A day at Kew Gardens
Updated: Jul 31
London is a favourite city for us all and we love to explore a new place each time we go.
Kew Gardens is a place that's been on our list of places to visit for a while and we relished at the opportunity to spend a sunny Sunday in wander of its beautiful grounds.
Situated on the outskirts of London near Richmond, it really is an oasis amongst the urban hustle and bustle we all know London to be so well.
Covering a vast area of 326 acres it's a botanical paradise awaiting to be discovered.
The Rose Garden Wandering through the beauty of the Rose Garden at Kew was perfect for a hot summers day to inhale the various scents of the nations favourite bloom. There are over 170 different varieties of to admire and discover your favourites.
The Palm House
Stepping inside this beautiful glasshouse was like walking into another dimension. A tropical plant paradise, it is home to many endangered varieties from the most threatened environments of the world. Be prepared for the wave of humidity that will hit you and enjoy ducking and diving through this remarkable tropical indoor rainforest. We were so inspired to see many plants in their natural form, when we are so used to their end products - cocoa, palm oil, amongst a few to name.
The Palm house is also an invaluable source of research and development with Kew scientists relying on the collection for vital research into medicine and sustainable cropping. A glimpse of rainforest inhabits makes the palm house both a magical and memorable experience to enjoy. And it's not just the inside which is there to be admired. The Palm House was the first glasshouse of its kind built on this scale and was constructed in 1844 by Richard Turner according to Decimus Burton's designs. It's unique shape and designs makes it an attraction in itself.
Treetop walkway
Towering 18 metres above the ground, it's not a walk in the park if y0u're not a fan of heights (as I discovered). Surrounded by the vast and complex ecosystem, it's a chance to see Kew's trees from above.
Temperate House We were in awe of this beautiful glasshouse before we had even stepped through its doors. Opened in 1863, it's Grade I listed, made from 15,000 panes of glass and is the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse in the world. Originally built to display Kew's temperate plant collection it is now home to 10,000 plants in total with 1500 temperate species from five continents and 16 islands.
