Kensington Gardens

Kensington Gardens lie just west of Hyde Park in the City of Westminster, separated by West Carriage Drive and the Serpentine Bridge. Once the private grounds of Kensington Palace, they became a public Royal Park in the 19th century. The gardens cover 107 hectares and form part of a continuous green space with Hyde Park, Green Park and St James’s Park. Their fenced and more formal layout contrasts with the open character of neighbouring Hyde Park. The gardens are Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The gardens were shaped in the early 18th century under Queen Anne by designers Henry Wise and Charles Bridgeman. Queen Caroline had them separated from Hyde Park in 1728 to create a landscape garden with formal avenues and the Round Pond. Bridgeman also formed the Serpentine, with the Long Water section lying within Kensington Gardens. The Italian Garden at its north-western end features four fountains and classical sculptures beside the Westbourne river. Visitors find Kensington Palace at the eastern edge, surrounded by formal gardens and avenues. The Albert Memorial stands at the south-east corner, opposite the Royal Albert Hall. A bronze statue of Peter Pan by George Frampton sits on a squirrel-covered pedestal. The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground and a seven-mile Memorial Walk offer space for children and walkers. A carved 900-year-old tree stump called the Elfin Oak and a statue of Queen Victoria by Princess Louise also stand in the gardens.