The Diana, Princess of Wales Playground in Kensington Gardens is set to welcome visitors once again tomorrow, Wednesday 5 August, following a comprehensive £3million renovation funded by The Royal Parks charity.
Originally opened in 2000 as a tribute to the late princess, who lived at neighbouring Kensington Palace, the Peter Pan-themed attraction has been one of Britain’s most popular playgrounds, drawing more than a million visits annually.
After over two decades of use, much of the equipment, including the iconic sailing ship, had deteriorated beyond repair, prompting a complete overhaul.
The free-to-enter site spans nearly two acres and is surrounded by sub-tropical planting.
The Diana, Princess of Wales Playground in Kensington Gardens is set to welcome visitors once again tomorrow, Wednesday 5 August.
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The Royal Parks
Pupils from nearby St Mary Abbots School were given an early preview, testing the new equipment ahead of the public opening.
The centrepiece of the revamped playground is an imposing new Galleon, measuring 17 metres by 12 metres, which sits on a sandy beach.
Young adventurers can scale two crow’s nests, hurtle down a large tunnel slide, and peer through a play telescope, while below deck they will find a play kitchen and numerous hidden corners to explore.
Alongside the ship stands a Treehouse comprising three towers, connected by an accessible walkway fitted with talk tubes, musical instruments and tic-tac-toe games, plus its own four-metre tunnel slide.
The free-to-enter site spans nearly two acres and is surrounded by sub-tropical planting.
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The Royal Parks
A new waterplay zone features an oversized crocodile sculpture with dams along its body, allowing children to direct the flow of water.
Younger visitors have a dedicated redesigned space with timber houses, play ships and a large sandpit.
The Royal Parks charity has made significant efforts to ensure children of all abilities can play together in the renewed space. Wheelchair-accessible areas have been incorporated into both the Galleon and the Treehouse, a new accessible path has been laid, and raised tables have been installed at the waterplay and sand zones.
Sensory planting, an upgraded musical area and a range of interactive play elements have also been introduced throughout the site.
Younger visitors have a dedicated redesigned space with timber houses, play ships and a large sandpit.
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The Royal Parks
Sustainability was a key consideration during the refurbishment.
The wooden equipment is constructed from timber sourced from sustainably managed European forests, and the waterplay system captures runoff for use in irrigation.
The charity has also nearly doubled the number of toilets available, with two now fully accessible, to cope with the playground’s high visitor numbers.
Despite the excitement, The Royal Parks charity is urging families to brace for significant waiting times, particularly during the first few months.
With schools across the country on summer holiday and the playground’s capacity limited to 450 people, queues are expected throughout the week and especially at weekends.
Andy Williams, Park Manager for Kensington Gardens, said: “We want to manage expectations and help people plan ahead.
“There are 13 other playgrounds to visit across the Royal Parks, plus lots of family events so if you get to this playground and don’t want to wait, please check out The Royal Parks website for what else might be going on.”
Visitors should also note that the waterplay area is currently not operational owing to the Thames Water hosepipe ban.