Kensington Gardens
The peace of Kensington Gardens is a sharp contrast to the hub of activity of Hyde Park, just a short walk away.
Starting life as a King's playground and the home of Kensington Palace, the Park was designed for royalty to relax and for over a century, you’ve been able to come to this green space to do so too.
Whether you marvel at the Italian Gardens, take your kids to see the Peter Pan statue or to play at the Dianna Memorial Playground or admire of one of the many magnificent trees, Kensington Gardens is a special green space for all to enjoy.
As the charity for The Royal Parks, we work with them to enhance, protect and preserve St James's Park for future generations.
With your fantastic support, we’re able to reach out to make Kensington Gardens part of more people’s lives by raising funds for a wide variety of projects from wildlife conservation and landscape restoration, to community sport, education and art.
Every day, people, trees and wildlife benefit from our work. Play your part and support The Royal Parks today!
The Italian Gardens restoration
After more than a century and a half welcoming millions of visitors, the generous gift of the Tiffany & Co Foundation, has made it possible to restore this Grade II listed site to its former glory.
Find out more about the Italian Gardens restoration.
Tiffany Fountains
Thanks to the wonderful partnership with The Tiffany & Co Foundation we’re currently restoring and renewing the ornamental and drinking fountains across London’s eight Royal Parks, including in Kensington Gardens.
As you admire the magnificant Kensington Palace from within Kensington Gardens, see if you can spot its newest drinking fountain, affectionately known as ‘Trumpet’.
Not only does this project help to conserve, protect and enhance the natural history and heritage of Kensington Gardens, it also gives its visitors access to more fresh drinking water and helps minimise the vast number of plastic water bottles discarded in the Park every year.
Deckchair Dreams
Designers, artists, fashion designers and school children all got together to design fantastic deckchairs to celebrate the trees, wildlife and other rare and wonderful things of London’s Royal Parks.
Spot these colourful deckchairs in Kensington Gardens during the warmer months and you can even bring the Parks into your own home by buying one from our online shop.
Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon
In October, for the last four years, thousands of you have raced through Kensington Gardens as part of the route through four of The Royal Parks. As popular as ever, the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon gives you a chance to enjoy the Royal Parks, help look after your health and wellbeing though exercise and raise millions for charity!
Ooh, Aagh, Me Hearties!
The Diana Memorial Playground welcomes nearly 750,000 energetic young visitors each year, including hundreds of school classes from across London. After all this fun, it needed some extra care and attention. So, in 2009, thanks to our generous supporters, we were able to replace the crow’s nest, canvas sails and rope footbridges on the Pirate’s Galleon, build a hill-top fort with a tunnel, introduce a sound wall and add extra swings to the playground.
A special thanks goes to a couple who donated the funds to renew the rigging on Captain Hook's Ship in celebration of their daughter's fifth birthday. They told us:
'Our children love playing in the Diana Memorial Playground and it is a privilege to help in the restoration of what is an exceptional family area. It never ceases to amaze us that the upkeep of five thousand acres of Royal Parks is funded entirely by charitable donations'.
