The Best London Art On One Tube-Style Map

A new map ties together the best of London’s sculpture and street art.

Remember the Greenground Map, which displayed London’s parks and green spaces in the style of a Tube map? Its creator Helen Ilus has further cartographic tricks up her sleeve.

Her latest chart is entitled the London Artground Map. As its name suggests, the map groups together prominent artworks, including sculpture, statues and the more permanent examples of street art. These are linked together in the manner of Tube lines.

Some work better than others. The Thames route, for example, is easily followed, bringing you into contact with such artworks as Dr Salter’s Daydream, the modified benches at the South Bank Centre, and Jimmy C’s mural of Shakespeare near Borough Market. Others may take a little more sleuthing, though most correspond to labelled art on Google Maps, making a quick cross-check possible.

Ultimately, the map will serve as a source of inspiration, to get you out looking, and discovering new artwork, rather than as any kind of navigational or wayfinding guide. To this end, it extends out to prominent centres of street art such as Penge and Walthamstow, rather than staying central.

The London Artground Map is available digitally on a pay-what-you-can basis (it can be downloaded for free, though a donation to the artist is appreciated). Alternatively, prints can be purchased from Stanfords map shop.