Diana Memorial Playground — Attraction in London

A Magical Place of Imagination – The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens

The Diana Memorial Playground, nestled in the northwestern corner of Kensington Gardens, is a beautifully designed and thoughtfully maintained haven for children. Inspired by the enchanting world of Peter Pan, the playground pays tribute to Princess Diana’s love for children and her belief that every child deserves a safe space to dream, play, and explore.

The playground is securely enclosed and entry is strictly regulated. It is open daily from 10:00 AM to 7:45 PM, with staff carefully monitoring access. This creates a safe and reassuring environment for parents, allowing children to roam freely and enjoy all the play areas without concern.

At the heart of the playground lies a stunning wooden pirate ship, an absolute highlight for children of all ages. It invites young adventurers to climb aboard, imagine life at sea, and let their creativity run wild. Surrounding this centerpiece are numerous well-shaded seating areas for parents and carers, thanks to the many mature trees that provide natural cover throughout the grounds.

The playground is cleverly divided into various zones, catering to children of different age groups and abilities. There are swings, slides, climbing structures, and even three tipi tents, a treasure chest, and a water play area featuring a stone crocodile – all reminiscent of scenes from the timeless story of Peter Pan. In the rear section, children can also discover musical instruments and sound features, adding a sensory dimension to the experience.

Every detail here reflects a deep commitment to imaginative play, safety, and inclusivity. The Diana Memorial Playground is not just a play space – it’s a place where stories come to life, friendships are forged, and childhood memories are made.

A must-visit for...

Be aware the playground can be closed if it is windy!!

Attempted to visit on 22.8.24 and on arrival there was a sign stating it was closed due to wind (see photo). It was windy but, nothing excessive. The sign highlighted how to check for updates on twitter via @royalparks - this is incorrect, it should be @theroyalparks.

Tried to visit again on 23.8.24 having checked twitter and the website to ensure the playground was open. There were no updates warning of any closure on 23.8.24. On arrival around 11.30am we were disappointed to see the same sign in place stating it was closed due to wind. There were lots of other families turning up reacting with suprise and disbelief at the sign (both on 23.8.24 and 22.8.24). Staff were inside and although there was no formal notice, no update to twitter or an update to the sign, we were informally told it would open at 2pm.

We tentatively returned at 2pm and there was a queue waiting for it to open. It felt just as windy at 2pm as it had done earlier the same day.

It is a great playground once inside, loads of interesting areas to explore but, the lack of clear information about being open or closed really detracts from that. Despite guidance to check the website or twitter this isn't updated so I would urge caution if attempting to visit on a slightly...

This is one of London's best free playgrounds... Whatever age the kids are they will love it; there is something for all... In non covid times the big pirate ship is the highlight unfortunately with the current situation the ship is closed and the water is turned off :( Children can still play in the surrounding sand and there are lots of other climbing/ sliding/ swinging areas. It's normally a nice place to meet friends and have a picnic too but in the current conditions there is no food allowed inside. However, there is a pricey cafe just outside the playground where you can buy hot drinks, ice-creams, sandwiches, pizza and hot dogs. (My friend brought a hotdog and thought it tasted bad enough to throw it away however I brought a margarita pizza and it tasted fine). You can also use the picnic tables for your own food too. The visitors to the playground are a great mix of Londoners and tourists - all languages and nationalities can be seen and heard. The only thing to be mindful of is that as the playground is so big with many sections it can be easy to lose little ones and hard to find them again if they are that way inclined! Make sure you put them in bright identifiable and easy to...