Chubby Hearts Over London was a design project conceived in 2018 by Anya Hindmarch as a love letter to London and supported by the Mayor of London, the British Fashion Council and the City of Westminster.

Starting on Valentine's Day and continuing throughout London Fashion Week, giant Chubby Heart balloons were suspended over (and sometimes squashed within) London landmarks as a declaration of love to the city. The balloons disappeared each evening and appeared again in a different location the next day. To continue the love, the Chubby Heart is back in Wellington Arch for Valentine’s Day 2019 and London Fashion Week, as the start of an international project that will continue throughout the year.

Schedule
February 2018

15th

Chelsea Barracks, SW1
Granary Square, N1C
Bloomberg, Queen Victoria Street, EC4
Westminster Cathedral Piazza, SW1
The Ritz London, W1
The Dorchester, W1
Covent Garden, WC2
Wellington Arch, W1

16th

HSBC, Canada Square, E14
180 The Strand, WC2
Somerset House, WC2
Brown Hart Gardens, Mayfair W1
London Bridge City, SE1
The Ritz London, W1
The Dorchester, W1
Covent Garden, WC2
Wellington Arch, W1

17th

Serpentine Gallery, W2
Battlebridge Place King’s Cross, WC1
Waterloo Place, St James’s, SW1
Covent Garden, WC2
Westfield London, W12
The Ritz London, W1
The Dorchester, W1
Covent Garden, WC2
Wellington Arch, W1

18th

Westfield Stratford City, E20
Duke of York Square, SW3
The Ritz London, W1
The Dorchester, W1
Covent Garden, WC2
Wellington Arch, W1
Chubbyhearts expanding heart balloon 300px

19th

Cabot Square, E14
Embassy Gardens, SW11
Farfetch, Old Street, EC1
South Bank Tower, SE1
Southbank Place, SE1
The Ritz London, W1
The Dorchester, W1
Covent Garden, WC2
Wellington Arch, W1

20th

The Trafalgar St. James,
Trafalgar Square, WC2
The Ritz London, W1
The Dorchester, W1
Covent Garden, WC2
Wellington Arch, W1

21st

Goodluck Hope, E14
Piccadilly Circus, W1J

22nd

Leicester Square, WC2

Created in partnership with

180 The Strand, Anya Hindmarch, Argent, Ballymore, Battersea Power Station Development Company, Bloomberg, Braeburn Estates, British Fashion Council, Broadgate Estate, Cadogan, Camden Council, Canary Wharf Group, City of London, Covent Garden, Creative Services, EcoWorld Ballymore, English Heritage’s Wellington Arch, Farfetch, Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, Hammersmith & Fulham Council, Heart of London Business Alliance, HSBC Group Management Services, Islington Council, Kensington & Chelsea Council, King’s Cross, Lambeth Council, Landsec, Mayor of London, MBNA Thames Clippers, More London, Mytaxi, New West End Group, Newham Council, Ocean Outdoor, Qatari Diar, Serpentine Galleries, Smart Car, Somerset House, South Bank Tower, Southwark Council, St. James’s London, The Dorchester, The Northbank BID, The Ritz London, The Royal Parks, The Trafalgar St. James, Tower Hamlets Council, Victoria BID, Victoria Westminster Partnership, Wandsworth Council, Westfield, Westminster City Council

Frequently Asked Questions

Why these locations?

While there were hundreds of locations we wanted to fly a balloon, we had to narrow the list down based on safety, access and advice from the Civil Aviation Authority.

The locations have been planned to make sure as many people as possible will get a chance to enjoy the balloons.

How is this project funded?

The concept was created by Anya Hindmarch and has been funded in collaboration with our partners. The project would not have been possible without the expertise, advice and support of our partners who have brought this project to life as a surprise for London.

What happens if the weather is too bad?

While we love the British weather, it does create some problems. Safety is our primary concern and if it’s too windy the flying balloons will be postponed until the next day.

Why Valentine’s Day?

This project is simply our love letter to London.

Have you thought about Health and Safety?

Absolutely. The project has been planned in conjunction with independent health and safety experts and in consultation with the relevant London authorities.

The balloons have been created and installed by experienced professionals and will be operated and de-installed by people who have a great deal of experience working with large scale helium balloons. Helium is a non-toxic, non-flammable gas.

What happens to the balloons afterwards?

Don’t worry, we won’t be throwing them away. Each day the balloons are deflated, and the same ones are reused in a new location. When this project has finished the balloons will be deflated and safely stored so they can be used again. We are also using recycled helium where possible.

Where does the name Chubby Hearts come from?

The balloons have been designed by Anya Hindmarch and are inspired by the designer’s Spring Summer 2018 collection, which includes chubby, cartoon-like bags. She wanted to bring the same fun and playfulness to this project.