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London icons' interactive sculpture trail unveiled

London Heritage Quarter A large sculpture of wellington boots outside the houses of parliamentLondon Heritage Quarter
Perfect for Summer 2024: "Rain Boots" by Fatima Mian outside the Houses of Parliament

A new interactive art trail has opened in central London featuring iconic London-themed sculptures.

A post-box, London bus and a black cab can all be seen as part of the free display.

The sculptures can be found in places including Victoria Embankment Garden and St James's Park.

The work has been placed by the art agency Artiq with the aim of attracting more visitors.

London Heritage Quarter A man drinks from a large sculpture of a cup of tea London Heritage Quarter
One lump, or two? This giant tea cup by Marcus Aiken has been placed in Victoria Embankment Gardens

Each sculpture is linked to augmented reality via a QR code which displays archive images of nearby landmarks.

The trail has been organised by the London Heritage Quarter, a recently-formed collective of four central London Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), covering Westminster, Victoria, Whitehall and the Northbank.

BIDs are business-led and business-funded bodies designed to improve specific commercial areas.

It said it launched the art series to "commemorate significant anniversaries" including the National Gallery celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.

The group added it hoped it would benefit local businesses by attracting national and international visitors.

London Heritage Quarter Two women taking a selfie in front of a London bus sculptureLondon Heritage Quarter
The displays are free to access, and will stay up until 4 August

Places to see the sculptures:

  • Teacup - Victoria Embankment Gardens
  • Teapot - Lower Grosvenor Gardens
  • Taxi - Trafalgar Square
  • Telephone box - Westminster Cathedral Piazza
  • Post-box - Supreme Court
  • Bus - Strand Aldwych
  • Crown - St James's Park
  • Rain Boots - Victoria Tower Gardens
  • Top Hat - Whitehall Gardens
  • Guard - The Guards Museum, Wellington Barracks
  • Pocket Watch - QEII Centre

Ruth Duston, CEO of London Heritage Quarter, said: "Each custom-made sculpture, honouring iconic British symbols, provides an engaging, interactive experience for both local and global visitors.

"As the summer season approaches, this trail stands out as a unique addition to London’s diverse attractions, offering a fresh and exciting way to explore the city.”

London Heritage Quarter A man pretends to drink from the spout of a giant teapot sculpture whilst someone nearby takes a photoLondon Heritage Quarter
The trail has been created as a result of the success of other, similar sculpture routes around London
London Heritage Quarter A sculpture of a London taxi outside Trafalgar SquareLondon Heritage Quarter
The sculptures, although centrally located, are spread out across three miles of London

The sculptures have been painted by the art agency Artiq.

Tazie Taysom, its commercial director, said: "Our artists are delighted to be part of the London Heritage Quarter Summer Trail.

"This project provides a fantastic platform for contemporary art to be enjoyed in public spaces, and we are proud to contribute to the cultural tapestry of London."

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