First opened in 2000, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens has undergone a £3m renewal.

The Peter Pan inspired playground has been refurbished to include new equipment such as a 12-metre Galleon moored on a sandy beach, a treehouse and crocodile-themed waterplay area.

The playground’s team has been led by Royal Parks senior landscape architect Rhona Harley, working alongside principal contractor Ground Control.

Every aspect of the playground now has improved inclusivity and accessibility, featuring wheelchair accessible slides and areas inside the treehouse and Galleon, picnic benches and waterplay areas.

Sustainability has also been an important feature of the newly refurbished playground. New wooden play equipment uses timber from sustainably managed European forests, constructed by Timberplay, while the new waterplay feature allows runoff water to be collected and used for irrigation.

Surrounded by an array of biodiverse planting and landscaped areas, the playground also creates a space for wildlife, too.

Andy Williams, park manager for Kensington Gardens, comments on the new playground:

“This playground has been thoughtfully designed so that children of all abilities and interests can find something that appeals to them. Children can once again splash, swing, climb and hide in this almost two-acre playground set amongst sub-tropical planting.”

Open to the public from today, the playground has a capacity of 450 people, featuring toilets and a access to the cafe.

Take a look at the garden in action: