KENSINGTON GARDENS, LONDON: Respite from the Hustle and Bustle of City Life

South Flower Walk, Kensington Gardens, London.

It was a beautiful autumn day and it seemed that half of London was in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park—bicycling, jogging, pushing prams, walking dogs, or just enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. For us, it was our second full day in London, and a walk in the park seemed like a good way to combat jet lag. (Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park form a continuous green space in the center of London, totaling more than 600 acres. Once a private hunting ground for royalty, it became a public space in the 19^th century.)

At the Queen's Gate entrance to Kensington Gardens.

We entered the park at Queen’s Gate, just a few blocks from our hotel.  Inside the park entrance we oriented ourselves on the large map. There are dozens of crisscrossing paths, but maps posted throughout the park prevented us from getting lost.

The Kensington Gardens in literature. Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial in background.

At first, we followed a path through the flower garden. Our last visit to the park was in April, when spring flowers were just beginning to bloom. Now it was the end of the growing season with the plants were giving out a final burst of energy.

Autumn leaves.

From there we headed toward the Serpentine, the narrow lake in the center of the park. Near the lake is the Serpentine Art Gallery (temporarily closed) where we watched children enjoying a large outdoor sculpture that invites viewers to get lost amidst its hanging yellow fronds.

Penetrable BBL Jaune by Jesus Rafael Soto

Only one road crosses the park and it goes over the lake on a bridge. (To the east of the bridge the lake is called the Serpentine and is in Hyde Park. To the west it is called the Long Water and is in Kensington Gardens.) 

View of the Serpentine from the bridge.

As we stood at the center of the bridge we got a spectacular view of the lake and of Central London in the distance. 

Below us, water birds perched on pilings and swam in the water and people floated by in paddleboats.

Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park provide a refuge for wildlife in London.

We then continued along the edge of the lake on the Kensington Garden side, passing some swans, until we came to the Peter Pan monument. 

Swans.

Peter Pan monument.

I remember reading the Peter Pan book by J. M. Barrie when I was growing up and trying to imagine what it would be like to grow up in London.

Tree-lined walk.

Kensington Palace

It was then time to circle back to our starting point. As we crossed the middle of the park we could see Kensington Palace in the distance. On another trip we’ll have to explore the Round Pond and gardens around the palace that are open to the public.  

Map of Kensington Gardens.