Princess Diana Memorial Playground
- Peter Pan’s London Neverland
The Princess Diana Memorial Playground is located next to Kensington Palace which was the former home of Diana, Princess of Wales. Parks and playgrounds are a natural place to bring children and this one is no exception.
It was built at a cost of £1.7 million and opened to the public in the summer of 2000. It seems a fitting tribute to Princess Diana who devoted much of her life to caring for and being an advocate for children around the world. The playground is free and open to all supervised children, but adults may not enter if they are not in the company of a child. Over 750,000 children visit and play here each year. The playground was built over the site of an existing Peter Pan-themed playground which had been constructed during the time of JM Barrie. The Princess Diana Memorial Playground also has a Peter Pan theme, but on a much grander and more detailed scale. The centrepiece of the park is a large and detailed wooden pirate ship that is “afloat” on a sea of fine white sand. Children up to age 12 can climb around the pirate ship to their heart’s content; scaling the rigging up to the crow’s nest, working the pulleys and rope, and manning the wheel to sail the ship off on fine adventures. There is a mermaid fountain for paddling and splashing about in the water. Nearby lies the Indian camp with large teepees for children who want to pretend to be a tribe of Lost Boys (or Girls). The entire playground has been designed to be accessible to children with disabilities, and special thought has gone into making their experience here more enjoyable. There is a sensory trail at the playground as well as fragrant plants, rustling foliage, and wind chimes that can be enjoyed even by the children with visual disabilities. Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground also has a nice café with an excellent children’s menu.
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground Address: Black Lion Gate, Kensington, Kensington Gardens, London W2 2UH Telephone: 020 7298 2141 Opening Times May to August 10am-7.45pm, April & September 10am-6.45pm, March & early October 10am-5.45pm, February & late October 10am-4.45pm, November to January 10am-3.45pm | Closed 25th December | Last entry 15 minutes before closing time.
Photo courtesy: martinsillaots
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