Kew Gardens – Getting Back to Nature
Central London has its fair share of great parks, but sometimes it’s nice to get away from the city all together and enjoy nature a bit. Before I left for my two-month trip to Thailand, I visited Kew Gardens.
Located just north of Richmond in Zone 3, it’s still well within the bounds of London but the Victorian-era gardens offer more than 120 hectares (296 acres) of plant paradise. Punctuated with some of the oldest Victorian glass structures in the world, a palace, treetop walkway and plants from 6 continents, it’s easy to lose your whole day to this place.
Inside the Temperate House
I arrived on a sunny Sunday morning around 11am, which was right before the crowds arrived. The Palm House and the Temperate House are the two enormous glass greenhouses located within the grounds and they are not to be missed. Both houses consist of multiple stories, allowing you a birds-eye view of the gardens. Preserved in all of their Victorian splendor, walking through the houses transports you back in time.
Exotic Plants in the Palm House
Other highlights for me included the treetop walkway, where visitors are allowed to walk amongst the treetops of an evergreen forests with views of the Temperate House in the background. The garden butts up against the River Thames on one end and makes for a beautiful stroll.
Treetop Walkway
I didn’t have the time (or energy) to explore all the gardens and I definitely left a lot to be discovered. I plan on coming back again sometime in 2012 to visit the Prince of Wales Conservatory, Japanese Pagoda and Alpine House. For those staying in London long term, I definitely recommend a visit to Kew Gardens.
Website: www.kew.org
Admission: 13.90 GBP
Flickr Gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/wanderbliss/sets/72157627198001083/
[...] Sometimes it’s nice to get away from the city and enjoy nature. Read about my getaway to Kew Gardens here. [...]