Watch Out - There's a Lion About!

St Michael and All Angels Church is hosting Watch Out – There's a Lion About! on Saturday 18 July, and it's free to come along. The main draw is the church's own Pride of Portsmouth lion sculpture, one of the special lions that make up the city's current art trail. If you're already out and about, it's an easy stop; if you're just starting your day, it's a good place to begin.

There's more to it than just looking, though. You can paint your own lion while you're there, and they're giving away a free snack and drink to visitors, so it works as a proper little activity rather than just a quick look-in. If you're planning to see more of the sculptures, there's a trail guide and an app to help you track them all down across the city.

The lion is part of the Pride of Portsmouth trail, a collection of sculptures marking 100 years of Portsmouth's status as a city. The whole thing sits within Portsmouth100, the year-long programme of events and activities running throughout 2026 to celebrate the centenary. This particular stop at St Michael and All Angels is just one part of that wider calendar, so it's a nice way to get involved with the celebrations without needing to commit to a whole day's itinerary.

It's free to attend, and the combination of the sculpture, the painting, and the free snack and drink makes it a straightforward one to bring the kids along with. The church is in Portsmouth, and the event runs on Saturday 18 July.