Kensington Gardens

What makes it special

The Albert Memorial stands on the south edge of the gardens. Under its neo-Gothic spire sits a gilded Prince Albert holding the catalogue of the Great Exhibition, which he helped to organise in Hyde Park in 1851. Mosaics, gold leaf and gemstones cover the structure above him.

Walk round the base before you leave: the Parnassus frieze carries 187 carved figures of painters, poets, sculptors, musicians and architects.

Peter Pan is the park's other famous figure, a bronze statue west of the Long Water with squirrels, rabbits, mice and fairies crowding the base below him.

At the north end, the Italian Gardens are an ornamental water garden of four main basins and fountains. The Arch, a six-metre sculpture in Roman travertine, stands on the north bank of the Long Water. In the middle of the park, avenues of trees spread out from the Round Pond.

The South Flower Walk runs for 400 metres between specimen trees and shrubs of the Victorian kind, with magnolias in spring, bedding in summer and red stems in winter. Beside Kensington Palace, the sunken garden is laid out so you can look into it from all four sides.

Visiting

There is no gate to pass and no set route, so start at the Italian Gardens and follow the Long Water to Peter Pan, just off the main path. Walk all the way round his base for the animals. Tap your phone on the plaque nearby and Peter Pan calls you back.

From there, cut across to the Round Pond and walk south to the Albert Memorial, where the walk ends on Albert Memorial Road. The park has two main cafés for a stop, the Italian Gardens Café and the Broad Walk Café.

Kensington Palace is a separate visit, so allow a couple of hours more. With children under 12, the Diana Memorial Playground is free, and an adult must come in with them; its wooden galleon, 17 by 12 metres, sits on a sandy beach. The Serpentine galleries are free too, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

Tips

The park's toilets take only cards or a phone wallet, not cash. Feeding the swans and ducks is not allowed.

If you walk a dog, keep it on a lead around the Round Pond, the Long Water, the Italian Gardens and both Flower Walks.