Adventure #3, continued

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We've come to the west side of the combined Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens complex.  Running north-south is The Broad Walk. 

West of the Broad Walk is Kensington Palace.  Purchased by William and Mary, it still retains its Royal residence status.  Several minor members of the Royal family have apartments here, even now.  The late Princess Margaret lived here, as did Diana, Princess of Wales both during her marriage and following her divorce.  See Adventure #4 for further details.

Across the Broad Walk from Kensington Palace is the Round Pond. Geese and ducks abound here, as do people who feed them.  There's a bandstand nearby, site of concerts in the summer.

Walking north of Kensington Palace and the Round Pond on the Broad Walk, note the Orangery on your left.  Once it was used as a hothouse to grow oranges and other "exotic" plants which would not otherwise survive the London environment.  Today, you can have tea there. 

Further along the Broad Walk, just before leaving the park, you will see a playground on your left.  A playground has been here for years, but it is now the Princess Diana Memorial Playground and it is still being completed. 

Near the entrance to the playground, look for the Elfin Oak.  This tall "stump" is protected by a wrought iron fence and clear plexiglass roof.  On it are carved all manner of elvish beings.  It was originally carved by children's book illustrator, Ivor Innes, between 1928 and 1930.   Spike Milligan was instrumental in seeing it restored in the 1960's and also in the most recent restoration, completed in June, 1997.

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