The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, commonly known as Kew Gardens is a must-visit if you are a nature lover and need a quick break from London. Kew Gardens London, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the “largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world”. Spread across over 330 acres it has more than 50,000 living plants and over 8.5 million preserved plant and fungal specimens.
Things to know about Kew Gardens London
Kew Gardens London is located in South West London spread through Kew and Richmond. You can reach Kew Gardens London easily by car, bus or tube. There is also a boat service that runs from Westminster Pier to Kew Pier.
There are four main entrance gates and we took the overground to Kew Gardens station near Victoria Gate. The gardens are open from 10 am to 7 pm with 6 pm being the last entry and in my opinion, one day may feel less to explore the botanic gardens completely.
The face of Kew Gardens London keeps changing as different exhibitions and events keep happening here. Check the schedule here before planning your trip so that you can make the most of your visit.
Highlights of Kew Gardens London
Due to the expansiveness of the gardens, it is essential that you plan your trip by checking out the attractions and exhibits online here or download the map of Kew Gardens London here.
Chihuly at Kew: Reflections of Nature
‘I want my work to appear like it came from nature, so that if someone found it on a beach or in a forest, they might think it belonged there’ – Dale Chihuly
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You can now see the phenomenal glass artwork by the extraordinary glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly, exhibited in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew. Watch out for the celestial vibrant blue masterpiece Sapphire Star that welcomes you as you walk through Victoria Gate.
All you need is a map of the gardens and set trail to discover the most exquisite glasswork displayed with the backdrop of the stunning landscapes. Head out on family trails to find all the Chihuly exhibits spread across, in gardens, glasshouses and galleries.
Palm House
The Palm House recreates rainforests that cover about 2% of earth’s surface and provide many societies with fruit, timber, spices and medicine. Walking through this massive glasshouse feels as if you are almost in the deep jungles ready to discover some tropical treasures. There are many endangered species and some even extinct plants.
Princess of Wales Conservatory
This conservatory is one of its kind with ten computer controlled climate zones. Inside, we were greeted by warm tropical weather and were pleasantly surprised to explore through labyrinths of vegetation that belong to different ecosystems from deserts to wet tropics. There is a special zone for carnivorous plants with Venus flytraps and pitchers plant etc that can gobble up their living preys within seconds.
The Hive
The hive is an exemplary piece of contemporary art which extends a multi-sensory experience to discover the secret world of honey bees. The hive is dedicated to the role of the hardworking bees in sustaining life and the obstacles they have to face now due to environmental changes.
As you step inside you can hear the sound of buzzing bees and witness a thousand LED lights glow according to the vibrations of bees that live in the Gardens. The mesh frame of the larger than life Hive is made up of 170,000 aluminum parts and 1000 LED lights. A visual treat, it is obviously one of the most photographed structures in Kew Gardens London.
Arboretum
The arboretum is spread across two-third of the garden and has 14000 trees. Take the land train to cover most of the arboretum if you are running short on time. You can also walk on the various trails to explore the depths of this green wonderland.
Great Broad Walk Borders
The Great Broad Walk Borders was designed to be the promenade of the Palm House but due to its uniqueness drew fame of its own. There are eight circular flower beds that are identical on both sides of this walk which is also believed to be Britain’s longest herbaceous border. Take a stroll along this road and find many inspirations for your own garden.
Great Pagoda
Located in the depths of Kew Gardens London, the Great Pagoda was built in 1762 as a gift to Princess Augusta, the founder of the Gardens. It is one of the most striking structures in the garden that stands tall and offers spectacular panoramic views of London.
Rose Garden
Right next to the Palm House, the rose garden is home to 170 different species of rose. The beautiful rose beds provide a beautiful and vibrant backdrop to the Palm House.
Kew Palace
The oldest structure in the garden, Kew Palace was constructed in 1631 for a Flemish merchant and was known as the Dutch House. In the 18th century, Kew Palace served as the summer house for King George III. The palace now is open to the public and acts as a museum exhibiting the life and court during King George III’s reign.
Temperate House
The World’s largest Victorian Glasshouse, Temperate House has been recently renovated. It contains 10,000 plants from different parts of the world, namely Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Islands. Infact some of the plant species here are already extinct in the outside world.
Waterlily House
One of those magical places in Kew Gardens London, this square glasshouse maintains giant Amazon waterlily in the circular pond in the center surrounded by creepers and hanging gourds. A fully grown giant lily leaf can support a toddler or child sitting on it. The beauty of Waterlily House has been multiplied by the Chihuly waterlilies displayed here now.
Treetop Walkway
One of kid’s favorite, the Treetop Walkway is a great place to grab some magical views of Kew Gardens London. Climb 18m high to get close to Kew’s marvelous trees and observe the beautiful world of woods and their inhabitants.
Children’s Garden
The garden is specially designed for kids from 2 to 12 years old and is perfect to take a break if you are visiting with kids. With woods as the theme, one of the most stunning things here is 4m high canopy walk wrapped around a 200-year-old oak in the heart of the Children’s Garden. Based on learning, the garden has four elements namely earth garden, air garden, water garden and sun garden which elaborate on the importance of these elements in the lifecycle of trees and plants.
The Kew Explorer – Land Train
While not a formal attraction in the regular attraction list of Kew Gardens London, the land train that runs through the mammoth-sized gardens is a fun way to explore the depths of Kew. The tour takes about 40-45 minutes touching upon the highlights of the gardens and stopping at seven prominent stops.
There are also many free walking tours available and joining one of them along with a knowledgeable guide can help make the most of your visit to Kews Garden London.
This article has been written in collaboration with Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are mine.
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