London isn’t exactly short of options when it comes to tattoo shops and tattoo studios. From family-run joints in Finsbury Park to contemporary studios in Peckham’s famous Bussey Building, here’s our rundown of the best tattoo shops in London. It’s time to get inked!
1. The Family Business
Kicking off this roundup of the best tattoo shops in London is The Family Business – a cutting-edge spot decked out in Roman Catholic motifs, Japanese privacy screens and photos of the various artists’ intricate tattoo designs. Based in the bougie Exmouth Market, it’s a great spot to come if you’re looking for iconographic tattoos – either in black or in bright and bold colours.
There are currently eight full-time resident artists and two guest tattoo artists working here, and they’ve done various different collaborations since they first opened their doors in 2003, including The British Museum and E4’s ‘Tattoo Artist of the Year’.
📍You’ll find The Family Business at 58 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QE.
🚇 Nearest stations are Angel and Farringdon.
2. Vagabond Tattoo
Based on fashionable Hackney Road, Vagabond Tattoo is everything you’d expect from a tattoo studio in this part of town. Chic, whitewashed interiors and Scandi-style furniture go hand in hand with the tattoos themselves, which are designed to be both clean and original.
Currently the studio has 14 in-house artists, who will go out of their way to deliver whatever you’re looking for. They offer everything from graphic blackwork to colourful Japanese prints, so be sure to browse their website to find the right artist for you. Plus, they’ve also got their own merch, including t-shirts and rucksacks, to boot.
📍You’ll find Vagabond Tattoo at 471 Hackney Road, Cambridge Heath, London, E2 9ED.
🚇 Nearest station is Cambridge Heath.
3. One By One
Set right in the heart of Soho on Berwick Street, One By One is currently home to ten different tattoo artists who specialise in a range of different styles – from fineline and single needle work to abstract colour work.
They only use vegan, animal-friendly inks and products, and are a climate positive workforce. This means that approximately 130 trees are planted per month by Ecologi to offset the carbon footprint of all the tattoo artists working here. Plus, they’ve also done various different pop-ups with famous artists such as Kehlani, Travis Scott and even Kanye West himself. So, who knows who could show up!
📍You’ll find One By One at 70 Berwick Street, Soho, London, W1F 8TA.
🚇 Nearest station is Oxford Circus.
4. South City Market
South City Market, owned by renowned tattoo artist Ricky Williams, isn’t like other tattoo studios. Ditching the classic tattoo blueprint, it specialises in black and grey work and is inspired by Scandinavian-style living.
The studio is a bright, clean space that isn’t like traditional tattoo studios – expect Garage or House to be playing on the speakers and bright, neon lighting lining the walls. In terms of artwork, the focus here is on intricate, micro designs, and there are currently a whopping 26 artists to choose from to get you inked.
📍You’ll find South City Market at 389 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6LA.
🚇 Nearest station is New Cross.
5. Red Point Tattoo
Just down the road from Angel station lies Red Point Tattoo, a neat little spot that was founded in 2018 by three of the most accomplished tattoo artists in town – Claudia De Sabe, Teide, and Yutaro – better known as Warriorism.
With more than 50 years of experience between them, they certainly know their stuff, and they also delight in hosting a string of world-class guest artists from all over the globe. The focus here is on bold and colourful designs, and as well as tattooing, they also host regular art exhibitions and workshops in store.
📍You’ll find Red Point Tattoo at 9 Penton Street, London, N1 9PT.
🚇 Nearest station is Angel.
6. Parliament Tattoo
Founded by Scott Move and Nicola Mary Wyatt, the family-run Parliament Tattoo is the place to go if you’re looking for black line work and cross-hatched designs. Tucked away in an old Victorian factory in Finsbury Park, it’s an appointment-only spot that is both modern and airy, decked out with comfy leather sofas and eclectic tattoo designs on the brick walls.
There are 16 different resident artists here, so you’ll have your pick of who’s who depending on what design you’re after. The friendly team here also hosts regular guest artists, so keep your eyes peeled on their website if you’re looking to book in for one of these.
📍You’ll find Parliament Tattoo at Leeds Place, Finsbury Park, London, N4 3RF.
🚇 Nearest station is Finsbury Park.
7. Flamin’ Eight
It’s hard to miss the next addition to this roundup of the best tattoo shops in London. Kentish Town-based Flamin’ Eight is, well, practically flamin’ on first look. The vivid red, gold and black exterior invites you in, and the warm and dedicated staff are happy to chat at any point about what tattoo design you’re looking for.
It’s a small team here, and they love to tattoo in all different sorts of styles, but they really specialise in traditional, new school, Japanese, and realism.
📍You’ll find Flamin’ Eight at 2 Castle Road, London, NW1 8PP.
🚇 Nearest stations are Camden Road and Kentish Town West.
8. Velvet Underground
As the first tattoo shop in London solely run by an all female staff, Barbican-based Velvet Underground is certainly unique. The aim was to create a space free of ‘macho culture’, particularly so that non-male customers may feel more comfortable getting inked.
The eight welcoming in-house tattoo artists and apprentices here are all extremely talented, and they offer a whole range of different tattooing styles, including custom pieces. Oh, and in case you were wondering – anyone is welcome here!
📍You’ll find Velvet Underground at 103 Whitecross Street, Barbican, London, EC1Y 8JD.
🚇 Nearest stations are Barbican and Old Street.
9. Good Times Tattoo
The incredibly popular Clapton-based Good Times Tattoo is probably the place to come in town if you’re looking for Japanese, Tibetan, ornamental or Chinese Painting-style artworks. The spacious studio looks more like a home than a tattoo shop, boasting hanging plants, ornaments, pastel-coloured walls and beautiful paintings on the walls.
There are seven resident artists here – all warm and friendly – and a roster of guest artists who cover everything from botanical designs to sacred geometry. They’ve also got a laser removal service if you’ve got an inking you want removed from memory, as well as their own merch too.
📍You’ll find Good Times Tattoo at 1st Floor, Groundwork East London, 8 Lower Clapton Road, London, E5 0PD.
🚇 Nearest stations are Hackney Central and Hackney Downs.
10. Storyville
Run and owned by Nick and Clare, a husband and wife team, Storyville is quite possibly the most beautiful tattoo parlour in the whole of London. A small and cosy cabin flooded with warm lighting, it’s fronted by a delightful plant-filled patio – a perfect spot to sit and relax if you’re feeling slightly nervous.
Tattooist Nick has been working within the field since he was just 18, so you know that you’re in good hands here, and there are two other artists – Chris Maguire and Andrew Hulbert – too. Expect colourful designs, intricate needlework and custom artwork when you get inked in this Dulwich spot.
📍You’ll find Storyville at the rear of 80 Lordship Lane, London, SE22 8HF. Access is via Ashbourne Grove.
🚇 Nearest station is East Dulwich.
11. One Day Studio
Rounding off this list of the best tattoo shops in London is One Day Studio, a lovely spot set just off Pentonville Road close to Angel station. Run by tattoo artists Máté Spanberger and Ákos Keller, they do everything here from hyper-realistic animals and fine-print botanicals to colourful block drawings that look almost like a painting you’d find hanging in a gallery.
There are currently six in-house artists, all offering their own unique style, and they have frequent appearances from all manner of guest artists. Arrange an appointment to discuss exactly what it is you’re looking for and the personable team will decide which tattoo artist is best for you.
📍You’ll find One Day Studio at 20 Arlington Way, London, EC1R 1UY.
🚇 Nearest station is Angel.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best tattoo shops in London. So, if you want to get yourself nice and inked, now you know where to head!