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Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens

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Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens

Recommended by 160 hikers out of 166

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Location: London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

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Best Hikes to Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens

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1. Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Walk from Green Park

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2. Buckingham Palace – St. Paul's Cathedral loop from Whitechapel

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Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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3. Albert Memorial – Kensington Palace and Gardens loop from Sloane Square

9.20km

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Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

Edvard

April 22, 2018

Created in the 1860s, you can find this ornamental water garden on the north side of park, near Lancaster Gate.

The Italian Gardens are an elaborate mix of four main basins. They feature central rosettes carved in Carrara marble, the Portland stone and white marble Tazza Fountain, and a collection of stone statues and urns. See if you can spot the five main urn designs – a swan's breast, woman's head, ram's head, dolphin and oval.

Did you know?

The gardens are believed to have been a gift from Prince Albert to his beloved Queen Victoria. They are now recognised as being a site of particular importance and are Grade II listed by Historic England.

A brief history of the Italian Gardens

The layout of the Italian Gardens can be traced to Osborne House on The Isle of Wight, where the royal family spent its holidays.

Prince Albert was a keen gardener and took charge of the gardens at Osborne House, where he introduced an Italian garden with large raised terraces, fountains, urns and geometric flower beds.

In 1860 he brought the idea to Kensington Gardens. The design by James Pennethorne includes many features of the Osborne garden.

Look out for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's initials on one of the walls of the Pump House, at the north of the gardens. This building once contained a steam engine which operated the fountains - the pillar on the roof is a cleverly-disguised chimney. A stoker kept the engine running on Saturday nights to pump water into the Round Pond, so on Sundays there was enough water pressure to run the fountains.

royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington-gardens/things-to-see-and-do/gardens-and-landscapes/italian-gardens

Melanie

June 17, 2018

Very nice place to stay and relax from the hustle and bustle of London.

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Sabine Bine

November 7, 2018

Nearby there are many squirrels in the bushes, which are very approachable and shy. They are looking for food, but they should not be fed

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Elevation 20 m

Weather

Today

Monday 15 September

19°C

12°C

10 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 26.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Italian Gardens, Kensington Gardens

1. Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Walk from Green Park

2. Buckingham Palace – St. Paul's Cathedral loop from Whitechapel

3. Albert Memorial – Kensington Palace and Gardens loop from Sloane Square

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