From ‘Lines Written in Kensington Gardens’
By Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)

CALM soul of all things! make it mine To feel, amid the city’s jar,
That there abides a peace of thine, Man did not make, and cannot mar!

The will to neither strive nor cry, The power to feel with others give! Calm, calm me more! nor let me die Before I have begun to live.




Kensington Gardens

After William and Marry moved to Nottingham house, now Kensington Palace, in 1689 land was taken from the eastern part of Hyde Park to create Kensington Gardens.  In the 18th century Charles Bridgeman redesigned the park including the Italian Fountain gardens and the Albert Memorial.  In the late 1800’s Queen Victoria opened the park to the public.  Her monument sits In front of Round Pond.  The park also has beautiful flowerbeds, a statue of Peter Pan, the Serpentine Art Gallery, and Elfin Oak.  The park also offers views of Kensington Palace, home of Princess Diana, and the Diana memorial playground as well as the 7-mile memorial walk which were added in 2000.  Popular past times are kite flying and model boat sailing in Round Pond.

(Picture) Queen Victoria outside Kensington Palace (Picture) The Albert Memorial