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Galleon arrives in Kensington Gardens

Fahad Redha

April 7, 2026
3 min read

After making its maiden voyage across the North Sea, a brand new life-size wooden ship has moored in Kensington Gardens. The Galleon is the centrepiece of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground which will reopen in the summer of 2026.

The ship was built in Frasdorf in Germany and is primarily made out of mountain larch wood taken from sustainably managed forests in the Bavarian Alps. There, harsh alpine conditions lead to extremely slow growth, making the timber stronger and naturally resistant to rot, eliminating the need for chemical treatment.

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The Galleon left Frasdorf, travelling to Rotterdam before it crossed the North Sea on its way to Tilbury in Essex. From there, it went on a road trip to its final destination in the heart of Kensington & Chelsea.

The free-to-enter playground is going through a £3million renewal by The Royal Parks charity. It will include the Galleon, a new treehouse, a redesigned water play area, and a refurbished under-3s area.

The playground in Kensington Gardens first opened in 2000 to commemorate the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who resided at the nearby Kensington Palace. Inspired by the adventures of Peter Pan, it welcomes over a million annual visitors, and following decades of adventures, some of the larger pieces of the playground have reached the end of their life.

The playground’s renewal is funded by The Royal Parks charity and through a mixture of public and private donations. Fundraising is ongoing to complete the project.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.