Seventeen giant lion and lioness sculptures will appear across Westminster this summer as central London prepares for a season of international football and major visitor events. The free public trail, called Pride in the Quarter, will run from June to August 2026, placing artist-designed lion sculptures across locations including Trafalgar Square, St James’s Park, and Victoria Tower Gardens near the Houses of Parliament.
Organisers London Heritage Quarter said the project takes inspiration from the Three Lions identity closely associated with England’s national football team, with each sculpture designed by a different artist.
The installations will stretch across some of Westminster’s busiest and most recognisable landmarks, including routes near Buckingham Palace and Westminster Cathedral, as London prepares for an influx of visitors during the summer tournament period.
Rather than repeating one design style, the trail brings together 17 separate artistic interpretations. Some sculptures focus on football celebration and national identity, while others reflect London’s architecture, green spaces and multicultural character.
One of the lions will also appear along the Pride in London parade route as part of the wider summer programme across central London.
Ruth Duston OBE, chief executive of London Heritage Quarter, said the project was designed to celebrate London, football and the communities connected to both.
“Pride in the Quarter is exactly that: pride in our people, our culture, our great city, and our sporting heroes, she said. “With a summer of international football upon us, what better way to celebrate than unveiling our own pride of lions and lionesses across some of London’s iconic locations?”
Artist Roshi Rouzbehani said her contribution focused on capturing the energy and diversity of the capital. “Through colour and detail, my giant sculpture will capture that energy and bring it to life in a way people can experience in their everyday surroundings,” she said.
Visitors following the trail will also be able to explore outdoor screenings, hospitality venues and cultural activity taking place across the area during the football tournament. London Heritage Quarter is expected to release the full list of sculpture locations closer to the launch of the trail.
Recent international football stories have extended far beyond the traditional powerhouses, including Curaçao becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup. The tournament atmosphere arriving in London this summer also reconnects many supporters with defining moments from football history, including the lasting debate around Roy Keane’s World Cup walkout.
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