The M25 basks in the daily blast-furnace of London weather, a ribbon of miserable blacktop encrusted with tin boxes containing automatons shuttling endlessly to and fro of whatever workaday duties require their presence. Great Britain’s premier orbital highway is, in so many ways, a very humdrum place to be.
Apart from when you’re passing Gerrards Cross, travelling clockwise. You’ll pass under this bridge which is pretty much the ONLY thing on the M25 that can come close to putting a smile on your face. Even if you’re stuck under it, for hours, again, because of a lorry fire. This work of a very determined graffiti artist has developed and endured over time.
It all started with Peas.


See, told you. PEAS, written clear and bold in something close to PORSCHE font and spacing.
The internet is heavy with public discussion of the famous “Peas” bridge, yet the threads are so diverse I’ve never managed to get a proper explanation.
Is PEAS an acronym? Some kind of renegade urban collective, and this their tag? This bridge is PEAS domain? Or is it simply recognition and celebration of the humble spherical plateside accompaniment to Fish ‘n Chips? It stood there, rendered in white, baffling and bewildering motorists for years until somebody expanded the theme, either enhancing or ruining the original sentiment depending on your perspective.
“Give PEAS a chance”
Similar font, but looking far more rushed in execution. The graffiti now stood individually as a tangible statement, but was shorn of the crazed inscrutability that once was.
PEAS remains the best piece of graffiti I’ve ever seen.
What’s been your favourite roadside daubing?
(First image snapped by my co-pilot, second image courtesy of a Google search for “M25 PEAS”)