Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens is one of London’s eight Royal Parks and covers an area of 265 acres.
The park is planted with formal avenues of magnificent trees and ornamental flower beds. It is home to Kensington Palace, the peaceful Italian Gardens, Peter Pan statue, the stunning Albert Memorial and the Serpentine Gallery. There are mature trees, grasslands and many types of wildlife. The Italian Gardens is a 150-year-old ornamental water garden located on the north side of Kensington Gardens near Lancaster Gate. It is believed to have been created as a gift from Prince Albert to his beloved Queen Victoria. Following the success of the allotment in St James's Park an allotment has been created next to the storeyard in Kensington Gardens. You're welcome to wander in anytime to enjoy and relax at the allotment, as well as pick up some useful tips for growing your own fruit and vegetables.
The Sunken Garden in front of Kensington Palace was designed to be enjoyed as a picture from the viewpoints along the footpath. The tunnel of lime trees (Tilia platphyllos ‘Rubra’ ) surrounding the garden, creates the ‘Cradle Walk’. Royal historian Ernest Law designed the garden and Cradle Walk in 1908. He wanted to create a feeling of seclusion and tranquility. Each year, the gardeners fill the beds with new blooms; joyful and fresh in the Spring and rich and exotic in the summer. Diana, Princess of wales lived at the Palace for fifteen years and famously admired the changing floral displays here, often stopping to talk with the gardeners.