Princess Diana memorial playground in Kensington Gardens to close for £3m refurbishment
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One of London’s best children’s adventure playgrounds is to undergo a £3m refurbishment – but will be closed for six months while the work is carried out. The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens, just north of Diana’s former home at Kensington Palace, is used by about a million children a year.
First opened in 2000, much of its equipment – including the “pirate galleon” that forms the centrepiece of the Peter Pan-inspired playground, and a wooden fort – has reached an “end of life” state, necessitating the need for a refresh. The new designs include a rebuilt galleon, which will be accessible to children with mobility needs. The new ship, which will have three levels, will be recreated using sustainable mountain larch.
The changes, which are awaiting planning permission, will be funded with £3m from The Royal Parks charity. The existing playground– a haven for young children and families, that is often packed during good weather – will be “carefully deconstructed”, with items reused where possible.
The treehouse “encampment” will be rebuilt, the mermaid water feature retained, and new towers and climbing areas created to offer new challenges for children. Kensington Gardens park manager Andy Williams described the playground as a “magnificent facility for millions of young people”.
The playground is due to close in the autumn of 2025 to allow construction to start. It should reopen in the spring of 2026. Initial designs for the playground were revealed on Thursday by The Royal Parks charity, which manages London’s eight royal parks.
