End-of-Summer Flyover Tour: Peter Pan
Come along on a flight around the city, Peter Pan-style
Author J. M. Barrie premiered his stage play, Peter Pan (&/or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up), in London on December 27, 1904. The Duke of York Theatre still stands, although different stories now grace its stage. In 1911, Barrie turned his popular play into the now-famous novel Peter and Wendy. Many versions of the story came along over the next hundred years, with Disney’s movie and Golden Books reviving its popularity in the 1950s.
In most versions, Peter Pan, a mischievous little boy who can fly, takes the Darling family children to visit Neverland, a fantastical island full of mermaids, fairies, pirates, and the “Lost Boys.” Of course, one of the most recognizable characters is Tinkerbell, his sassy sidekick. And we can’t forget Captain Hook, the pirate out to capture Peter.
The stories are, of course, fictional! But the play and novel were inspired by author Barrie's friendship with a real-life family, the Llewelyn Davies family, and their children’s adventures around Kensington and Bloomsbury in London. (Remember, my university is in Bloomsbury, and I live near Kensington… so I’ve spent a lot of time in the area!)
After the success of his story, Barrie commissioned a statue of Peter to be installed in Kensington Gardens — in secret and overnight, so children would believe fairies put it there! It sits right near the Serpentine Water, where Peter plays in the original stories, and has been looking over the gardens for more than 100 years.
Come along on a flight around the city, Peter Pan-style:
Video Segment: Peter Pan London Flyover Summer ‘26
You can check out the site of Barrie’s London home at 100 Bayswater or wander around Kensington to spot the Llewelyn Davies family’s neighborhood and play areas. There’s even a Peter Pan-themed playground near the commemorative statue in Kensington Gardens!
(This photo only, courtesy: The Royal Parks/Chris O'Donovan)
And even though it’s not in London, I want to share this beautiful mosaic at Disneyworld. It takes my imagination to Neverland – and London – every time I see it! Disneyworld Peter Pan Mosaic
Remember: With a little imagination, you, too, may be able to fly!