Barely 30 minutes from the heart of London is a stunning living paradise of plants and flowers. Botanic Gardens, now called Kew Gardens, is London's largest UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are looking for the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is a tour we highly recommend. Filled with plants, trees, flowers and also boasting of a research centre, this is as popular among tourists as it is with the locals, some of whom also have annual passes to the gardens.

Location : Botanic Garden is in Kew, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

Timings:

The garden opens at 10 am every day. Its closing time varies according to the season.

The Botanic Garden is shut on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Highlights:

The Botanic Garden has plenty of attractions for those who are seeking beauty in nature. Here are the top things that you must not miss when you visit this paradise:

Treetop Walkway

The treetop walkway is a 60 ft high circular pathway that takes you to the top of the forest. It could get a little unnerving for those with a fear of heights; just don’t look down. But believe us, if you do climb up, the view and the experience will be spectacular. We recommend it because it takes you away from the crowds.

Palm House

A beautiful structure, the Palm House is believed to be the most important surviving Victorian iron and glass spectacle in the world. The glasshouse contains palms and tropical plants from around the world including from Asia, Africa, Asia, Australasia, the Americas, and the Pacific islands. There is also an underground marine aquarium. You can climb the 30 ft high walkway around the centre portion of the glasshouse to see the tops of trees growing inside the greenhouse.

Waterlily House

Right next door is the Waterlily House. This is much smaller and primarily contains a circular pond with water lilies, ferns, and hanging gourds. If you visit in May/June, you will get to see the giant Amazon water lilies blooming. Take note, the Waterlily House is only open from April to September.

Kew Palace

Kew Palace is possibly the smallest of the British royal palaces, and when you walk through its rooms you will see how King George III lived there in the 18th century. Admission to the palace is included in the ticket price.

The Royal Kitchens

The Royal Kitchens were shut to visitors for nearly 200 years and have only recently been opened. You enter through the kitchen gardens and walk through the four preparation rooms where the bread was baked, the food was stored, and all the washing was done. You will then head into the Great Kitchen where daily meals were served. You can even see the tub in which George III liked to take his bath.

Sackler Crossing

A pretty lake in the middle of the gardens, it is also away from the crowds, which means less noise and more chances of seeing wildlife. There are benches around the lake under the trees, where you can enjoy a nice afternoon picnic.

Redwood Grove

A visit to the Redwood Grove with these towering giants is highly recommended. A mix of coastal and giant redwoods have taken over the space in the west side of the park. You will get a sense of their size only when you see them in person. A circular paved area on the path, 26 ft in diameter, has been marked off to indicate the actual width of ‘Grizzly Giant’, a living giant redwood in Yosemite National Park, USA.

Queen Charlotte’s Cottage

Accessible to the public only on a weekend or bank holiday, that too between April and September, this charming little cottage looks like something that stepped out of a fairy tale. This was used by Queen Charlotte, King George III, and their daughters for having tea during long walks in the garden. Do visit the upstairs room, also the prettiest of them all.

Temperate House

The Temperate House is almost twice as large as the Palm House and it houses over 4,000 plants, some of which no longer grow in the wild. It was under renovation till recently, so you will be among the lucky ones to see the upgraded highlight in Kew Gardens.

Price:

You can purchase tickets online at kew.org at lower rates and the tickets are valid for 30 days from the date of purchase.

Onsite prices are:

Child: From £6.00 per ticket

Adult: From £18.00 per ticket

You can avail group discounts on pre-booked parties of 15 people or more.

Recommended for:

Botanic Park is a treat for nature lovers who can spend hours simply walking through this massive spread of nature’s splendour. You can take a break from your hectic sightseeing and relax in the embrace of nature while you catch your breath.

Interesting facts about Botanic Garden

Home to the world's most diverse collection of living plants and a scientific research centre of international renown, the Botanic Garden is the perfect day out.

• The garden was established in 1759 by Augusta, the dowager princess of Wales.
• Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The park is spread across 300 acres and has over 100 attractions to boast, including a Japanese Garden, the Palm House and the Temperate House, as well as several woods.
• You can hop on to the train that moves around the park regularly, but it has separate fees.
• You can purchase annual passes to Kew Gardens.
• The Princess of Wales Conservatory maintains 10 of the world's climatic zones.
• Don’t miss the 59ft (18m) high Treetop Walkway, which offers a bird's-eye view of the gardens.
• The Great Broad Walk Borders houses more than 60,000 plants.
• Kew Gardens contains over 28,680 taxa of living plants, a herbarium that has approximately seven million dried specimens, and a library boasting 130,000 volumes. There are also innumerable archived materials, periodicals, and prints and drawings.