Lions of Bath 2010
A giant pride of 100 individually decorated, life-size lion sculptures has taken up residence in and around the World Heritage City of Bath in a colourful, public art event to raise funds for charity and bring a smile to the faces of residents and visitors alike.
Some of the Lions of Bath pride on safari in the Royal Crescent
The majestic pride has been sponsored by a wide range of businesses, communities and individuals, and decorated by talented artists and craftspeople from Bath and beyond, using their skill and imagination to produce fabulously eye-catching artworks from the beautiful to the bizarre.
The 6ft lion sculptures can be seen in prime locations across the city, by the 16th century Bath Abbey, in the Roman Baths, in front of the Royal Crescent, in The Circus, around the new Southgate shopping centre, guarding the ticket hall at Bath Spa train station, up on buildings, in parks and in some rather unexpected locations... Keep your eyes peeled as lions lurk around every corner!
News Page
Please visit our NEWS page for the latest information about the "Lions of Bath 2010" pride
Safari Maps
If you are heading into Bath on safari this summer, you can track down all the lions in the pride with the help of the "Lions of Bath Safari maps", which are available from the Lions of Bath shop in Milsom Place in the heart of the city as well and other outlets including the Bath Tourist Information Centre and the Bath Festivals Office near the Abbey.
"Lions Roar Goodbye" weekend
The lions will remain on public display throughout the summer until mid-September when they come in to be restored to their former glory in preparation for the "Lions Roar Goodbye" auction preview event on the weekend of 9th & 10th October.
The weekend will see all 100 lions gathered together in one giant pride in front of the world famous Royal Crescent for two days of lion viewing and entertainment - a really wild weekend for all the family!
For further details visit the Lions Roar Goodbye page of the website
"The Bath Lion", sponsored by Longleat, in pride of place in front of Bath Abbey, with "Wayne Roarney" in the background...
Lions of Bath charity auctions
The 100 lions in the pride will be sold at two Lions of Bath 2010 charity auctions on Friday 15th October at the Assembly Rooms in Bath and Sunday 17th October at Komedia, Bath.
For further information or to register your interest in attending the auctions, please see the charity auction page or email info@lionsofbath.com
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Lions of Bath 2010 charities
All net profits from the Lions of Bath 2010 event will be donated to a number of charities, including Off the Record, a children's charity supporting young carers aged 5-18; the Quartet Community Foundation, which is being match funded by the government to the tune of up to 92p to every pound raised and supports a wide range of regional community projects; and the Mayor's Relief Fund for Bath, which gives emergency funding for those in real need in the city. A percentage will also be ploughed back into a rolling fund for future public art projects in Bath.
Please contact us:
- if you interested in event sponsorship
- if you have any other general enquiries
- to let us know how you are enjoying the pride
Why Lions? The lion has been the symbol of royal England for nine hundred years.
The first King of all England, King Edgar, was crowned in Bath in 973AD.
The three lion symbol of England was created by King Richard I (known as Richard the Lionheart - 1157-1199), who combined the lion crest of his father, King Henry II, with that of his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and then added his own.
The picture below, which hangs outside the Coeur de Lion, the smallest pub in Bath, shows Richard the Lionheart riding into battle during the 12th century Crusades carrying a shield emblazoned with his three golden lion crest.
A lion is featured on the City of Bath Coat of Arms and over 500 images of lions can be seen in and around Bath, reflecting the royal heritage of the city.
The two magnificent bronze lion sculptures that guard the entrance to Royal Victoria Park mark its opening in 1830 by Queen Victoria when she was just 11 years old.
The park became the first in the world to be named after her and the recently restored lion statues celebrate their 180th anniversary this year.
Lions of Bath 2010 was inspired by the successful 2008 King Bladud's Pigs event, which raised £200,000 for Bath's Two Tunnels Project.
