Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground renewal
After welcoming children for 25 years of play, since the playground opened in 2000, many of the playground's play features have now reached the end of their life.
The Royal Parks charity is undertaking a £3 million renewal of the much-loved playground.
The renewed playground will retain the characteristics of the existing Peter Pan-inspired playground but will provide more accessible and inclusive play, as well as challenging physical play, so that children of all abilities can enjoy creative and imaginative play together.
A new Galleon, constructed with sustainably-sourced timber over three levels, with wheelchair accessible spaces, will replace the existing pirate ship. The Galleon will include an additional ‘crow’s nest’ and a double storey ‘stern’ with a ship’s wheel and a telescope.
A new multiple-level Treehouse constructed with sustainably-sourced timber will provide opportunities for children to climb and play at different heights and includes areas accessible to wheelchairs.
Three towers at different heights will provide different levels of challenge, while other features include a suspension bridge, a tunnel slide, a rope bridge and a see-saw bridge with a slide.
A larger-than-life crocodile will lurk in the redesigned waterplay area. Covered with stones and approximately 12 metres long, the sculpture will incorporate dams between the connecting part of the crocodile's body, allowing children to control the flow of water. The new designs will allow runoff water to be collected and reused for irrigation.
A refreshed under 3's area to include a new sandpit area, and brand-new equipment such as play ships, timber houses, a seesaw and a climbing structure, complete with a slide.
To further improve accessibility and inclusivity some of the paths in the playground will be resurfaced and a new accessible path will be created. Wheelchair accessible picnic tables will be added, and the waterplay and sand area will have raised tables. We will also have sensory planting, and the musical area will be upgraded.
We worked with local communities, especially children, to gather and incorporate their feedback into the designs at every stage, so that that all children feel welcome and can enjoy free, accessible, creative and social play, fostering their health and wellbeing.
The playground will close from 3 November 2025 with the works completed by summer 2026. In the meantime please feel free to visit one of our 13 remaining playgrounds. The closest one to this location are Buck Hill Playground in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park Playground in Hyde Park.
Thank you for your patience during this time. For any enquiries please contact us here.
