Play

Play in the Royal Parks

For many years, The Royal Parks has provided high-quality places where our visitors can play. The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, which opened in Kensington Gardens in 2000, led the way in encouraging children to explore and follow their imaginations, while our children's playground in St James's Park provides opportunities for natural play in a historic setting.

The Hyde Park Senior Playground is an exciting new addition to play in the Royal Parks. The free outdoor playground includes six pieces of exercise equipment specifically designed for older people to enjoy.

Recent improvements

We have recently refurbished Buck Hill playground in Kensington Gardens, to increase its capacity and provide areas where children can engage with the natural environment. Additional seating has been added, as well as a new nest swing and a water play feature. Click here for more information.

In 2010 new features were installed in Hanover Gate playground in Regent's Park including a play sculpture, water play area and a tree house style platform. Following recent consultation with Westminster Society for People with Learning Difficulties, work has been done to improve accessibility and play experiences for children with disabilities enabling them to fully engage with the playground and feel a sense of participation. Click here for more information.

During 2010 improvements were made to the Primrose Hill playground, including installation of a SpaceNet climbing net.

In 2009, we refurbished the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground. This £150,000 project repaired many of the popular features and added a play tunnel, see-saw, water pump, sand chutes, timber pergola and new planting.

More improvements throughout the parks are coming soon.

Natural play

The beautiful settings of our parks offer tremendous opportunities for natural play. Children and young people can get in touch with nature by, for example, playing with fallen leaves, balancing on logs, climbing over boulders or splashing about in water. The result can be a feeling of wonder, a sense of place and stimulated creativity.

We apply the principles of natural play throughout The Royal Parks and we're now developing them further in new natural play projects. These ideas are also being promoted by the Government and other organisations, such as Play England and Cabe Space.

We're working with Westminster City Council on new natural play areas in The Regent's Park and Kensington Gardens. Click here for details.

More improvements coming soon

We're planning other exciting improvements, including changes at Petersham Gate, and Kingston Gate playgrounds in Richmond Park, and Bushy Park playgrounds. Click here for details.

Future play

We're also planning ahead so that we continue to provide excellent play facilities for all ages in The Royal Parks. Click here for details of our play strategy.