A playground commemorating Princess Diana is set to reopen tomorrow after undergoing a £3 million renovation. The memorial playground, dedicated to the late Princess of Wales at Kensington Palace Gardens, has been closed since last autumn and has been transformed with a Peter Pan theme. The highlight of the revamped playground is a full-scale 17-meter wooden ship, featuring a 12-meter galleon, which will open to the public for the first time at 10 am on Wednesday.
The ship, crafted from mountain larch wood sourced from sustainably managed forests in the Bavarian Alps, offers children the opportunity to climb to two crow’s nests, slide down a large tunnel slide, and play in a kitchen located below deck. Constructed by Timberplay and Richter Spielgerate in the German village of Frasdorf, the wooden structure is reminiscent of the original Peter Pan-themed galleon designed for the playground’s opening in 2000.
Additionally, the playground features a treehouse with a four-meter slide tunnel and wheelchair-accessible walkways. A designated area for children under three includes timber houses, play ships, and a large sandpit. Despite a new waterplay area with a life-sized crocodile sculpture, the playground cannot operate with water currently due to a hosepipe ban in London.
Before the public opening, children from St Mary Abbot School nearby had the opportunity to test out the new equipment. Park Manager Andy Williams expressed excitement for the reopening, highlighting the inclusive design catering to children of all abilities and interests. The Royal Parks anticipates a surge in visitors in the initial months following the reopening, with the playground’s capacity capped at 450 people. To manage expectations, visitors are encouraged to explore other playgrounds across the Royal Parks and check for family events on The Royal Parks website.
The Diana Memorial Playground, inaugurated in June 2000 on the site of a former playground established in 1906 by Peter Pan author JM Barrie, receives approximately one million visitors annually, making it the most frequented playground in the UK. Princess Diana’s close friend Rosa Monckton and her daughter Domenica, alongside former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Diana’s brother Charles Spencer with his children, played significant roles in the playground’s opening ceremony 26 years ago. Princess Diana, renowned for her affinity with children during her time as a kindergarten teacher, continues to be commemorated through the playground’s revamp.