The park was like an open air fitness centre, jogger after jogger flashed by choosing their own course down one of the many paths ahead, one going left, one straight on like a real life Pacman game. Cyclists continuously rode past, from the Lycra clad enthusiasts to the family groups with the mom always seeming to be lagging behind. The open grass areas playing home to groups playing sports, surprisingly not the traditional English games of Soccer and Cricket but the adopted overseas loves of American Football and Baseball, with a physical game of Rollerblade hockey also to be found (on the tarmaced area)...pads and all. Elsewhere Dog owners let their pooches wander freely off lead, nervously smiling and nodding at each other, both sides hoping that it's not their pet that turns the Canine sniffing ritual into a full on dog fight.
The recent heavy snowfall was only evident by the rapidly diminishing snowman bodies around the park leaving what looked like giant scoops of ice cream instead of the much loved winter icon. Although the iced up pools within the "Italian Gardens"did demonstrate the cold spell the country had just encountered. The gardens built in the 1860's were a fantastic example of opulent times gone by, containing a number of classical sculptures and water features as well as affording wonderful views across the Long Water lake.
From there I wandered round the garden areas of Kensington Palace, once the royal home of Princess Diana .Although not the most spectacular of palaces it still gives that regal feeling due to the royal statues and the glorious "Golden Gates" at the south entrance. The Garden area, although not at its best, due to being out of the "blooming" season, still had plenty of character, particularly the iced up sunken garden and the Orangery now home to a stylish cafe. 
As I approached the Round Pool I came across a massive gathering of people, in turn being greeted by an even bigger gathering of water birds. An ornithologists dream with a wide variety of species of Ducks, Geese, Swans and Glebes amongst many others. However most people were here with their children for feeding time, tiny hands grasping their bags full of bread, laughing with glee as a small piece thrown caused a large melee of thrashing wings, with the strongest and biggest birds normally coming out with the prize.
I ventured into to the neighbouring Hyde Park,
the much larger, more famous neighbour of Kensington Gardens, my mission to visit the Princess Diana Memorial Fountains, just a stones throw away. I must admit I was extremely underwhelmed, struggling to comprehend that someone, somewhere, thought that this would be a fitting tribute to the much adored Princess.
From a distance it looked like it was just a concrete path but as I got closer could see that it had water running inside it. At various points the water ran faster, bubbled and swirled, with all kinds of water effects going on, however it reminded me of a white water rafting course for toddlers. I'm sure this is not what the designers intended visitors to think of when paying their respects to Diana. In turn the signs around the area warned of slippery surfaces and with the water also having strange colour growths in it, I left feeling somewhat disappointed .
I crossed back into Kensington Gardens and traced my way through the many pathways in search of the Albert Memorial... now this was everything a royal tribute should be and more. Towering into the sky, glistening with gilt bronze and adorned with elaborate sculptures, a truly magnificent monument.
Commissioned by Queen Victoria to commemorate her beloved husband, Prince Albert sits at the centre, proudly looking out at the splendid Royal Albert Hall building on the other side of the parks boundary.
Visiting Kensington Gardens makes a wonderful day out, with a great variety of monuments, parkland, children's playgrounds, formal gardens, beautiful water features and even art galleries to view. It was wonderful to see the area being utilised by so many, be they local families, fitness freaks or even tourists.The park must change dramatically over the seasons, particularly the Summer when the full colours of the garden areas are out and the grassed areas become the perfect place to hold a leisurely picnic and a relaxing afternoon snooze.
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