Gardens of Kensington Palace London | The Royal Parks

Kensington Garden originally served as an exclusive private lawn for the residents of Kensington Palace. Over the years, this gorgeous 265-acre expanse consisting of lakes, statues, and fountains became a public space in central London. The Serpentine Bridge, Italian Garden, and the Flower Walk are just a few of the fascinating attractions you can see here today.

Kensington Garden History In a Minute

History & Architecture

For centuries, what we know today as Kensington Palace was surrounded by small hamlets and rural spaces. After the Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851, the area around the gardens began developing rapidly. Consequently, Queen Victoria commissioned a string of new buildings and enhancements to Kensington Garden such as the Albert Memorial in the southeast corner and the Italian Garden. George Frampton’s bronze Peter Pan statue pays homage to the classic fictional character created by J.M. Barrie. This 107-year-old statue was recently reopened after some restoration work. Built to commemorate the passing of Prince Albert, the Albert Memorial is considered one of London’s finest architectural marvels. The ornate marble figures at each corner of the memorial are its distinguishing characteristic. There are several other intriguing monuments in the park including the Speke Monument, which was unveiled in 1866, and the Physical Energy statue by George Watts.

Landscape History

As a part of Hyde Park, a majority of Kensington Garden served as a hunting ground for Henry VIII. When William and Mary ascended to the throne, they purchased the building that stood at the edge of Hyde Park. The building was renamed Kensington Palace, and it became the abode of Queen Mary. Shortly after, in 1728, Queen Caroline appointed Charles Bridgeman as the chief designer for a complete overhaul of the park. Soon, the Round Pond, Long Water lake, and tree-lined avenues were introduced. The famous Sunken Garden and Italian Garden were added much later. Although the royal residence was moved to Buckingham Palace by Queen Victoria in 1837, Kensington Park remained a pristine green patch in the heart of London. 

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Kensington Gardens in Films

• Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)
  The film’s famous brawling scene between Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver is shot near The Serpentine Gallery and the Italian Garden in Kensington Park.
  
• Wimbledon (2004)
  This romantic comedy featuring Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany briefly shows the couple touring Kensington Garden and visiting the Albert Memorial.
  
• The Jokers (1967)
  The Albert Memorial is also featured in the 1967 flick The Jokers starring Oliver Reed and Michael Crawford.
  
• The Wings of the Dove (1997)
  In this romantic British-American drama starring Helena Bonham Carter, three of the film’s most important characters converge at The Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Park.
  
• Finding Neverland (2004)
  Finding Neverland is a 2004 movie starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet that tells the story of J.M. Barrie, the playwright who brought Peter Pan to life with his enchanting books. Since Kensington Garden was Barrie’s favorite haunt, the movie fittingly features various parts of the gardens.