About the trail
Sniff out the trail at Canary Wharf
Do you have a nose for adventure? Come and join the Guide Dogs sculpture trail, weaving its way through London’s Canary Wharf for eight weeks, from 25 March to 17 May 2024.
A fun and family-friendly celebration of our iconic guide dogs, art, creativity and accessibility. We're showcasing our larger-than-life guide dog sculptures, each individually designed and decorated by a talented artist. Free to attend, this outdoor trail is accessible 24/7 and is the ideal free day - especially on the weekends and the early May bank holiday. The total trail distance is approximately five and a half kilometres but is set out in 'Areas'. Each Area has a cluster of sculptures. That way, you can choose to visit as many areas as you wish.
Every dog has a ‘tail’ to tell. Can you find them all?
The sculptures
Raising pounds for clever hounds
Every day in the UK, 250 more people join the 2 million already living with sight loss and this number is set to double by 2050.
Guide Dogs is here to help people with sight loss live the life they choose. But we can only do this with your support.
Our incredible dogs help people get out with confidence, going wherever school, work or play takes them - and knowing that sight loss won’t hold them back. The advice and skills we provide give people the freedom to live life on their own terms, in their own way, and achieve their hopes and ambitions.
Paws on the Wharf aims to raise awareness around the challenges of living with sight loss and the critical work we do to support the adults, young people and children affected by vision impairment.
We also aim to raise vital funds that will enable us to guide individuals and families through the emotional and practical challenges of sight loss, giving them the knowledge, tools and skills they need to live their life to the full.
Want to support our life-changing work through Paws on the Wharf?
Discover Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is home to London’s largest collection of outdoor public art, with over 100 stand-alone sculptures and integrated architectural works. So, it's the ideal place to unleash our guide dog sculptures!
An iconic destination and the heart of the London business district, Canary Wharf is defined by culture, with over 300 shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, and boasting a sought-after new residential neighbourhood. There’s much to celebrate in this thriving community, for visitors, workers and residents.
Join our trail to discover Canary Wharf and our incredible guide dog sculptures!
How to visit the trail
Get your free accessible digital trail map and discover the other options available to support your visit.
Printed maps are available to pick up in Canary Wharf from:
- Our pop-up shop during our events - see the events page for when these are happening.
- Canary Wharf - One Canada Square 24/7 reception.
- Canary Wharf - Minigolf at Montgomery Square (open 12pm - 6pm daily - but may be closed in extreme weather conditions).
With huge thanks to The Liquorice Press Ltd for gift in kind for their print services of the printed trail map.
What makes our art trail accessible?
The overall purpose of our art trail is to raise funds to help us continue to deliver vital Guide Dogs services to support people with sight loss. It will raise awareness of the challenges of sight loss and the life-changing work we do.
Paws on the Wharf will also highlight the importance of accessibility and inclusion. We’re hosting smaller events throughout the trail period to help raise awareness and encourage important conversations. Our sculptures themselves have been decorated by a diverse group of artists, several of whom have live experience of sight loss.
We aim to make the trail one of the most accessible outdoor art trails yet - to ensure better access for people with sight loss and other disabilities.
Some ways the trail is accessible include:
-
Having an accessible website and digital marketing content to inform people about the trail and options for support when visiting.
-
Using NaviLens technology to support people with sight loss experience the trail.
-
We are offering sighted guide tours for people who would prefer support navigating the trail with multi-sensory elements included.
-
Option to order trail information in large format or braille - please email us at pawsonthewharf@guidedogs.org.uk to order a copy
-
The trail is step-free and a manageable distance.
-
Many of the sculptures incorporate tactile elements.
Use the NaviLens App to help experience the trail
Find out more about how NaviLens technology can help you experience the trail and how to download it for free.
Can't visit? You can still get your kids involved!
If you're not able to join our trail in Canary Wharf, you can still get your kids involved with our free kids activity pack. They can design a sculpture and do some fun activities that also help them learn about sight loss and accessibility.
Paws on the Wharf
A Guide Dogs and Wild in Art event supported by Citi and hosted by Canary Wharf Group and Canal & River Trust.
Follow the trail on Instagram @pawsonthewharf_guidedogs