The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens is undergoing a £3 million refurbishment and is set to reopen in summer 2026 with a new full-scale wooden galleon centerpiece.

The project is managed by The Royal Parks, with staff inspecting the galleon in Germany before its maiden voyage to London, ensuring the work continues Princess Diana’s legacy while improving safety and accessibility.

Upgrades include a new treehouse, a redesigned water play area, and a dedicated under‑threes space, expanding and modernizing the attraction that draws about one million visitors annually.

The refurbishment adds these new features while upgrading existing equipment that had reached the end of its life, signaling a refresh rather than a complete rebuild.

Timberplay and Richter Spielgerate express enthusiasm for delivering a benchmark public play space, with designers reinforcing their personal connection to the project.

Paul Collings of Timberplay and Peter Heuken of Richter Spielgerate frame the galleon and treehouse as a public-spirited refresh that will delight children for years to come.

The Diana Memorial Playground, opened in 2000 near Kensington Palace, is being refreshed for a summer 2026 reopen with the 12‑metre tall wooden galleon as the centerpiece.

Timberplay and Richter Spielgerate, who designed the original galleon, are involved again in the redevelopment.

Andy Williams, the Kensington Gardens park manager, says the updated design captures children's imaginations in a safe space while staying faithful to Princess Diana’s spirit.

The new galleon is built in Frasdorf, Germany by Timberplay and Richter Spielgerate, using mountain larch wood sourced from sustainably managed forests.

The project reaffirms the playground as one of the UK’s most visited facilities, alongside its role in keeping Diana’s legacy alive, with about one million visitors each year.