Pride of Portsmouth: 45 lions across the city

If you have been wondering where all the lions have come from, there is a simple explanation. Portsmouth is currently playing host to the Pride of Portsmouth, a family-friendly art trail that has scattered 45 uniquely designed lion sculptures, plus one lone unicorn, across the city's streets and landmarks. It is all part of Portsmouth 100, the celebrations marking the centenary of Portsmouth being granted city status on 21 April 1926, and it is one of the easier things to fit into a weekend with children in tow.

The trail runs for nine weeks, from 13 July to 13 September, so there is still plenty of time to catch it before it packs up. The best part is that it costs nothing to follow, it is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it is built for all ages, which is about as low-barrier as a city-wide activity gets. The route itself takes you on a bit of a journey: it begins up in Paulsgrove, in the north of the city, and winds its way down to Southsea, the coastal resort that sits about 1.8 miles south of the centre and takes its name from Southsea Castle, built back in 1544.

What makes the trail worth the walk is the variety on display. Each lion has been shaped by a different artist, and the designs draw on Portsmouth's character, heritage and communities rather than just looking the part. Or Misgav, a recent arrival to the city, created a white lion that she describes as a love letter to Portsmouth, with its design built from data gathered from the people who live here. November Tan, a heritage professional and PhD researcher from Singapore who moved here to finish her doctorate, turned her attention to the city's libraries and literary spaces, collecting hundreds of stories from four different libraries to shape her brown lion with its green and grey accents. Amy Palmer, whose connection to Portsmouth goes back to her university days, let the local wildlife and species guide her green lion, while Anjana Gadgil and Hannah Walsh, both artists based in the South of England, added their own interpretations to the mix.

It is worth knowing that these lions did not appear out of nowhere. The shortlisted designs were first put on show at Aspex Portsmouth at Gunwharf Quay from 12 to 22 February, so the versions now standing on the street are the ones that made the cut. The whole thing sits within the wider Portsmouth 100 and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Art project, which is why the trail is about more than just a few statues — it is a way of marking a centenary by filling the city with work that actually reflects the place.

Whether you want to make a proper day of it and walk the whole route from Paulsgrove down to Southsea, or just wander off and find a few lions near wherever you happen to be, the Pride of Portsmouth is an easy, free way to see a bit more of the city than you usually would. With the trail running until 13 September, there is no real rush, but it is the kind of thing that is best caught while the sculptures are still out in the wild.