Peter Pan statue

All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.
J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Although most people are probably familiar with the Disney version of Peter Pan, the original stories are much darker. Barrie’s childhood was filled with loss. His older brother, David, died in a skating accident at the age of 13, leaving his mother devastated and Barrie trying to get her attention by filing his place. His mother seemed to find comfort in the fact that her dead son would remain a boy forever, never to grow up and leave her.

J M Barrie lived just across the road from Kensington Gardens at 100, Bayswater Road, and was inspired to write his story by a family of five young boys he met by chance at the park. He also drew inspiration from his time playing in the garden of Moat Brae in Dumfries. Barrie published his first Peter Pan story in 1902, using the gardens as inspiration. The hidden pet cemetery with its tiny gravestones on the edge of Hyde Park was reimagined as the final resting place of children who were left behind in the park after closing time whilst the South Flower Walk near the Albert Memorial became the Baby Walk.

The statue of Peter Pan was erected in secret during the night, 'magically' appearing in the morning of the 1st May, 1912. Barrie placed this announcement in The Times: There is a surprise in store for the children who go to Kensington Gardens to feed the ducks in the Serpentine this morning. Down by the little bay on the south-western side of the tail of the Serpentine they will find a May-day gift by Mr J.M. Barrie, a figure of Peter Pan blowing his pipe on the stump of a tree…

14 metres high, the statue consists of a figure of Peter Pan standing on top of a tree stump, blowing a trumpet. Dancing all around the tree trunk are small animals and fairies and wandering round the statue, there are so many little details and creatures to notice and enjoy.

The statue is easily accessed from any entrance to Kensington Gardens. Keep to the right of the Italian garden and follow the path alongside the Long Water.

Peter Pan statue

Kensington Gardens,

London

W2 2UD

You can read about Moat Brae here.