8 min readAre you coming to the city for Gromit Unleashed 3 this summer? We've compiled this list of the most central locations on the trail - see how many you can tick off!
We've split our list into the central Bristol and Harbourside; it's up to you if you want to do both sections on the same day though...
See a full list of Gromit Unleashed locations here
For a precise location and to tick off the sculptures as you find them, download the Gromit Unleashed app for £2.49. All profits from purchasing the app will go to The Grand Appeal for Bristol Children's Hospital. Available from Google Play Store and Apple Store.
Central Bristol
This route is easy to do on foot or by bike. You'll also find numerous bus routes connecting these locations around the city centre.
📍Aladdin at St Nicholas Market, BS1 1JQ
Start your adventure by fuelling up at Bristol's favourite street food market, where you can choose from pie and mash, freshly cooked pasta, tacos, curries, and lots more. You can also browse a range of shops and stalls, selling everything from vintage clothes and jewellery to chilli sauces. Follow the paw print trail around the market to find the sculpture of Gromit, painted by Rachel Bennett.
From St Nicholas Market, cut down Broad Street, through the archways of the medieval St John on the Wall Church, and continue straight across the road. Next to Hotel du Vin you'll see Johnny Ball Alley, follow this winding alley all the way up to find yourself across the road from your next stop.
Image - St Nicholas Market
📍Ringmaster at Bristol Children’s Hospital, BS2 8BJ
The Gromit Unleashed 3 trail is raising money for The Grand Appeal, a charity based at the Children's Hospital with the aim of supporting sick children and their families. You'll find the show-stopping Ringmaster Gromit, painted by Tozer Signs, in front of the hospital, where you'll also see the colourful Lollipop Be-Bop artwork. See if you can find the playful sign that says the hoops are Quidditch hoops!
📍Emerald at Bristol Bus & Coach Station, BS1 3NU
Just down the hill from Bristol Children's Hospital on Marlborough Street, look out for this sparkly Gromit, created by Angus, at Bristol Bus & Coach Station.
📍Wallace Goes to Hollywood at John Wesley's New Room, BS1 3JE
Cross over into Broadmead for the next sculpture on the list - you'll find a dapper Wallace, painted by Rosalyn Burroughs and sitting on a bench outside the entrance to The New Room. Pop inside to visit the 18th century chapel, or enjoy a cuppa and a cake in their serene cafe. Show your Gromit Unleashed trail map at the counter and enjoy a tea or coffee plus any of their freshly made cakes for just £5, plus free entry to the museum for up to two children!
Image - Wallace Goes to Hollywood
📍Gnarlybot at Quakers Friars, BS1 3BD
A short walk away on Quakers Friars, keep your eyes peeled for a neon-painted Norbot! Designed by Gavin Strange and painted by Ruth Broadway, Gnarlybot definitely stands out among the nearby shops. Browse locally-made gifts at Prior, or shop for well-known names at Harvey Nichols.
📍Frostbite and Love, Actually at Cabot Circus, BS1 3BD
There are not one but two sculptures located inside Cabot Circus - you'll find the bright red Love, Actually Gromit, made in collaboration with Richard Curtis and painted by Sarah Matthews, on the ground floor, while the ice-tipped Frostbite Feathers McGraw, created by David Polonowski, is upstairs. There's plenty to keep you entertained nearby, from Treetop Golf to dining at one of the many restaurants.
Image - Cabot Circus
📍Cuckoo at Gardiner Haskins Interiors, BS2 0FQ
You've got a ten-minute stroll over to Old Market for the next sculpture. Located inside the Gardiner Haskins Interiors showroom, this cuckoo clock-inspired Gromit was painted by Marnie Maurri. You can visit during their opening hours: Monday-Friday 9am - 6pm or Saturday 9am - 5pm. They are also open exclusively for access to the Gromit on Sundays from 11am - 3pm.
📍Predator at Valentine’s Bridge, Temple Quay, BS1 6DX
From Gardiner Haskins, head to Temple Way and follow it across the bridge over the River Avon, turn left into Temple Back East and look out for this Feathers McGraw sculpture, created by Puppet Place.
Image - Predator in Temple Quay
📍Wednesday at Temple Meads Station, BS1 6QF
Cross from Temple Quay into Temple Meads Station, where out the front you'll find the purple Feathers McGraw inspired by the hit TV show Wednesday. This sculpture was created in collaboration with Netflix and painted by Ruth Broadway.
📍Treasure Island at St Mary Redcliffe Church, BS1 6RA
Finish up this part of the tour by following the ramp from Temple Meads down and crossing over to Temple Way. From here, it's just a few minutes' walk to the historic St Mary Redcliffe Church, where you'll find this literary-themed Gromit, painted by Laura Hallett, outside. Don't miss a chance to step inside the church, with parts of it dating from the 12th century. You can also follow the Treasure Island Trail nearby to learn more about Bristol's connections to this classic novel.
Image - Treasure Island
Harbourside
Take in the harbourside sites while you do some sculpture spotting! This route is a flat walking or cycling route, with a short ferry trip in the middle! You can also take the Bristol Ferry waterbus between many of these locations - we have detailed the stops below.
📍Phileas Dogg at M Shed, BS1 4RN
Start your walk on the quayside outside M Shed, where you can go on the hunt for a brightly coloured Gromit painted by Dave Bain.
M Shed is free to visit and tells the story of Bristol, or you can go aboard The Matthew, a reconstruction of the ship used by John Cabot on his expedition in 1497. The independent restaurants around Wapping Wharf behind the museum are a great option for fuelling the day ahead, and there are also some quirky shops for gift shopping.
Image - M Shed
📍Oceana at Arnolfini, BS1 4QA
Stroll across Prince Street Bridge to the next location outside Arnolfini, Bristol's contemporary art gallery. As well as its free exhibitions, there is also a modern cafe and bar with plenty of outside seating to enjoy the harbour views. Get a selfie with the statue of famous sailor John Cabot, located close to the mermaid-themed Gromit sculpture, painted by Jess Perrin.
Image - Oceana
📍King of Diamonds at Thunderbolt Square, BS1 4JZ
Cross over Prince Street and into the beautiful Queen Square, where you'll find a Feathers McGraw inspired by playing cards, painted by Emily Golden, next to The Cow & Sow chophouse. Once you've snapped a photo and ticked it off in your app, you can cut back across Prince Street, across Pero's Bridge and over to Anchor Square for the next location on the list.
📍Astrognome at We The Curious, BS1 5DB
Astrognome was designed by Nick Park CBE, the creator of Wallace and Gromit, and painted by Simon Tozer. The sculpture is located inside We The Curious, although you do not have to pay admission to view it (although we'd recommend going in, as there's plenty to see inside, including numerous interactive exhibits and a planetarium!). Please check the latest opening hours for the museum before visiting.
Image - Astrognome
📍Rooster Booster at Hargreaves Lansdown, BS1 5HL
From We The Curious, it's only a short walk down Anchor Road, where you'll spot a funky chicken version of Wallace! Designed by Aardman Animations' Peter Lord CBE and painted by Rachel Bennett, you can take a rest on the bench next to Wallace before you continue your journey.
Image - Rooster Booster
You can then take the cross-harbour ferry from nearby Hanover Quay across to...
📍Woolly Capers at Aardman Animations, BS1 6UN
Disembark the cross-harbour ferry next to Brunel's SS Great Britain, and head down Gas Ferry Road to find the only Shaun the Sheep on the trail. The sculpture is outside the head office of Aardman Animations, who make all of the Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep films!
From here you can walk along the harbourside loop to Underfall Yard, or take the Bristol Ferry waterbus a couple of stops.
📍Jolly Roger at Underfall Yard, BS1 6XG
The final sculpture on this route is arrrr-guably our favourite... This pirate-themed Norbot was painted by Paula Bowles and has a prime lookout point from Underfall Yard, Bristol's historic boatyard.
You'll have worked up quite a thirst from all that walking, so stop into Underfall Yard's cafe for a drink and enjoy the views of the harbour and colourful Hotwells houses.
If you wish to return to the city centre, you can take a Bristol Ferry back to where you started, or follow the harbourside loop back around.
Image - Jolly Roger
Read more:
