Hop on the Underground and head for South-West London to visit Kew Gardensthe city's most beautiful botanical garden.
Today, I'm talking about the various places to visit in this park.
Kew Gardens: article summary
Kew Gardens: the Palm House
Humid and beautiful, Kew Gardens' iconic palm grove is home to tropical trees which, thanks to iron staircases, can be inspected at canopy height.
The site is next to a pretty lake and ornate flowerbeds. What get your visit to this exceptional park off to a good start.
The water lily house
Kew Gardens' hottest house is full of water lilies, thanks to a giant pond inside.
Some huge Amazonian water lilies measure up to two metres across and are strong enough to support a small child.
Here, you'll find yourself in a bit of a Zen atmosphere, with lakes full of water lilies to discover.
Kew Gardens: the temperate house
The world's largest Victorian glasshouse has undergone a £40 million restoration over five years, with over 15,000 glass panes lovingly replaced.
Today it is home to 10,000 plants from Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.
Botany enthusiasts will be rewarded with the chance to discover plants they don't see every day.
The Princess of Wales Conservatory
The most modern greenhouse is a marvel. It is in fact a group of ten distinct spaces, each optimized from the climatic point of view for different plant families
One moment you're in an arid, cactus-filled environment, the next in a rainforest paradise.
A real change of scenery for all those wishing to discover plants from different biodomes.
Kew Gardens: the Great Pagoda
Continue your ascent with a stroll to the Great Pagoda. Dating from 1762, it was created as a gift for a princess.
At 10 storeys high, the 253 steps offer an incredible view. Please note that due to its fragility, capacity is limited and admission is subject to a small supplement.
The Hive
A unique structure, both delicate and rather disquieting, The Hive is constructed from 170,000 individual pieces of aluminum.
A thousand integrated lights and speakers trigger real-time bee activity in a neighboring hive.
A nice high-tech trick if you're overloaded with the tranquility of everything else.
Kew Gardens : Kew Palace
The "Dutch House" is the only surviving part of a larger palace, where George III spent his summers in the late 1700s.
You can also explore the icehouse and kitchens, where servants of the time were once responsible for preparing feasts fit for a king.
Kew Gardens : When to visit Kew Gardens
The garden is open all year round, seven days a week, from 10 a.m. every day. It closes at sunset: until 8 p.m. in summer and from 3:30 p.m. in midwinter.
You can visit the site at any time of year, whether to spring blooms or blushing autumn hues.
That said, try not to go on a rainy day. After all, there's a lot of outdoor scenery to see. It's a shame to miss out on so much of this exceptional park.
How much does admission cost?
To visit this park, you will need :
- 17,75 £ for adults
- 5 £ for children under 16
Free admission for children under 4.
Climbing the pagoda costs £4.50 and 3 for children.
Kew Gardens is a must-see if you want to discover London. Lovers of botany will be well catered for and will be able to discover exceptional plants in the heart of the English capital.
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