Best for
Families with children roughly aged 2–12
Time needed
45 minutes–1.5 hours
Worth it?
Yes if travelling with children — not a sight for adult-only visits
Skip if
You're not travelling with children — adults can't enter unaccompanied
About Diana Memorial Playground
Opened in 2000 in the north-west corner of Kensington Gardens, close to Kensington Palace where Diana, Princess of Wales lived, the playground was designed around the theme of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan — a deliberate nod to the nearby statue of Peter Pan elsewhere in the gardens and to Diana's own well-documented affection for children.
The centrepiece is a large wooden pirate galleon set in a sand-covered play area, alongside a teepee encampment, a sensory trail, a tree house-style boardwalk and equipment designed to be inclusive for children with a range of physical abilities and disabilities — accessibility was a founding priority of the design, not an afterthought.
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The playground has undergone a major renewal project (a further £3 million refurbishment completed for the 2026 season) to update and expand its inclusive play equipment while retaining the original Peter Pan theming that made it distinctive.
Entry is free, though it's specifically a children's playground rather than a general sightseeing attraction — most valuable if you're travelling with kids roughly aged 2 to 12, and best combined with a wider walk through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.
What to See: Highlights
- 1A large wooden pirate galleon, the playground's centrepiece
- 2Peter Pan-themed play equipment inspired by J.M. Barrie's story
- 3Inclusive, accessible play equipment designed for children of varying abilities
- 4A teepee encampment and sensory trail
- 5Free entry inside Kensington Gardens
- 6A recently refurbished 2026 renewal of the play equipment
Insider Tips
Adults must be accompanied by a child to enter — it's a children's playground, not a general sight
Bring a picnic; there are lawns nearby for a break after playing
Combine with a wider walk through Kensington Gardens toward Kensington Palace
It gets busy with local families on weekends and school holidays
There's no on-site café, but Kensington Palace's café is a short walk away
Getting There
Kensington Gardens (north-west corner), London W2 2UH
Open in Google Maps →- 1Queensway (Central line) or Lancaster Gate (Central line) — both roughly a 5-minute walk.
Where to stay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You're travelling with children roughly aged 2–12
- You're already spending time in Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park
- Your kids enjoy imaginative, Peter Pan-themed play
- You want a free activity break between museums in South Kensington
Skip if...
- You're travelling without children — the playground requires child accompaniment
- You're focused only on adult sightseeing and have limited time
More to See in London
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
London's largest and most central royal park, split into Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, with the Serpentine lake, Speakers' Corner, and the Diana Memorial Fountain and Playground.
Kensington Palace
A working royal residence and the childhood home of Queen Victoria and Princess Diana, its State Apartments now open to the public alongside a museum of royal fashion.