Last updated: 16 September 2026
From giant storybook characters hiding in parkland to contemporary sculpture beside the Thames, London and the South East are brilliant places to discover art outdoors. This evolving Clarissa’s Corner guide brings together current, upcoming and past art and sculpture trails for families and adults.
Some trails are completely free, while others sit inside ticketed attractions or estates. Always check the individual event before travelling.
Current Art & Sculpture Trails
Leeds Castle Sculpture Trail 2026
Leeds Castle, Kent | 29 August–4 October 2026
Leeds Castle’s current Sculpture Trail explores the theme of Wellbeing, placing artworks throughout the historic grounds and gardens. The self-guided trail is included with normal Leeds Castle admission and comes with a trail map and information about the artists.
Accessibility: Leeds Castle confirms that the walking routes are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Cafés and picnic areas are available around the estate.
This one is time-sensitive: the 2026 trail finishes on Sunday 4 October, so it is worth catching before the autumn programme moves fully into Halloween.
The Gruffalo Art Adventure at Knole
Knole, Sevenoaks | 29 August–1 November 2026
Discover 12 giant hand-painted Gruffalo sculptures across Knole’s parkland and Orangery. The trail is a collaboration between the National Trust and Wild in Art with Magic Light Pictures. The trail itself is free, but normal Knole admission applies and advance admission booking is recommended.
Read our full Gruffalo Art Adventure at Knole 2026 guide for dates, admission and accessibility planning.
Dartford Bear Hunt
Dartford & Bluewater | 17 July–13 September 2026
A Wild in Art trail inspired by We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, featuring 31 Big Bears, 51 Bear Cubs and a special book bench while supporting ellenor.
Read our full Dartford Bear Hunt 2026 guide for trail details, bears and practical planning.
Trunks Across the Thames
Windsor, Eton, Slough, Maidenhead & Windsor Great Park | 13 July–13 September 2026
This free Thames Hospice and Wild in Art trail features 30 large and 61 small elephant sculptures across five main areas. One of the large elephants, Amara, was created by Charlie Mackesy. A Final Parade follows at Royal Windsor Racecourse on 26 September.
Read our full Trunks Across the Thames 2026 guide for route areas, elephant sculptures and the Final Parade.
Henry Moore at Kew
Kew Gardens, Richmond | 2026–January 2027 programme
Kew’s Henry Moore programme brings monumental sculpture into the landscape, with a dedicated family trail using sensory activities, sketching and games. Admission to Kew Gardens applies.
The Line
East London | Ongoing
The Line is an outdoor public art route connecting Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and The O2, making it particularly useful for combining contemporary art with a Greenwich or East London day out.
Coming Up in September 2026
Lady in Blue – Fourth Plinth
Trafalgar Square | From 10 September 2026
Tschabalala Self’s Lady in Blue is the next Fourth Plinth commission, bringing a new large-scale public artwork to Trafalgar Square.
London Sculpture Week
Across London | 19–27 September 2026
A city-wide celebration of sculpture connecting major public art programmes including Frieze Sculpture, East Bank, the Fourth Plinth, Sculpture in the City and The Line.
Coming in 2027
A Neverland Adventure
Bloomsbury & Camden, London | July–August 2027
Wild in Art and GOSH Charity are bringing a Peter Pan and Neverland-inspired outdoor trail to London. Plans include around 35–50 large storybook benches created by artists, alongside smaller community and school benches, supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.
Past Trails & Archive
Public art trails are temporary by nature, but that does not mean they disappear from Clarissa’s Corner when they finish. This section will grow into an archive of notable trails from previous years, preserving dates and locations while helping readers discover the organisations and characters behind them.
Past London and South East examples include character trails featuring Morph, Snoopy and Elmer, alongside earlier Wild in Art projects and temporary sculpture installations.
Family & Character Art Trails
Character trails are a lovely crossover between books, culture and days out. Our coverage includes The Gruffalo, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and future story-led trails, with links back to our Books & Adaptations coverage where relevant.
Public Art & Sculpture for Adults
Not every trail needs to be character-led. London has a strong programme of contemporary outdoor sculpture, including The Line, the Fourth Plinth and seasonal programmes such as London Sculpture Week. These can work as dedicated art days or be combined with theatre, museums and other London plans.
Heritage & Historic Walks
Not every route-based day out is an art or sculpture trail. I’m keeping historic parkland and heritage walks clearly labelled here so they are easy to discover without pretending they belong to the same category as public art.
Scotney Castle Historic Parkland Trail — Kent
Distance: around 2 miles / 3.2km
Time: around one hour
Grade: moderate
The National Trust route explores Scotney’s historic parkland using grassy paths, open fields and a tarmac lane, with moderate hills. The official route notes steps at a bridge and stiles later on the walk; the stiles can be avoided by staying on the tarmac route. Conditions can vary with the weather, so check the route before setting out.
Open the official Scotney Castle parkland trail and route resource. For more heritage-led days out, see our Heritage Open Days and Kent heritage guide.
Accessibility & Planning
Accessibility varies considerably between trails. A city-centre sculpture route may involve pavements, crossings and public transport, while parkland trails can include grass, slopes and uneven ground. Ticketed estates and attractions may also have their own access arrangements.
Our individual guides will include practical accessibility information wherever it has been officially confirmed. If you have specific access requirements, check the organiser or venue information before travelling.
More Days Out on Clarissa’s Corner
This hub will continue to grow as new trails are announced. Individual guides will cover the larger current trails, while smaller and past trails can remain here as useful archive entries rather than creating thin or outdated pages.
