Kensington Palace Gardens

Kensington Palace Gardens is an intimate, tranquil and secluded oasis that boasts of the following gardens:

THE SUNKEN GARDEN

The Sunken Garden was first designed and constructed in 1908 when this part of the garden was previously occupied by potting sheds and greenhouses. This new layout was modelled on the Pond Garden at Hampton Court Palace and celebrated a formal Edwardian style of gardening incorporating natural materials, herbaceous planting on terraces and water features. In 2017 the garden was completely re-planted in white flowers for visitors to reflect and celebrate the life of Princess Diana. It took inspiration from Princess Diana’s dresses along with the famous Mario Testino photographs of the Princess. The garden continues to follow this peaceful and pastel-coloured style to this day which visitors admire and enjoy.

CRADLE WALK

An arched arbour of red-twigged lime (Tilia Platyphyllus) surrounds the Sunken Garden with arched viewpoints equally spaced along the sides. In the summer, this shady tunnel provides the perfect place to view the bright colours in the Sunken Garden to the north or the re-landscaped gardens to the south. Some people will remember the colloquial name 'Nanny Walk' as this beautiful spot was a favoured meeting point for the many nannies in Kensington.

WILDFLOWERS AT KENSINGTON PALACE

The wildflower meadow to the south-east of the palace includes poppies, campion, daisies, and many other native wild flowers, which bloom in the summer months. The effect is a lovely natural approach to the palace from the south. The flowers are also immensely beneficial to pollinators and other insects who sometimes struggle to find food and shelter in the big city.

FORMAL GARDENS

Kensington Gardens began life as a King's playground; for over 100 years, the gardens were part of Hyde Park and hosted Henry VIII's huge deer chase. When William III and Mary II established the palace in 1689, they began to create a separate park. Mary commissioned a palace garden of formal flower beds and box hedges. This style was Dutch and designed to make William, who came from Holland, feel at home. When Queen Anne came to the throne in 1702, she created an English-style garden. The Orangery was added in 1704, an elaborate greenhouse built in the style of an elegant palace to protect Anne's citrus trees from the harsh frosts of winter.