Stokes Croft
Stokes Croft is the street and district just north of Bristol city centre known for its street art, independent shops, bars and music venues, and for its strong counter-culture identity. Almost every wall carries murals, and the area changes as fast as its paintwork.
In practice
Once a run-down stretch of empty buildings, Stokes Croft became a centre for artists, activists and independent businesses from the 1990s onwards. Local campaigners called it the People's Republic of Stokes Croft, and the area is known for resisting chain stores; in 2011 protests against a new supermarket became front-page news. Today it mixes clubs, cafés, galleries, community projects and new flats, and it leads north into Gloucester Road.
Why it matters to newcomers
Stokes Croft is one of the best places in Bristol to see street art and to go out at night. It is lively and sometimes rough at the edges; like any nightlife area, it is busiest and loudest at weekends.
Related
- Banksy - the street artist whose work started nearby
- Gloucester Road - the independent high street to the north
- Harbourside - the city's other cultural hub
Source: People's Republic of Stokes Croft.