Peter Pan Statue

You'll find this statue tucked into a corner of Kensington Gardens, where it's been catching visitors off guard since 1912. It's a bronze figure of the boy who never grew up, perched on a tree stump surrounded by rabbits, mice and fairies - all rendered with the kind of detail that makes you crouch down for a closer look. The sculptor, Sir George Frampton, created something genuinely charming rather than saccharine, and it's become one of those spots where you see why people bother making the pilgrimage from the visitor centre.

You don't need long - five minutes, really, unless you're the sort who reads every plaque and contemplates the symbolism of eternal youth while pigeons circle overhead. Kids are mostly underwhelmed if you oversell it, to be honest. It's more rewarding if you stumble across it during a broader walk through the gardens than if it's your sole destination. The statue sits free to access, naturally, and there's no queue or admission nonsense.

It works well as part of a Kensington Gardens loop - pop over to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain or the Italian Garden if you're making a morning of it. If you're staying nearby at Lovat Parks, it's an easy jaunt into central London, though the gardens themselves can feel rammed during summer weekends. Go early or in autumn when it's properly atmospheric.