York's New Watchers Art Trail Launches Across the City

A new outdoor activity has just arrived in York, offering a different way to explore the city over the summer. Launched on Monday 29 June 2026, 'The Watchers of York' is a public art trail featuring 12 large-scale sculptures positioned across various locations, from quiet, hidden gardens to busy cobbled streets. Produced by Make It York in collaboration with York Minster, this trail runs until 31 August 2026, providing a family-friendly route that focuses entirely on local heritage and art rather than the usual food, drink, or performance themes.

The trail's design concept is inspired by the stone grotesques that sit high up on York Minster. Unlike gargoyles, which serve as water spouts, these decorative carvings are historical guardians. The 12 'Watcher' sculptures are four-foot-tall fiberglass figures mounted on railway sleeper plinths, each representing a different protective character linked to York's history. Among the figures scattered around the city are the River Watcher, guarding the Ouse and Foss; the Merchant Keeper, watching over the Shambles market; the Garden Guardian, protecting green spaces; and others like the Gatekeeper and the Watcher of the Night. The sculptures were constructed by Norse Sky, a prop-making team based in North Yorkshire, and painted by various artists from across the UK who were selected through a commission process managed by Lauren Frost.

If you want to follow the trail, you can pick up physical maps and find detailed information about the backstory and symbolism of each character at the Visit York Visitor Information Centre, located at 21 Parliament Street. The centre also stocks souvenirs inspired by the trail. Alternatively, all the details regarding the sculpture locations and the participating artists are hosted on the Visit York website. Once the trail concludes at the end of August, the 12 sculptures will be brought together for a final farewell gathering at York Minster in September.