Photo credit: © 9 Hertford Street
Kensington Gardens is such a fun place to explore as a child but did you know it was also the inspiration for one of the best-loved children’s classics, Peter Pan? JM Barrie, who lived in nearby Bayswater Road, found his imagination ran away with him in these beautiful surroundings, so much so, that he based Peter Pan’s adventures here. To ensure that Peter would remain associated with the gardens, he commissioned Sir George Frampton to build a bronze sculpture of his character in 1912, which stands in the Gardens to the west of The Long Water.
We love this photo of children playing in the Gardens in the 1920s (just fourteen or so years after Peter Pan was printed), which was published in Wonderful London with the caption:
“Hither come the sons and daughters of Kensington, Mayfair and Bayswater to the small kingdom which Barrie dedicated to them. Grown-ups, save only park-keepers and nurses, hardly count in this oasis. It is the preserve of children and dogs. Six pairs of legs, well gaitered against the winter, are surer in their running when linked hands help to keep the balance.”
Kensington Gardens is home to the fantastic Diana Memorial Playground with its huge pirate ship, sensory trail and teepees. The Gardens also have an allotment where you can learn about growing fruit and vegetables, and see their resident chickens.