Here we stand before one of the most controversial pieces of public art in Britain, though you might walk past it without noticing if you weren't looking up. On the side of this building, you'll see Banksy's "Well Hung Lover" - a cheeky piece that sparked a city-wide debate and changed how Bristol thinks about street art forever. The scenario it portrays is a classic, humorous one: a husband unexpectedly returning home, finding his wife with another man, who is now desperately trying to hide. This piece first appeared in 2006 on the side of what was then a sexual health clinic, adding a layer of accidental irony that Banksy reportedly found quite amusing. For those of you who don’t know who Banksy is, well honestly, no one really does! He is an anonymous graffiti artist, who reportedly grew up in Bristol, and is known for his antiauthoritarian art. This is one of his most famous pieces. The Well Hung Lover is unique for several reasons. It was the first legal piece of street art in the UK to be created on an external wall with the approval of the Bristol City Council, though that approval came only after quite a battle. When Banksy first painted this mural, he did it under cover of darkness, using scaffolding that was already in place for building repairs. For three days, the scaffolding hid his work from view. When it was finally removed, the city woke up to find this surprising addition to their streetscape. The reaction was swift and divided. The council were initially opposed to the mural, as Bristol at the time had a strict anti-graffiti policy. City officials called it vandalism and prepared to paint over it. But something interesting happened - the local community rallied to defend the artwork. Residents argued that it brought character to the area and represented Bristol's creative spirit. The debate reached such intensity that the council decided to put it to a public vote. In a landslide vote, 97% of the participants voted to retain the mural. It was a stunning victory for street art advocates and marked a turning point in how Bristol - and eventually many other cities - approached unauthorized public art. The mural hasn't had an easy life since then. Some blue paintballs and black paint have sadly defaced the piece, a common fate for street art, even by famous artists. Vandalism remains an ongoing challenge for outdoor artworks, regardless of their legal status or artistic merit. Look around this neighborhood and you'll see how the presence of this one mural has influenced the area. Street art tours regularly stop here, bringing visitors who then explore the local shops and cafes. There are other interesting street art pieces in Bristol and I intend to create a street art tour soon. And for those of you who are interested in learning who Banksy is there are quite a lot of theories about him if you search online! Our next stop is an optional one, the Georgian House Museum. This museum is only open from 11 am to 4 pm, Saturday to Tuesday. So if you are visiting outside those hours or days, feel free to skip it. You can just listen to the commentary and look at it virtually online and directly make your way to the Christmas steps by taking Frogmore Street which is right beside the mural.