The beloved Princess Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens will close next month for refurbishment. The new and improved playground will retain the characteristics of the existing Peter Pan-inspired playground but will provide more accessible, inclusive and physically challenging play, it has been announced.
The playground opened in 2000 to commemorate the late Princess of Wales, who resided at the nearby Kensington Palace. Since then, it has welcomed more than one million children and their carers annually, but after 25 years, many features have reached the end of their life.
The attraction will close on Monday, November 3, to undergo refurbishment and reopen in summer 2026.
The Royal Parks charity, which manages eight Royal Parks, has revealed its plans for renewing the playground.
According to the plans, a new galleon will replace the existing ship and it will include new features such as an additional crow’s nest and a tunnel slide. It will also provide ramped access to the main deck.
A new treehouse, inspired by woodland hideaways, will feature three towers at different heights, providing climbing opportunities for children of different ages and abilities. It will also include social and interactive features such as musical equipment and talk tubes, where children can talk to friends at different levels.
Meanwhile, a larger-than-life crocodile will lurk in the redesigned water play area. The sculpture, about 12 metres long, will be covered with stones and incorporate dams between the connecting parts of the crocodile’s body, allowing children to control the flow of water.
Also, the refurbished playground will feature a refreshed under 3’s area, to include a new sandpit area, and brand-new equipment such as play ships, timber houses, seesaw and a climbing structure complete with a slide.
The charity said that sustainability is at the forefront of the new design, with two features, the galleon and the treehouse, both having been constructed from timber from sustainably managed European forests, while people will be able to collect the water from the water play area and use it for irrigation.
The renewed design took into account input from visitors and local community groups.
It also features improved accessibility and inclusivity, like wheelchair access spaces and wider paths.
The refurbishment is funded by The Royal Parks charity, and through a mix of private and public donations.
The last day to visit the playground will be Sunday, November 2, 2025. On this day, it will close at the normal time of 3.45pm.
