PIN Kensington Gardens

A Royal Park with spectacular Outdoors (Perfect for Family Strolls)

Kensington Gardens, one of the Capital`s eight Royal Parks is full of surprises. Covering over 265 acres (when combined with adjacent Hyde Park, it is a greater land mass than the Principality of Monacco!), you genuinely feel you are in the English countryside and has some not to be missed attractions.

This route will take around 2 hours and provides spectacular scenery, stunning buildings and plenty to keep children entertained, but please be careful of the water nearby. There is still more to see within Kensington Gardens yet alone Hyde Park so feel free to explore if you schedule and energy permits!

Italian Gardens

Disembarking at Lancaster Gate Tube (central line) or one of the many buses like the 94, you cross over the busy road to enter the Park at the Italian Gardens. These ornamental water gardens are believed to have been created by a gift from Prince Albert to his beloved Queen Victoria and include four main basins with rosettes carved in Carrara marble and Portland stone. Situated at the start of the Long Water, which eventually becomes The Serpentine, it provides a magnificent backdrop to these Grade 2 listed gardens; superb for a photograph or selfie, but they will never believe back home that you were in central London!

Peter Pan and Parrots

Stroll adjacent to the Gardens and the Long Water enjoy the Birds of the Long Water and Serpentine. You will pass a Peter Pan statue on your right: J.M. Barrie lived close to Kensington Gardens and published his first Peter Pan story in 1902, using Kensington Gardens for inspiration.

You then reach a unique spot. According to local legend, a crate accidentally broke from a plane’s cargo several decades ago and the green parrots made Kensington Gardens their home. Be warned, their claws can be sharp so please bring a strong glove and also raw peanuts, their favourite snack. You can have two or even three on your hand at any one time!

Henry Moor and Kensington Palace

Continue and come across the Henry Moore Arch, a six-metre high Roman travertine sculpture positioned on the north bank of the Long Water. It was presented by the artist Henry Moore to the nation in 1980.

With the Henry Moore Statute behind you, stroll down the wonderful lanes and open grasslands towards Kensington Palace (sunsets are magical!).

Currently, the Palace is the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, but has been a royal residence since the 17th century. Areas of Kensington Palace are open to the public. Visitors can walk through the King's State Apartments, the Queen's State Apartments and the Gardens. There are also exhibitions plus a shop and The Orangery.

Diana Memorial Playground

A huge wooden pirate ship is the amazing centrepiece of the Diana, Princess of Wales' Memorial Playground. This children's wonderland opened on the 30th June 2000, in memory of the late Princess. Located next to her Kensington Palace home, the playground is a fitting tribute for a Princess who loved the innocence of childhood. Please note that you may need to queue at busy times and opening times in the summer are from 10am until around 6.30pm.

Then proceed to the north exit and re-join the metropolis; either the Bayswater tube (central line) or a number of buses including the 94 (Piccadilly Circus) take you back to Central London in a few minutes, but ensure you go in the right direction!

The Park is open from 6am to dusk all year round.

Owner

Lucy TripTide

Lucy is a TripTide stalwart and has been with the company since inception. She is a font of knowledge of all things in our metropolis but she has a special penchant for London's historical past. She says:"London is a multi-layered confection of hi...