England’s outdoor art is admirable. There are thousands of inspiring sculptures created by renowned artists scattered all over the country. You’ll find them in parks, castle grounds or even in the middle of city centres. Check out our list of 5 must see sculptures in England.
Angel of the North, Newcastle
The Angel of the North sculpture has been a strongly recognised symbol of Newcastle Gateshead ever since it was completed in 1998 by British sculptor Antony Gormley. The steel angel measures in at 20 metres tall, with wings measuring 54 metres, making it the largest angel sculpture in the world. Not only is it the largest angel sculpture in the world, it’s one of the most popular sculptures in the UK, attracting around 150,000 people visit the angel each year. The Angel of the North is unmissable, especially if you are driving from the A1 and A167 roads in Newcastle. Visitors can stand at the very foot of the statue too via the short walk from the car park at Durham Road.
Seven Noses of Soho, London
The Seven Noses of Soho are definitely nowhere near as big as the Angel of the North, but they are equally as interesting and perhaps even more mysterious. The first nose appeared on a building in London in 1997. Since then 30 more appeared, however most were removed immediately. A few urban myths surround the appearance of the noses, but the artist, Rick Buckley, revealed that he was provoked by the controversial introduction of CCTV cameras throughout London and installed the noses under the noses of the cameras as a prank. Visitors to London who have heard about the noses sometimes like to take part in walking trails to find all the remaining sculptures.
Robin Hood, Nottingham
Robin Hood is Nottingham’s legendary outlaw, so it only fair to have a 7ft statue of him erected outside Nottingham Castle. The Robin Hood statue has been standing since 1952, when the Duchess of Portland unveiled the sculpture on the Robin Hood lawn just beneath the Castle. It’s also surrounded by small studies of his ‘Merry Men’, Little John, Friar Tuck, Alan A Dale and Will Scarlett. Today, the sculpture is one of Nottingham’s most popular tourist attraction. Millions of visitors, including celebrities, visit just to have their photo taken beside it.
Another Place, Merseyside
Another interesting set of sculptures by Antony Gormley, creator of the Angel of the North. Another Place consists of 100 cast-iron, life-sized figures scattered across Crosby Beach in Liverpool. The figures are said to be modelled by the artists own naked body which sparked controversy at first, although increased tourism to the beach. Initially, the sculptures were to travel around the world, having appeared in Germany, Norway and Belgium, but upon arrival to Liverpool in 2005 it was decided the iron men would remain here. Depending on the tide, sometimes the figures are submerged under sand or water.
The Scallop, Suffolk
Also located on a beach, the Scallop sculpture can be found on Aldeburgh in Suffolk. The sculpture was created by local artist Maggi Hambling in 2013 and consists of an impressive 13ft scallop shell that is broken into two pieces. The Scallop is dedicated to the late composer and Aldeburgh local, Benjamin Britten and displays the quote “I hear those voices that will not be drowned” from his opera Peter Grimes. Not only is the sculpture a visual art, it’s audio art too as the centre of the sculpture focuses on the sounds of the waves and wind.
Best of Scotland Holiday’s Arts and Culture package takes visitors to some of these fascinating sculptures, plus much more.
We can put together the perfect package custom built to our customers’ requirements. You can check out our sample itinerary here or contact us to discuss your requirements and we can put a quote together.
