A steam train loaded with sculptures of Wallace, Gromit, Feathers McGraw and Wallace’s latest invention, Norbot made its way into Bristol this morning (Wednesday, June 25). Driven by ‘Wallace & Gromit’ creator Nick Park, the train carried a dozen unique character sculptures into the city to mark the start of Gromit Unleashed 3.
Now, over the coming days, all 53 sculptures will be delivered to their trail locations, throughout the city of Bristol and beyond. The sculpture trail, which officially starts on Monday, June 30, is a joint initiative by The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity and multi-award-winning independent studio, Aardman.
“It’s amazing to see such imagination and originality from the artists taking part in our trail this summer,” said Nick Park, creator of ‘Wallace & Gromit’. “I’ve had the privilege of watching the work of such talented creators coming together all in support of a great cause, The Grand Appeal. I look forward to a summer of ‘Gromiteering’ around Bristol and beyond this summer.”
The new trail includes already announced designs in collaboration with and inspired by Roald Dahl, DreamWorks and Netflix, alongside a talented line-up of local artists. Joining two exclusive sculptures from Nick Park, there are also designs by, and in collaboration with, Sir Paul McCartney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Richard Curtis, Jorge R. Gutierrez, Peter Lord, and local artists.
What ‘Wallace & Gromit’ sculptures could I see?
We know that Gromit Unleashed 3 will take trail hunters from Brabazon to Broadmead, College Green to Cheddar Gorge, and beyond. This also includes iconic locations like Ashton Court, Clifton Suspension Bridge, St Nicholas Market, Underfall Yard and IKEA.
This year’s trail will see a Wednesday-inspired Feathers McGraw (signature deadpan look included) welcoming visitors to Bristol at Temple Meads; The Big Friendly Wallace inspired by Roald Dahl’s The BFG, at The New Inn Blagdon this summer; and a no-nonsense Norbot, straight from Vengeance Most Fowl, on Park Street, outside the Freemason’s Hall.
Elsewhere, the pink and plucky Poppy, fresh from a starring role in DreamWorks’ Trolls films, will be sponsored by and located at Puxton Park; an extraterrestrial Gromit, Beagle 3—sponsored by Trail Partner Rolls-Royce plc and created by Tim Sutcliffe—which will be found at Aerospace Bristol; and find the Ringmaster of the Greatest Dog Show on Earth outside Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Where can I find the ‘Gromit Unleashed 3’ sculptures?
- Aardman Animations, Gas Ferry Road
- Aerospace Bristol
- Ashton Court, Long Ashton
- Ashton Gate Stadium, Ashton Road
- Beauford Arms, Hawkesbury Upton
- Brabazon, Patchway
- Bristol Bus & Coach Station, Marlborough Street
- Bristol Children’s Hospital, Upper Maudlin Street
- Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Queens Road
- Broadmead
- Cabot Circus
- Cheddar Gorge and Caves, Cheddar
- Clifton Observatory, Clifton
- Clifton Suspension Bridge
- College Green
- Cribbs Mall
- CrossFit Henleaze, Henleaze Road
- Flaxpits Lane, Winterbourne
- Freemasons Hall, Park Street
- Gardiner Haskins Interiors, Straight Street
- Hargreaves Lansdown, Anchor Road
- IKEA Bristol, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Eastgate Road
- Kingswood Park, High Street, Kingswood
- M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road
- Narrow Quay
- Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Wraxall
- North Street, Southville
- Puxton Park, Hewish
- Quakers Friars, Broadmead
- St Mary Centre, Thornbury
- St Mary Redcliffe, Redcliffe
- St Nicholas Market, The Corn Exchange
- Temple Meads Station
- The Kendleshire, Coalpit Heath
- The New Inn, Blagdon
- The Rose & Crown, Pucklechurch
- The Wave, Easter Compton
- Thunderbolt Square
- TOUT’S, Main Road, Cleeve
- Underfall Yard, Cumberland Road
- Valentine’s Bridge, Temple Quay
- Victoria Park, Windmill Hill
- Victoria Rooms, Queens Road
- Victoria Square, Clifton Village
- Wai Yee Hong, Eastgate Road
- Warmley Waiting Room, Bristol and Bath Railway Path
- We The Curious, One Millennium Square
- West Country Water Park, Frampton Cotterell
- Whiteladies Road, Clifton
- Willow Brook, Bradley Stoke
- WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
To learn more about Gromit Unleashed 3 head here.