The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, in south-west London, hold the world’s largest collection of living plants — over 50,000 species across 330 acres. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a centre of plant science and conservation, and one of the finest gardens in the world.
The Glasshouses
The Palm House, built in 1848, is the most important surviving Victorian glass and iron structure in the world. Inside, a jungle of tropical plants from every corner of the globe crowds around you in 90% humidity. The Temperate House — the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world — contains the largest glass collection of plants in cultivation.
The Treetop Walkway
The Treetop Walkway rises 18 metres into the woodland canopy, giving a squirrel’s-eye view of the trees. The circular view at the top looks out over the entire garden and across the Thames toward Richmond. It is particularly spectacular in autumn when the trees are turning.
Getting There
Kew Gardens is on the District line at Kew Gardens station. It is also reachable by boat from Westminster Pier in summer. Allow a full day — the garden is too large and too rewarding to rush.
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