Starting
Off
We start the walk at Queensway Underground Station on the Central
Line. If its more convenient, Bayswater Station is just 200m away
on the Circle and District Lines. Just turn right down the main shopping
street (Queensway) towards the trees at the end of the road (Kensington
Gardens)
In front of Queensway station cross the busy Bayswater Road and enter
the park by Black Lion Gate.
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Kensington
Gardens |
Diana,
Princess of Wales' Memorial Playground
Just inside the gates on your right is the playground dedicated in
memory to Princess Diana whose home at Kensington Palace is very near.
The centrepiece is a huge wooden pirate ship and various other activities
and playthings for the youngsters. One of the better free playgrounds
you will come across on your travels.
There is also a cafe selling sandwiches, drinks etc. and toilets.
(Queensway behind you has one of the best selection of budget restaurants
and fast food
in Central London). |
Map Key
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 |
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1 -
Diana Playground
2 - Orangery
3 - Kensington Palace
4 - Round Pond
5 - Albert Memorial
6 - Royal Geographic Society
7 - Albert Hall
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Kensington
Gardens
From Black Lion Gate / Diana Playground walk straight
down the wide path in front of you into the park. For visitors, Hyde
Park and Kensington Gardens can be termed one park. There is no visible
boundary between the two.
This royal park is the largest open space in Central London and was
originally started as a private hunting ground for King Henry VIII
to hunt deer nearly 500 years ago. Today it is a great place to escape
the crowds and traffic of London. |
You will see joggers and horseriders as well as impromptu games of
soccer. The park is sometimes used for great open air concerts
Since the death of Princess Diana, the number of people visiting Kensington
Gardens has greatly increased. |
Kensington Palace
After 5-10 minutes you come to the Kensington Palace complex.
Popular on account of its associations with Princess Diana, Kensington
was in the 17th and 18th centuries where the monarch held court before
royalty moved onto Buckingham Palace.
A display of Princess Diana's dresses is a highlight of a tour here.
We have a dedicated Kensington
Palace page.
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Kensington
Palace |
The Orangery (open to everyone) is a very civilised place to take
tea or something heavier.
The Round Pond
On the east side of Kensington Palace is the imaginatively named Round
Pond. It was here that the playwright J.M.Barrie met Llewellyn Davies
whilst walking his dog, LLewellyn being the inspiration for Peter
Pan. There is a statue of Peter Pan elsewhere in the park.
Make your way away from Kensington Palace in an eastward direction,
south of the Round Pound. We are heading for the Royal Albert Hall
which you will see on the south side of Kensington Gardens. There
are various options, perhaps the finest is to take the path that runs
east just south of the Round Pond. Ignore turnoffs until you are due
north of the Royal Albert Hall, where you turn right straight for
the hall. |
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