8 min readPlan some day trips to complete Gromit Unleashed 3 this summer!
There are 53 sculptures in total on this year's trail, so to break them into more manageable chunks, we've split them into groups that you can do by area.
Our East Bristol route takes in Eastville, Kingswood and areas around the ring road, while our North Bristol route starts in Henleaze before winding its way through Patchway and Cribbs Causeway, and then into South Gloucestershire.
All of the sculptures, including those located at attractions, are free to visit, but please check opening times before you visit. Don't forget to tag us in your photos on Instagram so that we can share them to our Gromit Unleashed gallery!
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.
East Bristol
The distance between the sculptures on this route makes it one you'll need to tackle by bike, bus, or car. The Bristol and Bath Railway Path cycle route runs close to the four sculptures, and you can plan any bus travel with the help of Travelwest.
📍 Walk the Lime at Wai Yee Hong, BS5 6XX
Start the trail at Wee Yai Hong, the large Chinese supermarket in Eastgate Oriental City. This citrusy Gromit, painted by Katie Wallis, is located in the entrance hall of the restaurant and is open to visit from 9am until 9pm daily.
Image - Walk the Lime
📍 Marigold at IKEA Bristol, BS5 6XX
Just around the corner and less than a ten-minute walk from Wai Yee Hong is a Bollywood-inspired Gromit, painted by Sofia Barton, in the entrance of IKEA Bristol, which is open 9am - 9pm daily.
📍 Starcatcher at Kingswood Park, BS15 4AD
Head over to the East Bristol suburb of Kingswood for the next stop, where you'll find the dazzling Starcatcher Norbot, painted by Oliver Jeffers, waiting for you in Kingswood Park. While you're in the area, why not visit Kingswood Heritage Museum to see exhibits on local history, including World War II, coal mining, and motorcycles.
Image - Starcatcher
📍 Sweet and Tidy at Warmley Waiting Room, BS30 5JB
Take the A420 across the Ring Road, or hop on your bike along the Bristol and Bath Railway Path to the next location at the former Warmley Station. The cycle path was once a railway line connecting Bristol with nearby Bath - if you want an idea of what it would have once been like, steam trains still run at Avon Valley Railway in Bitton, just a couple of miles away.
Sporting an ice cream cone hat and popcorn bucket boots painted by Simon Tozer, this Norbot is standing to attention on the station platform. Grab a hot drink and snack from the cafe while you're here and take in the well-preserved Victorian buildings, including the wooden signal box and waiting room.
Image - Sweet and Tidy
📍 Rosebud at AJ Homes, Winterbourne, BS36 1JX
Head around the Ring Road and across the M4 to the village of Winterbourne to meet the Rosebud, a floral Gromit painted by Tanith Gould. The sculpture is in front of the AJ Homes office on Flaxpits Lane.
📍 Austentatious at The Kendleshire, BS36 2UY
A ten-minute drive away is The Kendleshire golf club, which is playing host to a very green Gromit, created by Agrumi Topiary Art!
📍 Mowgli at The Rose & Crown, Pucklechurch, BS16 9PS
Another ten-minute drive away is the final stop on this route. You'll find a Jungle Book-themed Gromit, painted by Lindsay Cameron, in the garden of The Rose & Crown pub. Stop in for refreshments and say hello to the alpacas while you're there!
Image - Austentatious
North Bristol and Beyond
📍 Edelweiss at CrossFit Henleaze, BS9 4JS
Start your North Bristol day trip outside CrossFit on Henleaze Road. Edelweiss takes its name from the song in 'The Sound of Music', and you'll also see how the film has inspired the Alpine artwork across this Gromit Sculpture, painted by Jenny Urquhart.
📍 Beagle 3 at Aerospace Bristol, BS34 5BZ
Head north towards Filton to meet an extra-terrestrial Gromit at Aerospace Bristol. You'll find Beagle 3 in the new Flightline Kitchen & Bar, where you can also treat yourself to a coffee, sundae or milkshake, or snack.
You don't need a ticket for Aerospace Bristol to see Beagle 3, but if you do decide to head inside, you'll be able to see a range of aviation exhibits and step aboard the last Concorde to fly. Two children can visit for free with each paying adult this summer - book online and save 10% off your adult tickets too!
Image - Beagle 3 at Aerospace Bristol
📍 The Birds at Brabazon, Patchway, BS34 4AB
Just a few minutes' walk is the new neighbourhood of Brabazon, built on the former Filton airfield, which you can learn about at Aerospace Bristol.
You'll find a Gromit, painted by Hannah Bone and featuring several species of birds, on The Green near The Hangar, a community hub and café.
📍 Gromit Woody at Cribbs Mall, BS34 5DG
The Mall at Cribbs Causeway is home to three sculptures this year, the first of which is Gromit Woody, designed in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios and painted by Aardman, creators of Wallace and Gromit.
The Mall is home to over 150 shops, including John Lewis, Apple, Marks & Spencer, Next and Lush. The neighbouring retail parks are also home to a variety of entertainment options, from bowling at Hollywood Bowl and crazy golf at Mulligan's, to ice hockey at Planet Ice, obstacle courses at Ninja Warrior, and cinema screenings at VUE.
Image - Woody
📍 Darth McGraw at Cribbs Mall, BS34 5DG
On the upper floor of The Mall is another film-inspired sculpture. This time it's a Darth Vader version of Feathers McGraw, created in collaboration with Lucasfilm and made by Amalgam.
📍 Yellow Submarine at Cribbs Mall, BS34 5DG
The third Gromit Unleashed 3 sculpture at The Mall is on the lower level, and is a Beatles-inspired Gromit painted by Emily Golden and made in collaboration with Paul McCartney! Taking inspiration from the bright colours and illustrations of the Yellow Submarine animated film from 1968, soundtracked by The Beatles.
Image - Yellow Submarine
Once you've completed all of the Cribbs sculptures, you could refuel at one of the local restaurants, or head to Mollie's Diner for burgers and milkshakes, or to the cafe at The Wave to watch the surfers while you eat. You're also on the doorstep of Bristol Zoo Project if you fancy some real-life animal encounters!
Image - Mollies Diner
📍 The T.E.A.minator at Willow Brook, Bradley Stoke, BS32 8BS
Head along the M5 for a few minutes, and just off junction 16 in Bradley Stoke is this robotic Wallace, painted by Peski Studio. You'll find him enjoying his cup of tea by the entrance of Willow Brook shopping centre in Bradley Stoke.
📍 Fisherman's Friend at West Country Water Park, BS36 1RY
From West Country Water Park, it's just a ten-minute drive to cross the M4 to our next stop at West Country Water Park. This Wallace was painted by Elaine Carr, and you can enjoy a great view of the lake and floating obstacle course from his bench.
If you want to keep exploring and tick off all of the sculptures, these three are just a little further out in South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire.
Further afield
📍 The Secret Keeper at St Mary Centre, Thornbury, BS35 2AB
Located just off the main High Street in the pretty market town of Thornbury, this green-fingered Gromit is inspired by the film 'The Secret Garden' and painted by local artist Hannah McVicar. Find him outside the St Mary Centre.
📍 Once Upon a Time at The Beaufort Arms, Hawkesbury Upton, GL9 1AU
Head to the back garden at village pub The Beaufort Arms to meet this intricately illustrated Gromit, painted by Freya Hartas. The pub are doing a 'Gromit Photo of the Day', so make sure you tag them in any photos you get with him!
📍 El Plumas at WWT Slimbridge, GL2 7BT
This Mexican-style Day of the Dead Feathers McGraw was designed and painted by Jorge R. Gutierrez, inspired by his award-winning animated film 'The Book of Life'.
You can visit El Plumas from 8.15am - 6pm daily, without the need for an admission ticket, or if you want to visit WWT Slimbridge, you can join in with a range of dragonfly-themed activities as part of their Dragonfly Festival all summer, spot visiting birds from the estuary tower and hides, splash in Welly Boot Land, or learn about how WWT is saving species from extinction.
Image - El Plumas
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