Kensington Gardens in a large park in central London that once served as the private gardens of Kensington Palace. The Palace is still one of the top features of the park, although the variety of activities and monuments that it possesses have allowed it to become a landmark for both residents and visitors. In doing so, it has become a destination in and of itself and something much more than a mere part of the “green lung” of Central London.
The Western Section of Hyde Park
What is today known as Kensington Gardens was originally the western section of Hyde Park, which was established in 1536. Separated from the whole of Hyde Park by Queen Caroline in 1728, the Gardens are fenced and more formal than Hyde Park. Kensington Gardens are open only during the hours of daylight, while Hyde Park is open from 5 am until midnight all year round. Among numerous changes over the decades, the Italian Gardens were added in 1860 and in 1909 a new sunken garden was made outside Kensington Palace.
Today, Kensington Gardens is planted with formal avenues of magnificent trees and ornamental flower beds. However, the numerous monuments and landmarks that fill the space are the most notable aspect of the green space with the Albert Memorial being one of the most famous.
Commemorating the 1861 death of Prince Albert, the monument shows Prince Albert holding the catalog of the Great Exhibition which he inspired and helped to organize. Marble figures representing Europe, Asia, Africa and America stand at each corner of the memorial, and higher up are further figures representing manufacture, commerce, agriculture and engineering.
The Peter Pan Statue depicts Kensington Garden’s most famous fictional figure, as the Gardens are the setting of J.M. Barrie’s book Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. The bronze statue of Peter Pan is surrounded by squirrels, rabbits, mice and fairies.
Monuments like Physical Energy, The Arch, Two Bears Fountain and the Speke Monument provide visitors with other notable attractions to engage with, many of which have helped to create direct economic opportunities for the park.
Reflecting the Culture of London
Walking tours in Kensington Gardens allow visitors to discover the hidden secrets of the park. A hidden hollow tree in Kensington Gardens is one of the many highlights on these tours, which last from one to two hours, covering approximately 1.5 miles. Elsewhere in the park, events take place at Kensington Palace throughout the year, while the Diana Memorial Playground provides kids with a set place to have fun. All of these activities feed into direct sources of revenue that the park has enabled.
The Italian Gardens Café in Kensington Gardens allows visitors to enjoy the beautiful 150-year old ornamental Italian Gardens along with a wide range of food and drinks. The Albert Memorial Kiosk sells high-quality food in the form of handmade cakes, pastries and freshly made sandwiches as well as specialty teas and British scoop ice cream. Elsewhere, the Broad Walk Cafe offers specialty coffee and teas along with handmade cakes, pastries and a range of delis on artisan breads.
Kensington Gardens has created numerous other sources of direct revenue. Like other famous parks, it’s possible for an individual to donate significant gifts that the park then commemorates in notable ways. Deck chairs are available from March to October during daylight hours, weather permitting. Additionally, Kensington Palace is one of London’s exclusive wedding venues.
All of these events and activities have had a notable impact on the economy of the area and the culture of London. That impact feeds into the legacy that the park represents which continues to pull in audiences from across the city and world.
More Than a Greenspace
The statue of Queen Victoria that sits outside of Kensington Palace was sculpted by her daughter, Princess Louise, to celebrate 50 years of her mother’s reign. This connection to the past is felt all across Kensington Gardens which has further bolstered its position an important piece of the Royal Parks in London and for all of the UK. This significance underscores what it can mean for a greenspace to become something so much more to a city and country.
