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Kew Gardens, UK - World Heritage Site

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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Unesco World Heritage Site

Kew Gardens, as the Botanic Gardens are usually called, are situated on the south west outskirts of London about 7 miles from the centre of the city. It is one of the most interesting and beautiful places to visit in the capital with almost forty Grade 1 or Grade 2 Listed Buildings, set in 300 acres (121 hectares) of beautiful grounds.

It is internationally important for botanic research and the conservation of plants. It has the world's largest collection of living plants and over seven million preserved plants. The Gardens are also home to huge botanic library and collection of drawings and prints of plants.

It was one of my favourite places to visit when I lived in South London and only 30 minutes away by car - not bad in London's traffic. I've always loved it because there is so much to see.

There are the most amazing plants and trees. The architecture of the various buildings is stunning and anybody can spend the whole day in Kew Gardens without a moment of boredom. Above all, no matter how many visitors are there, you can always find quiet, peaceful places to sit and refresh your mind and spirit.

The Palm House, Kew Gardens

Palm House Kew Gardens, London, England Photographic Print
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Probably the most famous of Kew's buildings, this tropical glasshouse was built in the 1848. Currently among the important species growing there are bananas, pawpaws, breadfruit and mangoes.

Behind the Palm House a new rose garden is being replanted to the original mid 19th century design. The gardens at the front are replanted in line with the seasons and also to celebrate important anniversaries, and to illustrate botanical themes. For example, now (autumn 2009) these beds feature plants useful to man to provide food, clothing and medicines.

The Princess of Wales Conservatory

Built in honour of one Princess of Wales and opened by another

The Princess of Wales Conservatory
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The conservatory was built to honour the Princess of Wales, Augusta, who founded the gardens in the 17th century. It was ceremonially opened by Diana, Princess of Wales when it was completed in 1987.

This amazingly large and complicated glasshouse contains ten different climatic zones from damp tropical to arid and includes a mangrove swamp, a giant Amazonian waterlily, aloe vera, sisal and carnivorous (meat eating) plants.

The Gardens at Kew

by: Allen Paterson

This beautifully illustrated book takes a comprehensive look at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It covers the history, its role in conservation and research and, of course, it looks at the plants - the most important part of the Gardens.

Anybody with an interest in plants, conservation or gardening will love this book. The pictures alone will keep anybody spellbound for a long time. The information in the book is well written and interesting.

Two people have rated the book on Amazon.com and both gave it five stars.

A Date Palm in the Temperate House

The Temperate House

Home of the world's largest indoor plant

Interior of the Temperate House, Kew Gardens, Photographic Print
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Built in the early 1860s, this is the largest surviving Victorian glass building and is home to world's biggest indoor plant, the Chilean wine-palm. Currently it stands 52ft high and was grown from seed here at Kew. There is another smaller one to take the giant's place when it completely outgrows its present position.

The temperate house contains plants from Australia, the Pacific Islands, South Africa, North America, parts of Asia and the Mediterranean. Here you can see tea plants, date palms, citrus, fuchsias, banksias, and salvias.

As well as the world's largest indoor plant, this glasshouse contains one of the world's rarest plants. It is a cycad, Encephalartos woodii and there are only a very few examples of this plant in the world. It was given to Kew Gardens by the Natal National Park in South Africa. There are a number of other endangered plants here too.

It's a very pretty glasshouse, both inside and out with the advantage that it is a comfortable temperature making for relaxing conditions for just strolling around and enjoying the plants.

A Year at Kew

by: Rupert Smith

Written as a companion to the fascinating BBC series, A Year at Kew, the book takes us on a private tour of this great botanical garden, looking at the work of Kew's experts in the greenhouses, laboratories, and libraries. It is these that earn the gardens its reputation as a center of scientific excellence.

Each monthly chapter highlights what is in flower at Kew, what is being planted or removed, and what special activities are going on there, including seasonal festivals and exhibitions. A unique, behind-the-scenes glimpse of one of the world's horticultural treasures.

A Giant Waterlily in Kew Gardens

The Waterlily House

The hottest and most humid in Kew Gardens

Closed in the winter, the Waterlily House was built in the mid 19th century and is the hottest and most humid of Kew's glasshouses. As well as giant waterlilies, you can see lemon grass, taro, banana, rice, sugar cane, papyrus and the sacred lotus.

When I visited I remember it was so hot and humid I had to keep going outside to cool down as I thought I might faint.

Statue by Henry Moore in Kew Gardens

Other Attractions in Kew Gardens

Kew's other attractions include:

* Museum No. 1 - Housed in a beautiful Grade 1 listed building, its Plants and People Exhibition illustrates the relationships between plants and man and the ways they have been used.

* Marianne North Gallery - paintings by the Victorian traveller and artist, Marianne North. Born in 1830, she travelled to the USA, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Java, Sri Lanka and India amongst other places.

* Royal Palaces - Queen Charlotte's Cottage and Kew Palace, both are looked after by Historic Royal Palaces.

* Pagoda - Completed in 1762, the 10-storey Pagoda is another one of Kew's most famous features.

* Japanese Gateway and Landscapes - the Gateway is a replica of a famous Gateway in Kyoto. It is surrounded by about 5000 square metres of Japanese style gardens.

More Waterlilies

A place for solitude - the Pagoda in Kew Gardens

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Any Comments? Do You Like Visiting Gardens?

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WhiteOak50 May 28, 2011 @ 9:07 am | delete

I am traveling around Squidooville and just stopped by this neighborhood and noticed this fantastic page!! So for this Memorial Day Weekend Road Trip, I wanted to leave you with a Blessing from a SquidAngel Have a safe and beautiful Memorial Day!

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Momsbusy247 May 11, 2011 @ 7:05 am | delete

Oh my...Don't they just look lovely? I enjoyed browsing through your lens. Gardens are such wonderful sanctuary to have. GREAT LENS!

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Sea0tter Nov 10, 2010 @ 10:52 am | delete

Great lens! One of the nice things about Kew is that it's still worth visiting even in the depths of winter (quieter too!).

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thesuccess Nov 24, 2009 @ 8:29 am | delete

As kids we used to pay a penny? to go through the turnstiles. Kew is a magic place and oasis

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EverythingMouse Sep 27, 2009 @ 7:32 pm | delete

It is many years since I visited. You have made an excellent lens - Squid Angel Blessings to you

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surfsusan Sep 21, 2009 @ 7:21 am | delete

Whenever I am in city with a botanical garden I pay a visit, my last was in Lisboa. Never been to Kew garden - it is now on my list of what to do when I am not shopping in London :-) Lovely 5 star performance lens.