London Graffiti Tours

Street art in Hampshire isn't what you'd expect, but London Graffiti Tours has set up shop near Hayling Island, and it's genuinely worth a look if you're staying in the area. This is proper urban art - the kind that makes you actually stop and think about what constitutes a gallery these days.

You're looking at large-scale murals and commissioned pieces that sit somewhere between legitimate street art and the graffiti you'd see on railway bridges. It's not polished, that's rather the point. The work tends toward the bold and occasionally chaotic, which some visitors love and others find a bit much.

The tour format means you're getting context and history, not just wandering past walls. That context matters here - these aren't random tags. Expect to spend an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're chatty with the guide.

Who'll enjoy it? Art students, definitely. Anyone interested in contemporary culture and how cities evolve visually. Teenagers, often. Families with older kids, yes. Very young children will get restless. Your mum might find it bewildering.

It works well as a break from the beach and the holiday parks scattered round Hayling Island - Hayling Island Holiday Park is practically on your doorstep, and even Fishery Creek Touring Park a mile and a half away feels close. The weather's usually decent enough for walking round looking at walls, though it's not thrilling in the rain.

Bring a decent camera if you care about photos. Some pieces are genuinely striking.