Guide to the Pride of Portsmouth Art Trail

Something big is landing in Portsmouth tomorrow. If you have been looking for a fresh way to explore the city, the Pride of Portsmouth Trail officially launches this Monday, 13 July 2026. Created in partnership with Wild in Art, this family-friendly art walk is a major highlight of the Portsmouth 100 centenary celebrations, marking a century since Portsmouth was granted city status. For the next eight weeks, until Sunday 13 September 2026, you can hunt down 45 uniquely decorated lion sculptures scattered across our streets, each showcasing different themes and local creative styles. To make a day of it, you can download a dedicated app to unlock each lion, read up on the artists, and collect rewards as you go.

The project has been two years in the making, tracing back to a partners' conference at the International Port where the idea of a city-wide sculpture trail first took shape. Just a couple of days ago, on Friday 10 July, the artists, sponsors, and organisers gathered at the Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery to celebrate the upcoming launch. Cllr Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth City Council, noted that the trail is part of a wider, diverse cultural programme designed to celebrate the centenary. It is a great excuse to get outdoors, see some incredible local art, and perhaps rediscover parts of the city you haven't walked through in a while.

Some of the lions have brilliant local backstories. Keep an eye out for Leonardo da Pompey, designed by Louise Braithwaite of Mad Lou Publishing, which was the very first sculpture unveiled and features illustrated scenes of Portsmouth. Over at Hilsea bus station, you will find Cushty, a lion created by Daisy Barker that incorporates local slang like "dinlo" alongside nods to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. If you head over to Victoria Park, you can spot The Town Crier, designed by Andrea Martin and sponsored by The News, which draws inspiration from 100 years of local headlines. Another special sculpture is Hope, dedicated to the late activist Lara Kynvin and created by the local community interest company Seekers Create. This design was shaped during collaborative workshops involving Pompey in the Community, SPARK, Motiv8, Politely Rebellious, and the Parenting Network.

If you want to plan your route around some of the key locations, there is plenty to see along the way. Victoria Park itself is a great stop, offering 15 acres of green space right next to Portsmouth and Southsea station. It is currently looking fantastic following a major £3.2 million restoration project that began in late 2022. You can also head north towards Hilsea Lines, where the city council has been encouraging visitors to travel by bus as part of the local Bus Service Improvement Plan. Alternatively, you can start your journey near the Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery on Museum Road, where you can also check out their permanent local history exhibits or their current art exhibition featuring the landscape paintings of Benjamin Haughton.