Once the private grounds of a royal palace, Kensington Gardens is now a gracious public park in the west of London. Joined to its larger neighbour, it forms part of a great stretch of green at the heart of the city. The gardens grew out of the grounds of Kensington Palace, a royal home for more than three centuries. In time they were opened for the public to enjoy. The palace still stands at the western edge of the park and remains a working royal residence. Part of it is open to visitors as a museum. Near the centre lies a large round pond, where model boats are sailed and birds gather on the water. Paths radiate out from it across the lawns. A famous statue of the boy who never grew up, Peter Pan, stands beside the water, a favourite with children. It was placed here long ago and is much loved. On the southern edge rises a tall and richly gilded memorial to Prince Albert, gazing across the road towards a great concert hall. It is one of the grandest monuments in the city. A long, formal avenue of trees and an Italian water garden add to the ornamental charm of the grounds. Fountains play among the flower beds. A playground built in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, draws families with its pirate ship and play features. It is one of the busiest spots in the park. Two galleries within the gardens show changing displays of modern art, drawing visitors interested in the new as well as the old. Each summer one builds a temporary pavilion. The gardens flow without a clear break into the neighbouring park, so that the green space seems to stretch on and on. Together they form a vast oasis. Quieter and more formal than its neighbour, the park offers a gentle place to walk, rest and watch the world go by. Deck chairs dot the lawns in summer. It lies in the west of central London, between a royal palace and the great park to the east.

Type: Outdoors

Address: London, United Kingdom, W2 2UH