Waylamps of Barnet: A heritage discovery trail
Waylamps of Barnet: A heritage
discovery trail
Waylamps of Barnet:
A heritage discovery
trail
Stay Updated
Want (even more) Light + Flight?
We'd love to hear from you, whether you want
to get involved or be kept in the loop!
Presented by
Image Credits
Date
Image Credits
Image Credits
Summer + Autumn 2026
Courtesy of Wayward &
andre kong studio
Waylamps of Barnet: A Heritage Discovery Trail invites residents and visitors to explore Barnet and uncover its rich heritage and hidden histories.
Stretching from Colindale to North Finchley and connected by the 125 bus route, the trail combines four new landmarks – Waylamps – with a free illustrated map and field guide, encouraging people to journey across the borough, uncover hidden histories, and experience familiar places in new ways.
Download the map and field guide at the link above or pick up a printed copy from Colindale, Hendon, Finchley Church End and North Finchley libraries, and artsdepot.
Download the map and field guide at the link above or pick up a printed copy from Colindale, Hendon, Finchley Church End and North Finchley libraries, and artsdepot.
Click to access the map and field guide above or pick up a printed copy from Colindale, Hendon, Finchley Church End, and North Finchley libraries, and artsdepot.
About the Waylamps of Barnet
Waylamps of Barnet is a creative wayfinding project celebrating the people, places and stories that make Barnet unique, stretching through Colindale, Hendon and the Finchleys, connected by the 125 bus route.
The project is a collaboration with residents through shadow puppetry workshops, neighbourhood walks with knowledgeable locals, and archive research. The histories, memories and myths revealed have shaped both the Waylamps and the field guide, weaving a living portrait of Barnet’s identity past and present.
Inspired by the themes of Light + Flight, the Waylamps cast distinctive shadows across surrounding pavements by day. After dark, they reveal another layer of storytelling illuminated through solar-powered light. The heritage stories collected through the resident engagement process are delicately referenced in each design and are cast into the landscape for all to enjoy.
Their designs also respond to Barnet’s creative heritage, including the distinctively elegant silhouette animation and colour palette of Lotte Reiniger, who worked from her studio in New Barnet between 1952 and 1980 and the playful and mischievous lamppost designs of illustrator and artist William Heath Robinson whose grave can be found in East Finchley Cemetery.
Each Waylamp is named after a person connected to the borough: along with Lotte Reiniger (1899-1981), poet, writer and comic genius Spike Milligan (1918-2002), activist Muriel Matters (1877–1969) who boarded an airship from West Hendon to drop ‘Votes for Women’ leaflets over London and Agnes Slocombe MBE (1935-2025), one of Barnet’s longest-serving former councillors and the borough's first Black Mayor, are commemorated.
Using light and shadow as a unifying visual language, the trail highlights key locations and creative moments of discovery across the borough, inviting residents and visitors alike to explore and enjoy Barnet's past and present.
About the Waylamps of Barnet
Waylamps of Barnet is a creative wayfinding project celebrating the people, places and stories that make Barnet unique, stretching through Colindale, Hendon and the Finchleys, connected by the 125 bus route.
The project is a collaboration with residents through shadow puppetry workshops, neighbourhood walks with knowledgeable locals, and archive research. The histories, memories and myths revealed have shaped both the Waylamps and the field guide, weaving a living portrait of Barnet’s identity past and present.
Inspired by the themes of Light + Flight, the Waylamps cast distinctive shadows across surrounding pavements by day. After dark, they reveal another layer of storytelling illuminated through solar-powered light. The heritage stories collected through the resident engagement process are delicately referenced in each design and are cast into the landscape for all to enjoy.
Their designs also respond to Barnet’s creative heritage, including the distinctively elegant silhouette animation and colour palette of Lotte Reiniger, who worked from her studio in New Barnet between 1952 and 1980 and the playful and mischievous lamppost designs of illustrator and artist William Heath Robinson whose grave can be found in East Finchley Cemetery.
Each Waylamp is named after a person connected to the borough: along with Lotte Reiniger (1899-1981), poet, writer and comic genius Spike Milligan (1918-2002), activist Muriel Matters (1877–1969) who boarded an airship from West Hendon to drop ‘Votes for Women’ leaflets over London and Agnes Slocombe MBE (1935-2025), one of Barnet’s longest-serving former councillors and the borough's first Black Mayor, are commemorated.
Using light and shadow as a unifying visual language, the trail highlights key locations and creative moments of discovery across the borough, inviting residents and visitors alike to explore and enjoy Barnet's past and present.
About the Waylamps of Barnet
Waylamps of Barnet is a creative wayfinding project celebrating the people, places and stories that make Barnet unique, stretching through Colindale, Hendon and the Finchleys, connected by the 125 bus route.
The project is a collaboration with residents through shadow puppetry workshops, neighbourhood walks with knowledgeable locals, and archive research. The histories, memories and myths revealed have shaped both the Waylamps and the field guide, weaving a living portrait of Barnet’s identity past and present.
Inspired by the themes of Light + Flight, the Waylamps cast distinctive shadows across surrounding pavements by day. After dark, they reveal another layer of storytelling illuminated through solar-powered light. Local stories collected in shadow puppetry workshops are included in the designs and cast into the landscape for all to enjoy.
The Waylamps draw inspiration from Barnet's creative heritage, including the elegant silhouettes and colour palette of pioneering animator Lotte Reiniger. The installations are named after four notable figures connected to the borough: Lotte Reiniger, writer and comedian Spike Milligan, suffragist Muriel Matters and the first Black Mayor of Barnet Agnes Slocombe MBE.
Rather than following a single walking route, the heritage discovery trail encourages people to explore Barnet in their own way. Each Waylamp acts as a starting point for discovering nearby landmarks, green spaces, cultural venues and overlooked local stories, inviting residents to travel across the borough and see familiar places through fresh eyes.
The Waylamps of Barnet: A Heritage Discovery Trail encourages residents and visitors to explore Barnet and uncover its rich heritage and hidden histories.
Explore the heritage discovery trail: The Waylamps of Barnet Map
Dive deeper: Field Guide and Activity Book
Along the route - stretching through Colindale, Hendon and the Finchleys and connected by the 125 bus route - four bold and distinctive sculptures, known as Waylamps, act as welcoming landmarks inviting you to pause, find your bearings and discover something new.
The accompanying map and field guide point to much-loved local landmarks and wild landscapes, as well as hidden histories and unexpected stories shared by Barnet’s residents.
About the Waylamps of Barnet
Waylamps of Barnet is a creative wayfinding project celebrating the people, places and stories that make Barnet unique, stretching through Colindale, Hendon and the Finchleys, connected by the 125 bus route.
The project is a collaboration with residents through shadow puppetry workshops, neighbourhood walks with knowledgeable locals, and archive research. The histories, memories and myths revealed have shaped both the Waylamps and the field guide, weaving a living portrait of Barnet’s identity past and present.
Inspired by the themes of Light + Flight, the Waylamps cast distinctive shadows across surrounding pavements by day. After dark, they reveal another layer of storytelling illuminated through solar-powered light. The heritage stories collected through the resident engagement process are delicately referenced in each design and are cast into the landscape for all to enjoy.
Their designs also respond to Barnet’s creative heritage, including the distinctively elegant silhouette animation and colour palette of Lotte Reiniger, who worked from her studio in New Barnet between 1952 and 1980 and the playful and mischievous lamppost designs of illustrator and artist William Heath Robinson whose grave can be found in East Finchley Cemetery.
Each Waylamp is named after a person connected to the borough: along with Lotte Reiniger (1899-1981), poet, writer and comic genius Spike Milligan (1918-2002), activist Muriel Matters (1877–1969) who boarded an airship from West Hendon to drop ‘Votes for Women’ leaflets over London and Agnes Slocombe MBE (1935-2025), one of Barnet’s longest-serving former councillors and the borough's first Black Mayor, are commemorated.
Using light and shadow as a unifying visual language, the trail highlights key locations and creative moments of discovery across the borough, inviting residents and visitors alike to explore and enjoy Barnet's past and present.
"We're thrilled to be collaborating with Barnet Council once more - this time to bring the Waylamps of Barnet to life. More than a map, it’s a layered invitation: a constellation of crafted markers woven through the public realm, guiding residents and visitors towards the places and stories that shape Barnet’s identity. Inspired by the theme of light and flight, we've been playing with shadow and reflection, turning pavements into storytellers and transforming wayfinding into something immersive and alive."
(Andre Sampaio Kong)
About the Practice
Wayward is a London-based landscape, art and architecture practice – an award-winning collective of designers, artists and urban growers. Since 2006, Wayward has pioneered new methodologies in the creative use of underutilised land and meanwhile spaces, transforming derelict sites into large-scale, design-driven spaces that engage local communities and inspire international audiences. For the past decade, Wayward has designed and tested innovative new social, cultural and economic models for sustainable green spaces.
Wayward takes a unique approach to landscape through the creation of narrative environments. Their projects express stories that connect people through nature, creating vibrant places which are productive, meaningful and imaginative. Their projects are platforms for collaboration, experimentation and creative innovation.
“We are really excited to be designing the Waylamps of Barnet as part of the Light + Flight programme. Inspired by the pioneering filmmaker Lotte Reiniger, a notable Barnet resident, we led a series of shadow puppetry workshops that invited residents to share stories about the borough. In collaboration with Andre Kong Studio, these stories have been transformed into an interactive trail map and a series of wayfinding installations across Barnet. As Wayward begins a longer presence in the borough through the Wayward Plants Reuse Centre at our meanwhile site Cultivate Colindale, this commission feels especially meaningful.”
(Thomas Kendall, Wayward)
About The Studio
Andre kong studio is an emerging, award-winning architecture and design studio based in London telling stories through international projects across different typologies and scales. They are led by site-specific ideas and processes, not style and believe in the power of design to solve problems, big and small.
They love design that is playful, expressive and delightful. They explore local materials, processes and technologies that we can combine to unlock new ideas and build tomorrow’s traditions. Their design focuses on creating better, diverse and inclusive places for everyone to enjoy, without harming the environment.
Light + Flight is presented by Art in Barnet. It is supported by a Cultural Impact Award, part of the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture programme. It is made possible with additional support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.
“We are really excited to be designing the Waylamps of Barnet as part of the Light + Flight programme. Inspired by the pioneering filmmaker Lotte Reiniger, a notable Barnet resident, we led a series of shadow puppetry workshops that invited residents to share stories about the borough. In collaboration with Andre Kong Studio, these stories have been transformed into an interactive trail map and a series of wayfinding installations across Barnet. As Wayward begins a longer presence in the borough through the Wayward Plants Reuse Centre at our meanwhile site Cultivate Colindale, this commission feels especially meaningful.”
(Thomas Kendall, Wayward)
About The Studio
Andre kong studio is an emerging, award-winning architecture and design studio based in London telling stories through international projects across different typologies and scales. They are led by site-specific ideas and processes, not style and believe in the power of design to solve problems, big and small.
They love design that is playful, expressive and delightful. They explore local materials, processes and technologies that we can combine to unlock new ideas and build tomorrow’s traditions. Their design focuses on creating better, diverse and inclusive places for everyone to enjoy, without harming the environment.
Light + Flight is presented by Art in Barnet. It is supported by a Cultural Impact Award, part of the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture programme. It is made possible with additional support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.
Want (even more) Light + Flight?
Sign up to our newsletter and follow the journey as it unfolds.
Stay Updated
Want (even more) Light + Flight?
Sign up to our newsletter and follow the journey as it unfolds.
Stay Updated
Want (even more) Light + Flight?
We'd love to hear from you, whether you want
to get involved or be kept in the loop!
Stay Updated
Presented by