Having been on the-Queen’s Platinum Jubilee “Corgi Trail” the other week, this week my London Shoes focused its attention on yet another animal trail – but this time the animal trail in question was nothing to do with the Queen and her Corgi’s – this trail was all about “Chimpanzee’s”….
The “Chimps are Family” exhibition consists of 28 bronze sculptures of different species of chimp – and the trail is all part of a conservation project to raise awareness of the massive decline in these apes due to human driven activities like deforestation and bush-meat hunting.
Us humans share 98% of our DNA with chimps, and if we continue to neglect them and their natural inhabitant, then there is a serious danger that some species of chimp will become extinct.
The ‘Chimps are Family’ statues are all located in the couple or so streets between London Bridge and Tower Bridge on the south side of the River Thames, close to familiar landmarks such as HMS Belfast – Hays Galleria and City Hall.
The statues are the creation of of artists and activists “Gillie and Marc”, who were responsible for the recent and similar Lions in Waterloo exhibition which was in aid of the Born Free Foundation ……..(see London Shoes blog “Born Free Forever-Exhibition” dated Jan 2022) 
Chimpanzee’s are so closely related to humans, that they share the same types of emotional characteristics and behaviours such as love / grief / friendship /happiness plus anger and conflict – and in their statues Gillie & Marc have brilliantly designed the the chimps facial gestures and body language, to bring out these characteristics – making the sculptures very engaging.
You can get right up close to each one of the 28 statues, and touch them – ideal for children to clamber all over and have photos taken alongside them, whilst learning all about them
Each chimp has its own bespoke QR code – which can be scanned so as to find out more in-depth info about the specific ape that statue is based on.
So – this week – under beautifully sunny and warm London skies – my London Shoes walked across Tower Bridge and headed towards City Hall and the start of the “Chimps are Family” – and as all the statues are in close proximity of each other – it was easy to locate all 28 of them. 
All in all – a very enjoyable couple of hours – ideal fun for children – well worth exploring.
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It was such a hot day, so before heading off back home, my London Shoes popped in to the “Ship Wright’s Arms” pub, right next to the newly designed part of London Bridge station – for a quick ‘cheeky one’ – which, unintentionally ended up as a ‘cheeky’ four !!!!
The Ship Wright’s Arms is a Grade II Listed pub situated right next to the newly designed part of London Bridge Station. It was built around 1884 and inside there is an original tiled mural of shipwrights at work. With it being right next to London Bridge station and close by to the River and Tower Bridge – I would imagine it is a very popular and busy boozer – and I have to say that I got very comfortable whilst there, hence the reason why I ended up necking down 4 pints of Heineken.
Anyway – the Ship Wright’s Arms is a nice little boozer – well worth a visit – and it was a nice place to visit, to round off a very enjoyable day in the ‘smoke’.
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See below the full Gallery of photos taken to support this blog
Two of the chimps squaring up to each other, at the City Hall end of the ‘Chimps are Family’ trail.
The chimps at the City Hall end of the ‘Chimps are Family’ trail.
The chimps at the City Hall end of the ‘Chimps are Family’ trail – with Tower Bridge in the background
A dancing chimp
A closer view of the dancing chimp
The young chimps ‘Carter-Beau & Duke’ getting up to mischief
Each chimp statue has its own QR Code – which, when scanned – tells you all about that particular species of chimp and how seriously it is in danger of extinction.
A mother & child chimp playing hide & seek
A mother and child chimps – in a pensive mood
An inquisitive pair of chimps
An playful pair of chimps
Each chimp statue has its own QR Code – which, when scanned – tells you all about that particular species of chimp and how seriously it is in danger of extinction.
The chimp at the Hays Galleria part of the trail – right alongside the River.
The same chimp at the Hays Galleria part of the trail – right alongside the River.
The same chimp again – looking out across the River Thames with the ‘cheese greater’ in the distance
A chimp nicking some fruit, inside the Hays Galleria
A close-up of the fruit nicking chimp inside the Hays Galleria
A chimp reaching out – inside the Hays Galleria
Me – responding to one of the chimps inside the Hays Galleria
A rather sad and downtrodden chimp – on the southern banks of the River – near HMS Belfast
Me – trying to console the sad looking chimp situated near HMS Belfast – but failing badly.
Another view of the sad and chimp – near HMS Belfast
A mummy chimp and her baby – ambling down the southern banks of the River Thames
A mummy chimp and her baby – ambling down the southern banks of the River Thames
The mummy chimp photo-bombing me
A solitary chimp stalking the top half of Morgan’s Lane
The Morgan’s Lane chimp acting cautiously towards me taking a photo
Me – alongside the solitary chimp in Morgan’s Lane
A chimp “sending up the zzzz’s” – on the southern banks of the River
A close-up of the chimp having a kip on the southern banks of the River
Me – trying not to disturb the sleeping chimp
The colossal chimp on the banks of the Thames – near to HMS Belfast
Each chimp statue has its own QR Code – which, when scanned – tells you all about that particular species of chimp and how seriously it is in danger of extinction.
A closer view of the massive chimp near to HMS Belfast
A close-up of the massive chimp near to HMS Belfast
Me – & the huge chimp on the banks of the Thames near HMS Belfast
The massive chimp near HMS Belfast – looking out over the River Thames
A couple of chimps doing a bit of grooming
A chimp reaching out inside the Hays Galleria
A chimp protecting its baby – alongside the southern banks of the Thames
Another view of the chimp protecting its baby – alongside the southern banks of the Thames
Me – and a chimp holding hands inside the Hays Galleria
A chimp carrying its youngster – and being inquisitive about my selfie photo
The “Ship Wright’s Arms” – the location for my ‘cheeky’ beer – a Grade II Listed pub situated right next to the newly designed part of London Bridge Station. It was built around 1884 and inside there is an original tiled mural of shipwrights at work.
The main entrance to the Ship Wright’s Arms – Tooley Street – London Bridge
The side entrance to the Ship Wright’s Arms pub – Tooley Street
Me – enjoying the 1st of what ended up being 4 ‘cheeky’ beers in the Ship Wright’s Arms in Tooley Street, right next door to the newly opened part of London Bridge station.
Can’t get enough of these blogs
Thanks again Geoff
You’re very welcome Peter – stay safe matey
I just ❤ primates.. these are wonderful. When l lived across the Thames in Westminster l never saw these ☹ when were they put there?
Thank you for these pics, l always enjoy your tours. I now live closer to them in S.Africa 😊👍🏼
Going to take the granddaughters to see them. They’re 2 little monkeys!!
We went today but couldn’t find one of the apes on tooley street (ape no 4 on the map), we looked everywhere and it was the only one we missed!!
Hi Lindsey – I found that the map of where the Chimps are located, is slightly inaccurate for a couple of the statues – I too struggled to locate Chimp 4 straight off. From memory, I found it tucked away next to an office block entrance.
They are a really good display though aren’t they
Geoff (www.londonshoes.blog)