Kensington Gardens

Why go

Kensington Gardens are Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The part of the Serpentine that lies within Kensington Gardens is known as "The Long Water". Barrie's book Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, a prelude to the character's famous adventures in Neverland.

What to look for

• The fairies of the gardens are first described in Thomas Tickell's 1722 poem Kensington Gardens.
• The Infocom interactive fiction game Trinity begins in the Kensington Gardens.
• The Gardens are fenced and more formal than Hyde Park.

The full story

The park covers an area of 111 hectares . The open spaces of Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James's Park together form an almost continuous "green lung" in the heart of London between Kensington and Westminster. Background and location Kensington Gardens are generally regarded as being the western extent of the neighbouring Hyde Park from which they were originally taken, with West Carriage Drive (The Ring) and the Serpentine Bridge forming the boundary between them. Kensington Gardens are open only during the hours of daylight, whereas Hyde Park is open from 5 am until midnight all year round, which includes many hours of darkness. Kensington Gardens were long regarded as smarter than Hyde Park because of its more private character around Kensington Palace.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.