LONDON WEEKEND BREAKS - Kew Gardens

Generally referred to simply as Kew Gardens, these gardens are internationally famous for the extraordinary diversity and volume of trees and plants that they exhibit. In fact, Kew has the world’s biggest collection of plants and boasts more than 30, 000 different species plus an incredible seven million plants in a preserved state.

The gardens are also a leading international botanic research centre and a popular public attraction to all generations seeing approximately two million visitors per year.

The gardens were opened in 1759 and today have around seven hundred employees working within them.

What to see

One of Kew’s great appeals is the fact that you do not need to be a gardener to find the displays, tropical houses or exhibits interesting. It is an attraction that can be enjoyed in a casual way by the layman, or in a deeper way by the gardening hobbyist or part time horticulturalist. Kew has many different visitor activities, but amongst the most popular are the guided walks that give a good overview of the facility. These run every day of the year (bar Christmas day) and start between 11.00am and 2.00pm. The guides are all volunteers, but with a great knowledge of the gardens.

An attraction for the children is the massive compost heap which Kew claims to be the biggest in the world. The compost heap provides an active resource for the facility and there is a special platform from which visitors can observe this rather odd point of interest.

The best way to get the most from Kew gardens is to wonder around all of the garden areas, glass houses, arboretums and buildings. You can then bypass the things that do not interest you and spend more time in the areas that do.

Within the complex there are a number of buildings ranging from Kew palace to the Minka House and the Chokushi Mon (a scaled done copy of a Japanese gateway). Some of these buildings are functional, e.g. the glass houses, whilst others act as interesting follies.

Structural highlights of the gardens include, the ten storey high Pagoda that dates back to 1762 and stands almost 50 metres high.

The Princess of Wales conservatory (one of three), that contains no less than ten separate and independently controlled artificial climates.

The Temperate House, displaying all manor of botanic life from the temperate regions of the world and housed in the largest glass constructed Victorian building in the world.

And the recently opened Treetop Walkway that takes its walkers on a suspended path that weaves through the tree tops almost 60 feet above the ground.

The plant collections at Kew are too plentiful to list, but include a massive arboretum, cacti, a large aquatic garden, herbaceous flower beds, a section featuring carnivorous plants and a stunning collection of orchids.

Kew also offers a library, a museum, a gallery of botanic art and the Nash conservatory, all of which enable this beautiful garden park to be a complete day out for an individual or a family.

How to get there

Kew Gardens can be easily reached from central London and has its own Tube station, Kew Gardens, reaches via the District line. Kew Gardens can also be accessed by main railway line or bus and although you can drive there, car parking is restricted.

As of September 2009, entry to the Gardens (only) was £13 with children under 16 getting free entry when accompanied by an adult.