The City comes to life with contemporary sculpture

Let's be honest. Province of bankers and brokers, Gherkins, Cheesegraters and a thousand Pret A Mangers: the Square Mile isn't the first place you'd look to find a host of arresting artworks. And yet, every year, the City of London takes contemporary art out of its natural habitat and places it in surprising corners of the financial district.

This year's Sculpture in the City will be the largest to date, showcasing 16 works from art world heavyweights. The outdoor exhibition will include works from internationally renowned artists including Paul McCarthy, Ryan Gander and Martin Creed. Their work will be displayed among some of Britain’s most famous buildings, including The Leadenhall Building, also known as the ‘Cheesegrater’, and, for the first time, Richard Rogers' Lloyd’s building.

Daniel Buren, 4 colours at 3 metres high situated work, 2011

Head to Callum Street to find Damien Hirst's Temple, 2008, and to The Leadenhall Building to see Kevin Killen’s Tipping Point, 2016, which comprises a series of neon light arrays. Accompanying these works will be Mark Wallinger’s life-sized sculpture The Black Horse, 2015, which will welcome visitors at the corner of Bishopsgate and Wormwood Street, near to Creed’s work.

Now in its seventh year, Sculpture in the City goes from strength to strength. As part of the London Festival of Architecture programme, two free tours of the sculptures on display will take place; the first on 29 June between 12.30pm and 2pm, and the second on 30 June between 4.30pm and 6pm. For more information on the comprehensive programme of events for the London Festival of Architecture website, click here.

Karen Tang, Synapsid, 2014-2015

Whether you're surprised by a chance encounter with a sculpture on a latte-run, or decide to see them all in one lunch break, this outdoor exhibition is a great opportunity to get out of the office and make the most of London's outdoor art.