Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens
Attraction (General)
in/near Richmond Upon Thames, London,
England Greater London

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Recommendation added: 24/01/2008 14:15
By: supermum (YSUK rating +4)

supermum has been thanked 4 times for this contribution

"I recently took a day trip to Kew Gardens and would definitely recommend it for an enjoyable day out. You really don't have to be green fingered to appreciate it; the sheer beauty of the gardens will just blow you away.

Kew Gardens was created in 1772 by combining two royal estates and it is now host to one of the largest collections of plants from around the world.

It is amazing that amongst the hussle and bussle of London you can find such a peaceful haven. The gardens comprise around 300 acres and so the sheer size of the place really surprised me, again remembering its central location. So although there were lots of people coming through the entrance it did not feel crowded at all.

There are lots well signposted walks and the fountains and lake are beautiful. With over 40,000 species of plants has to be something to appeal to everyone. There is so much going on at Kew Gardens it is impossible to see it all in one trip, let alone write about it all. My children were amused by the ducks, and tropical hothouses transported us to thoughts of more exotic places (although we began to feel quite warm after a while). The greenhouses also meant that you can visit the gardens whatever the weather, although when we visited it was fine.

There are lots of pretty picnic spots, or tea shops and cafes. Entrance fees are £12.25 for adults and children under 17 are free (if accompanied by an adult), which means it is an affordable day out. There are also concessions for wheelchair users and it is free of charge for essential carers and blind or partially sighted visitors."