The full name for the gardens is the Royal Crusade for Independence Gardens. This is a bit of a mouthful and it’s often shortened to the Royal Gardens. You’ll also find the Royal Residence just opposite, but this isn’t open to tourists.

It was here that King Sihanouk and General Lon Nol plotted Cambodia’s independence from their French colonial overlords in the 1950s. At the other end of the gardens, the King and Lon Nol would look out to see the largest colonial-style hotel built during the French occupation (Raffles Grand d’Angkor Hotel) while they sat in their French-made residence – maybe they used this as their inspiration!

Nowadays, the park has become a very popular spot for both locals and tourists to spend some time outside with their friends and families. There are gardens, a pagoda, shrines, bats, a river, exercise classes, a tourist information centre and a cafe. Everything you need to spend a few hours relaxing and enjoying the space.