"In the summer season, the rooftop level is transformed into Franks’, a much-loved hang for sunset DJ sets and negronis strong enough to put hairs on your chest. Unlike much of the rampant gentrification of the neighbourhood, Bold Tendencies has won over the hearts of the surrounding community and artists alike with its fiercely independent spirit. Just watch out for those negronis."
"Whether or not you appreciate urban street art, there is something undeniably satisfying about the idea of an un-curated public canvas, where every inch of wall space is unallocated - first come, first serve. It’s democracy manifest. I’ve often ended a night there with friends, watching artists work through the night, completely hyper- fixated."
It took four years to find the space but Queer Britain, the nation’s first LGBTQ+ museum is open in Granary Square. It’s a fully accessible, inclusive and free-entry space that “will be an essential place for all regardless of sexuality or gender identity, to find out about the culture they have been born into, have chosen or seek to understand.”
"As a regular browser at the historic ‘Gay’s The Word’ bookshop, I first came across the museum by way of word of mouth. Videos, tapestries and display cases bring together deeply personal stories with the historical context of the early pride movement as a powerful document of LGBTQ+ resilience and activism; narratives too often absent in major art galleries. "
"The arts institution has grown to become the home of cutting edge multimedia exhibitions in the capital. From walking around the landmark show ‘The Infinite Mix’ when I lived around the corner, to Wes Anderson’s ‘Isle of Dogs’ exhibition, every show I’ve seen there since has been just as captivating. If you are interested in immersive audio-video art and multi-sensory, spatial installations then 180 studios is a hell of a place to go and get lost in for a few hours."
"For artist Ben Wilson, the bridge serves as a personal art studio and gallery. Known as the ‘Chewing Gum Man’, Ben is a 6”3 gentle giant who spends his in a bright orange boiler suit, painting tiny miniatures on pieces of discarded chewing gum. We commissioned him to paint a trail of illustrations for our song ‘Bubblegum’. Ben is one of London’s true eccentrics and his miniature masterpieces must be preserved at all costs."
"I first discovered the joys of mudlarking quite accidentally during the pandemic, when I would take my lockdown walk down to the river to catch some clean air. As soon as I found my first clay pipe I was immediately hooked, and have since amassed an assorted collection of relics."
"Gerry Dalton's flat was repossessed by the housing association in 2020; but thankfully the rear canal-side wall of his sculpture garden has been kept intact, providing an awe-inspiring insight into his visionary imagination. I first discovered Gerry Dalton's work kayaking along the Grand Union Canal, which I highly recommend as a great way to see the sculptures up close. If you are drawn to outsider art, Gerry’s Pompeii is a real gem."
"When it comes to art supply shops, Londoners are truly spoilt. Atlantis was a relatively new discovery for me as I was in an eleventh-hour panic about constructing an art installation for our recent album launch - but this place had everything I was looking for (and a whole lot more). It’s an inspiring place to reignite a project or pick up a few choice pieces to get started on something new. "
Housing a concert hall, two theatres, two art galleries and three cinemas, the Barbican Centre is a place that celebrates the arts, cutting across all genres and hosting everything from the classical to the boundary-pushing. The galleries have hosted exhibitions on everything from Basquiat to AI and the concert hall has seen everything from opera to electronic music to Japanese drumming – there is literally something for everyone across their programmes. Even if you don’t go for the culture, there’s still a lot to admire at the Barbican, including the plant-filled conservatory and the brutalist architecture across the estate.
"The first time I visited the Barbican was to perform as part of ‘Songs In The Key Of London’, a show celebrating the city’s rich musical history - and it has come to represent a place which I associate with the feeling of home. From watching Sunn O))) shake the walls of the main auditorium to Basquiat’s major retrospective a few years ago, the Barbican’s cultural programming has rarely failed to blow my mind. Likewise, if I fancy a lazy afternoon, I’ll often grab a tray of food from the canteen, take a seat by the lake and read a book in the sunshine; there’s few places I’d rather waste the hours away."
"Eel Pie Island is most famous for being the birthplace of the British Rhythm and Blues scene in the 1960s. Nowadays, it's a great spot to seek out ceramics, paintings and woodwork pieces from a community of craftspeople artists who are based there. Eel Pie has also been Mystery Jets HQ since we started out so it holds a very dear place in my heart. I’ve always felt crossing the bridge is like stepping into a land that time forgot. Be prepared to roll up your trousers. The eels may have a nibble on your toes but they’re harmless really."
