04 July 2024
GO! Southampton is proud to announce its Trail Partner status in support of the Light the South art trail taking place this summer in Southampton and Cowes, with extra funding going to extend the trail in the city centre.
From 13th July, Light the South will feature 40 lighthouses, each standing 8ft tall, designed by top local and renowned artists to form unique masterpieces. In addition to the main trail, there are 40 smaller sculptures called Little Lights, designed by local schools and community groups, creating a family-friendly trail of discovery and adventure for both visitors and residents to explore and enjoy.
The trail is presented by Southampton Hospitals Charity in partnership with Wild in Art, raising vital funds for Southampton Children’s Hospital, one of the top three paediatric centres across the country. This year there will be two additions to the trail, part funded by GO! Southampton.
“We are very excited to be part of the sculpture trail for this year, and having part funded two of the sculptures, one of which will be in Carlton Place and the other in Oxford Street.” said Flo Bevis, Marketing Manager for GO! Southampton.
“We recognise that previous sculpture trails have not reached as far as Carlton Place or Oxford Street before and we were keen to change this. We can’t wait for the trail to get started.
“We are delighted to have been able to make this happen, as Light the South will be a huge benefit to the areas and BID members, bringing an estimated 250,000 visitors across the summer.”

Ellis Banfield, Southampton Hospitals Charity Chief Executive, said: “We’re thrilled to bring this spectacular art installation to Southampton and Cowes. Light the South will weave together the best culture, heritage, and diversity the South has to offer, and we hope our community is as excited as we are to see this fantastic public trail take place in our city. As well as creating a brilliant adventure for families, Light the South will help Southampton Hospitals Charity to shine a light on, and raise vital funds for our Children’s Hospital.”
For those taking part in the trail, there is a Light the South app, which has more information on the sculptures and the trail. There will also be lots of exclusive offers and discounts available to those who take part in the trail, simply scan the codes on the sculptures to find out more.
Once the trail ends, the sculptures will be auctioned at Southampton International Boat Show to raise money for the hospital charity and support Southampton Children’s Hospital. Find out more about Light The South here.