triumph GT6 that's…read morebeen given the Banksy treatment - painted pink with a ghost driver at the wheel. Now covered in persplex, it's looking a bit tatty but worthwhile having a look over if you're in the area for the markets etc. Edit: Recently passed by this to notice unfortunately that the ghost driver seems to have vanished & a wooden board is in his place at the drivers window...shame it's come down to that :(

As purchaser said, it is covered in plastic and looking pretty tatty, nearly hidden behind a red…read moredouble decker "rootmaster" veggie bus. There is another red car on the ground nearby, that was on a recent qype does London newsletter http://www.qype.co.uk/newsletters/649 . Not much to write home about.

What a bloody amazing spot! Any fan of graffiti, hip hop, or art in general must make a stop here…read moreto soak in the absolutely stunning pieces of work. Despite not having a single artistic bone in my body, I've been a lifelong graffiti fan ever since the heyday in the 90s when subways and freeway signs back home in the States were all bombed out. I just happened to stumble upon this magical place as I was exploring the area near where I am staying in Southwark. I originally noticed it through a gated fence, and assumed it was some abandoned, desolate spot that artists have taken over. Little did I know that upon further inspection, Leake Street Arches (Tunnel) is simply massive, and extends as far as the eye can see with some of the most stunning artwork you will ever come across, and it is all perfectly legal! It totally reminds me of one of my favorite spot back in the day, the eternal, legendary 5 Pointz in Long Island City, New York (check my profile photo)! That place will forever have a special place in my heart, and thankfully, I have found its heir apparent! This 100% legal wall was made famous by a nameless world famous artist you may have heard of, and has an agreed upon paint over policy. Every time you visit, you may see something new, and at any given time, you will likely find groups of artists working on their next big piece. Of course being publicly sanctioned, they don't tolerate any tomfoolery, so there is a mutual level of respect amongst the artists. You may also witness rap battles, poetry slams, and dance offs, as if you were in the middle of filming for You Got Served or Beat Street! Built into the tunnel itself is a plethora of bars and restaurants, so you can enjoy the art and entertainment while imbibing on your favorite lager and downing some munchies. Best of all, the environment is mostly family friendly. Graffiti may have a negative reputation amongst some uninformed individuals, but a quick visit down here with little Sally and Billy in tow can change your whole perspective of it. Travel guides will rarely if ever mention Leake Street Arches as a must see attraction, but in my book, it would be a big mistake if you miss out. It is unequivocably the highlight of my stay in London.

A great place to escape the sun. New views everyday. A place to get coffee and maybe souvenirs but…read moreit was a nice reprice for our teenagers as we waited for a ur ride out of the city. If you need a cute photo for your London experience this is it

There was once a lonely bench, where I go when I'm sad…read moreand my fists I clench. I look at its bright colors and illustrations and forget about my past frustrations. The drawings seem to tell Shakespeare's story, but I'm not a poet, forgive me, I'm sorry.

Probably one of the cutest benches in London (or...the world?!)…read more This amazing little bench is to be found along the promenade by the water on Bankside, just outside Shakespeare's Globe. Sit there, have your tourist photo taken there or just have a look at this nice little detail as you walk along the water. To walk here is one of my favorite things to do in London - and this neat little bench makes me like it even more.

Five stars! It was…read moreabsolutely brilliant to have walked in the footsteps of the legendary Beatles at this crossing in the UK! Just approaching the area I was already awestruck that I was going to see this historic place of interest. I didn't realize that there's a monument slightly offset from the crossing at almost the perfect location to film. However, I do feel for the residents having to endure numerous tourists affecting traffic in the area, but hey, coming from Hawai'i, I'm for certain they are somewhat used to it. Coming from me, I do appreciate their patience for allowing me to cross twice for a nice shot recreating the cover. Thank you very much!!

for the beatles/ my dad !! everyone was so funny and chill and respectful waiting for it to be saferead more

An iconic, famous, and crazy busy section of London. From…read morehere you can get just about anywhere. It's a great starting and landing point for tourists. It is a central area to get to places like Leicester Square, Chinatown, etc. Tons of giant, lighted, neon adverts adorn the area. It's like the London version of NYC's Times Square. It's exciting, frantic, busy, and a perfect spot for first-time visitors to London.

Tip: I recommend riding the tube to get here. Piccadilly Circus tube station is conveniently…read moreunderground and it's affordable. Piccadilly Circus was an area that I frequented a lot during my visit to London in December 2013. It is a touristy place. I liked it for a number of reasons. Piccadilly Circus tub station is under Piccadilly Circus. I took the underground to get to this touristy site. It was a cheap, efficient means to get to and from the area. The area feels like Times Square (New York), or Yonge and Dundas (Toronto) with brightly lit screens and signs. You then realize that Piccadilly Circus established illuminated, giant advertisements since the early 20th century. What's special about Piccadilly Circus is that it's a junction where Piccadilly, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, the Haymarket, Coventry Street, and Glasshouse Street meet. Circus in the name doesn't mean seeing clowns and acrobats. Rather, it means a circle or roundabout. It makes sense when you see the statue of Anteros, which is also known as Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain. It gives you a good look at how the streets comprise this junction. Piccadilly Circus is close to these touristy spots: - M&M's World - Chinatown - Soho - Theatre district - Oxford Street (shopping) - Hop-on, hop-off stops Gone are these places that I enjoyed visiting: - Ripley's Believe It or Not - Angus Steak House I'm an M&M's fan, so I visited this place three times. I loved it so much! Shopping was great. You can find everything from phone accessories (I still travel with a USB cable with three different charging tips that I bought in London) to weed edibles. I liked the eclectic variety that was eye-opening at the time. I remember that there was a small winter fair at a park that I had visited nearby. I don't remember the name of the park or the fair. What I do remember is enjoying banoffee fudge for the first time. So good! It was fun being in this area. I'd love to go back and see how things have changed. If you've never been to Piccadilly Circus before, I recommend going at least once. (44)