Outdoor Sculpture Trails - 2024

Art Review
Written By Darren

The are hundreds of outdoor sculptures located all around London, but sometimes it’s nice to focus on a select few based around a specific theme. Lucky for Londoners, it seems like a new art trail arrives every month. From annual stalwarts like KCAW and Frieze to new kids, er, dogs on the block Paws on the Wharf, there’s something for everyone.

So if you wanna get out for some fresh air and art in 2024 bookmark this page and check back often. It will be regularly updated as new trails are announced and recurring favourites are confirmed. With helpful links to maps and apps, it’s a one-stop shop for all your Outdoor Sculpture Trail needs.

PS — Don’t forget to check the What’s On list and subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter to be kept informed about not-to-miss art shows and events!.

LATEST UPDATES

18 May —> 🔴 Paws of the Wharf has now ended.

27 Mar —> 🟢 Folkestone — Outdoor Artworks has been added to the “Even More Options!” section (scroll to the end)

21 Mar —> Placeholder listings for three future trails have been added: Frieze, KCAW and Waddle of Worcester (🐧).

*NOTE: When a trail ends, the listing gets moved to the archives at the end of this page.

Temporary Trails

A Wild Life for Wildlife

🟢 OPEN NOW

When: Runs until 18 Sep

Where: Between London Bridge and Tower Bridge

Eleven sculptures from the always popular Gillie & Marc “invites you to become an integral part of the journey with endangered animals through interactive sculptures and engaging experiences. By taking a seat on a tandem bike, joining a game of chess, or throwing a ball in a pool, visitors can connect with the stories of these imperilled species. Each sculpture is accompanied by QR codes that transport viewers to important information about the animals' lives, needs, and threats, providing a deeper understanding of the urgent need for their conservation.”

Frieze Sculptures

🟠  COMING SOON

When: 18 Sep to 27 Oct

Where: Regent’s Park

Yes, it’s coming back! Other than announcing the independent curator (Fatoş Üstek) not much is known about what to expect for this year’s edition. More will be revealed in due time…

Kensington + Chelsea Art Trail

🟠  COMING SOON

When: June to August

Where: Around Kensington + Chelsea

Submissions for the 7th edition of the KCAW Art Trail — which has the theme of ‘Changing Landscapes’ — are currently being reviewed. More will be revealed in due time…

Paws on the Wharf

🔴 CLOSED

When: 25 Mar to 17 May

Where: Canary Wharf

25 larger-than-life guide dog sculptures have been thoughtfully clustered in 5 easy to find locations, though not all the dogs are easy to find. I simply couldn’t sniff out the four indoor woofers, but that didn’t stop my enjoyment. The trail is highly accessible and many of the dogs incorporate tactile elements or Braille, and some of the visual designs are just so fantastic. Five of the contributing artists have lived experience of sight loss, and all the works will be auctioned at a charity event on 05 June at Saatchi Gallery.

Brought to you by Guide Dogs and Wild in Art, supported by Citi and hosted by Canary Wharf Group, Paws on the Wharf aims to raise awareness and vital funds to help people with sight loss live more active and independent lives.

Waddle of Worcester

🟠  COMING SOON

When: 22 July to 15 September

Where: Worcester (~2.25 hrs from Paddington by train)


See Worcester transformed into a free, fun art space as a waddle of forty big, brrr-illiant yellow-eyed penguins will go on display for eight weeks alongside forty chicks designed by local schools and community groups. At the end, each big penguin will be auctioned to raise funds for St Richard’s Hospice and each chick returns to its forever home with schools and community groups.

I know this one isn’t in London, but… PENGUINS! 🐧


Permanent Fixtures

Canary Wharf - Art on the Estate

🟢 OPEN NOW

Where: Canary Wharf, London E14

If you haven’t been to Canary Wharf then you’ll be forgiven for not knowing that they have an extensive, and growing, collection of outdoor art. There are currently over 100 works spread across the estate, clustered into 5 easy to digest sections. With super fast access via the Jubilee and Elizabeth Line and a growing selection of shops, cafes and restaurants, you’ve got no excuse not to plan a visit.

Chelsea Barracks Estate

🟢 OPEN NOW

Where: Chelsea Barracks — Enter on foot from Pimlico Road or Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RF

Some of the most expensive new-build property in London has been built on the site of the former Chelsea Barracks. How expensive? Last I checked £60 Million for the 14,704 SqFt, 7-story townhomes with an underground pool, 2-car garage, cinema and living quarters for your staff. Luckily, you don’t need to be minted to enjoy the luxuriously manicured grounds that surround the estate, which is open to the public from 9am-9pm. It’s a nice and compact way to explore how the other half live, while enjoying the rotating sculptures on display, including some permanent works like a giant Conrad Shawcross “tree”.

Sculpture in the City

🟢 OPEN NOW

When: Runs until Spring 2024

Where: City of London, between Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street and Aldgate stations

Sculpture in the City is a compact trail that makes clever use of what little space is left between the City of London skyscrapers that keeping appearing like weeds, hiding the once prominent Gherkin from almost every skyline view except the East. You could easily see all of the installations on your lunch hour, if you were in a rush.

The current edition (the 12th!) introduced work by Simeon Barclay, Phyllida Barlow, Larry Bell, Rafael D’Aló, Vanessa da Silva, Arturo Herrera, Isamu Noguchi and Mika Rottenberg. They join 9 sculptures from previous editions that have been given an extended stay.

The Line

🟢 OPEN NOW

Where: Between Stratford and North Greenwich

Technically this is the only actual ‘trail’ on the list, since it’s designed to be enjoyed in a linear fashion. It was London’s first permanently dedicated public art walk and it includes some incredibly large outdoor works, showing how artists explore big ideas through monumental installations. Many works are permanent, but the overall selection receives annual updates and extensions.

Walking the full route takes a little over half a day and gives you an excuse to ride the IFS Cloud Cable Car. Use the audio guides and go at your own pace, or join one of the free Thursday Wellbeing Walks or Saturday Guided Walks. If you haven’t yet walked The Line… what are you waiting for?

  • Visit the Official Website and follow @thelinelondon on Instagram for more info

  • Download the map

  • TIP: Download the Bloomberg Connects app for a digital map, artist bios and other extras, like informative audio recordings of the artists explaining their art. They’re fantastic to listen to as you make your way from work to work.


Even More Options!

ArtUk.org has an online database of over 13,500 public sculptures dotted around the UK. Click here to search the database to see what they have to say about your favourites, or maybe you’ll find something new to see near you.

But also…

Have I missed any? Have you walked them all? Get in touch and let me know!

PLUS…

Ones you missed!

Temporary trail listings will be moved to this section after they have closed.

Battersea Power Station Light Festival

🔴 CLOSED

When: 25 Jan - 25 Feb

Where: Battersea Power Station — Battersea

It’s back! And it promises to be brighter and more interactive than last year’s outing, even if it’s got one less work of art. Happening both inside and outside the power station, there will be seven  installations, some enhanced with soundscapes and motion sensitive interactive elements. Lit daily from 8am – 11pm.

Check the website for additional attractions such as family-friendly workshops, music and live weeknight performances on the ‘Light Piano 2.0’ installation.

The Little Egg Hunt

🔴 CLOSED

When: 18 Mar - 14 Apr

Where: Across Chelsea


Just in time for the long Easter weekend, a dozen decorated eggs have been hidden throughout Chelsea. It’s a nice little warm up for next year’s main event which will see 200 — yes, TWO HUNDRED! —exquisite creations take London by storm. Brought to you by Elephant Family, a registered charity that works to protect Asia’s wildlife.


Winter Lights

🔴 CLOSED

When: 17 - 27 Jan (Daily 5 - 10 pm)

Where: Canary Wharf


The eighth edition of this incredibly popular trail sees 13 temporary installations join the existing collection of six permanent light artworks. Some, like numbers 2, 5, 7 and 8 have motion and sound and are not to be missed! This limited run event is hugely popular so be sure to go early, bundle up and bring along some snacks, because the queues for hot drinks can be quite long on chilly winter evenings and even though No. 3 looks like a giant bonfire, you wont get warm standing in front of it.


Darren
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