My honest review of the Banksy exhibition that’s wowed 3,500,000 people in 36 cities

Every time a Banksy pops up, the race is on to see it before it’s taken down.

Londoners and tourists are currently under pressure to snap a photo of a new statue by the elusive artist in Waterloo Place before it disappears.

Now, a new exhibition promises the remedy for all Banksy fans ruing missed opportunities to catch his pieces in the flesh.

The Mystery of Banksy interactive experience has arrived in Manchester after wowing 3,500,000 visitors across 36 cities.

And Metro went to check it out.

Stepping inside the unassuming Depot Mayfield – the venue hosting the exhibition a stone’s throw from Manchester Piccadilly station – feels like entering the TARDIS.

That’s because there are more than 200 reimagined Banksy works fitted into a kaleidoscopic maze of rooms, slopes and makeshift Tube carriages.

The keyword, though, is reimagined.

Because many Banksy pieces have been stolen, sold, or destroyed, the exhibition relies heavily on replicas and recreations. Precise and masterful, but replicas, nonetheless.

Curator Viriginia Jean told Metro: ‘Our dream in this exhibition is to give back the stolen pieces of Banksy art.

‘We want to showcase all of the pieces that you cannot see anywhere else because they have been taken from all of us.’

While you never quite forget that none of what you are seeing is the original, that doesn’t stop you from enjoying the street art that has rightly earned worldwide acclaim.

For instance, you can’t miss the original-size reproduction of the gigantic Devolved Parliament painting from 2009, featuring the iconic display of monkeys as MPs.

The piece – which ultimately sold for £9,879,500 – is accompanied by real-life audio from historic Prime Minister’s Questions.

That is only a taster for how the exhibition immerses you into Banky’s wacky and colourful world.

You can step inside a London Underground carriage, recreated with the artwork sprayed on by artist during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Visitors can also step into a replica of the lobby of Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel, a boutique hotel opened in the West Bank next to the controversial barrier wall separating Israel from Palestine.

The Bethlehem venue closed after the October 7 attacks but reopened in December last year.

Banksy’s focus on injustice at home and abroad is central to how the exhibition is structured.

A dedicated room focuses on the Louise Michel, a rescue boat funded by Banksy that operates in the Mediterranean.

Another smaller room displays replicas of works Banksy spray-painted on bombarded buildings in Ukraine in November 2022.

Virginia explained: ‘Even though he does not have a face or a voice that we can recognise and connect to him, he manages to give a face and a voice to so many people who are not being seen and not being heard.’

While this is labelled an ‘unauthorised exhibition’, the organisers do donate some of the proceeds to Banksy’s foundation.

Timeslot tickets cost £18 for children, teenagers, students and seniors, and £22 for adults. You can book until July 5 2026.

‘I promise you we are not getting rich from this,’ Virginia says.

‘We are doing this because we love it. Sadly, money always has to be involved – we have to pay our artists, we have to be able to take it on tour. But if I were to wish for anyone to make money, it’d be Banksy.’

Where to stay in Manchester

If you want you and your family to be fully immersed in Banksy’s art, there is one bonus step available – book a room at the Marriott next door.

The Manchester Piccadilly hotel has unveiled two bedrooms filled with recreations of his famous street art.

There are even some hidden gems in the rooms and corridors as well, including a lobby installation inspired by Banksy’s iconic bellboy monkey sculpture.

If you book the Art Rebel Retreat package, you’ll also get a Banksy-inspired welcome cocktail and breakfast the following morning.

There are budget options, too.

The YHA Manchester is the top-rated hostel in TripAdvisor, but a half an hour walk away from the station.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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