Kensington Gardens
British Museum Cabinet War Rooms Canary Wharf Chelsea Physic Garden Chinatown London Covent Garden Market Eltham Palace Gotheborg Ship Hampton Court Household Cavalry HMS Belfast Kensington Gardens Kew Gardens London Aquarium London Zoo Maritime Greenwich Natural History Museum Palace Mews River Cruise St. James's Park St. Pancras Station Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Sherlock Hlomes Museum Somerset House Thames Barrier The London Eye Tower Bridge Experience Tower of London Transport Museum Windsor Castle	The thumbnails below are linked to larger pictures Kensington Gardens covers about 270 acres and origially formed the western end of Hyde Park. The park also forms the grounds of Kensington Palace, originally the royal residency for the Stuarts, William III who purchased the land in 1689 and Mary II. Queen Victoria was born in Kensington Palace and resided there until she became Queen in 1837. It was Queen Caroline wife of George II who in 1728 landscaped the gardens to their present form by creating the Serpentine and the Long Water from the Westbourne stream. The gardens were eventually opened to "respectably dressed" members of the public towards the end of the 18th century. The Italian Gardens and the Albert Memorial were contributions from Queen Victoria. Later attractions include George Framptons bronze statue of Peter Pan and most recently the controversial Diana Princess of Wales Memorial fountain and childrens playground. Kensington Gardens is quieter than the other London Parks and retaining this calm is actively encouraged. Accordingly wild birds thrive there and in the last 100 years 178 species have been identified. There is plenty to do in Kensington Gardens, including a visit to the Palace, enough to warrant a good half day excursion. *Link to official site for viewing Visitor Information* Diana Memorial Fountain - Reopened on 6th May 2005