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Reading town centre is set to be transformed into a baa-rilliant adventure destination this summer, as 12 giant Shaun the Sheep sculptures invade the town centre to create a fun visitor trail from 5 July to 31 August 2025.
The flagship event of this year’s Visit Reading Summer campaign will see the much-loved Aardman character, Shaun the Sheep, brought to life through 12 vibrant sculptures placed at key locations around Reading town centre. Delivered in collaboration with Aardman and global art producer, Wild in Art, the Find the Flock in Reading trail will feature a diverse collection of uniquely designed sculptures created by artists from across the region and beyond.
Central to the trail are Reading’s two major shopping centres – The Oracle and Broad Street Mall – which are partnering in the campaign and hosting several Shaun sculptures within their retail spaces. As key destinations in the experience, both venues will play a prominent role in delivering free family events throughout the summer, encouraging footfall and creating a vibrant atmosphere in the town centre.
The trail will run for a total of eight weeks and is free for everyone, with maps available to download online, or collect from The Oracle, Broad Street Mall, and Reading Station Tourist Information Unit.
In addition to exploring the giant colourful characters, each standing at 160cm tall, visitors can take part in a fun competition by unscrambling letters hidden on 11 Shaun statues to form a mystery word, with prizes up for grabs for eagle-eyed participants.
The initiative is brought to Reading by its town centre businesses, through Reading’s Business Improvement District (BID), and will be delivered in partnership with The Oracle and Broad Street Mall shopping centres. The event forms part of ongoing efforts to attract residents and visitors into the town centre with vibrant, family-friendly experiences.
Alexa Volker, Reading BID Manager said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing a little extra joy to Reading this summer. We’ve seen first-hand how successful trails like this can be for Reading – from our Easter and Halloween trails to last year’s Medieval Fantasy Quest – previous campaigns have attracted thousands of visitors, boosted footfall, and supported local retailers and hospitality in the town centre.
“Shaun the Sheep is a beloved character for all ages and we’re confident that he will have the same positive impact in Reading this summer, bringing families into town, creating moments of joy, and encouraging people to explore and support our brilliant town centre businesses.”
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder at Wild in Art said, “We’re thrilled to be continuing our ongoing partnership with Aardman Animations to bring Shaun the Sheep to Reading. We hope visitors will discover the joy of the trail and see how our incredible artists have brought this iconic and cheeky character to life.”
Molly Van Den Brink, Attractions & Live Experiences Manager at Aardman added: “We’re delighted for Shaun to be leading Visit Reading’s key campaign this summer, encouraging families to explore their local town centre and offering a free family activity which is accessible for all. The sculptures are all beautifully hand decorated, and we are pleased so many fans and families will have the chance to follow the trail and hunt them down!”
Whether you’re a Shaun superfan, a family looking for free summer fun, or just enjoying a day out in Reading, this trail promises something for everyone.
To make the experience even more fun, visitors can look out for Woolly Wednesday themed challenges, pop-up activities, and surprise events throughout the summer holidays – perfect for keeping little ones entertained and creating unforgettable memories in the heart of Reading.
For more information and updates, head to Visit-Reading.com/ShaunTheSheep or follow @visitrdg on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok
