Botanical garden, Park, Tourist attraction, Wedding venue
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Kew's Royal Botanic Gardens spread historic glasshouses, themed gardens and an 18-metre treetop walkway across grounds big enough to fill more than a day, with the Palm House and Princess of Wales Conservatory at their heart.
The story
The glasshouses are the core of the visit. Rare tropical plants fill the Palm House and its neighbours, while the Princess of Wales Conservatory divides into climate zones and keeps a notable orchid collection. Outside, the grounds run through a rose garden, Japanese and Rock gardens, alpine displays and bonsai, with descriptions explaining the regions each plant comes from. For height, the Great Pagoda can be climbed to its seventh level for views across London, and the treetop walkway rises 18 metres above the ground. The Hive, a playground with water play and a family restaurant keep children busy, and foxes, geese, ducks and green parrots are often seen. The Orangery serves lunch, the Botanical Brasserie does afternoon tea facing the Palm House, and the Victoria Gate shop stocks gifts for plant lovers.
Good to know
TAGGG AI- ✦The glasshouses close earlier than the rest of the gardens, so see them first.
- ✦Weekdays, especially Mondays, are noticeably quieter, with little or no queueing at the gates.
- ✦Bring water on hot days; free water stations are available in the cafés and dotted around the grounds.
