Kew Gardens: Gardens and Greenhouses in London
Kew Gardens in London offers an all year round fun day out for everyone. Each season offers visitors a very different experience. Regardless of the weather there is plenty to see & do.
One of the main attractions is the Temperate House. This is a gigantic Victorian glasshouse housing the world’s plants all together. From August the house will be closed for extensive restoration work. There is also the Princess of Wales Conservatory where visitors can wander through different climate zones such as the ‘dry tropics’ area which recreates the arid, dry desert lands and the ‘wet tropics’ re-creating rainforests and mangrove swamps. There are 8 different microclimates, some of which contain carnivorous plants. Children can undertake discovery activities in the Conservatory where they can try to locate plants disguised as pebbles or finding the Dracula orchid.
There are a variety of organised activities for all age ranges at Kew Gardens in London, many of which are included in the entrance price. Over the summer visitors can get involved in an interactive experience at a tea party in the Rose Garden, where different edible plants are displayed in cups, teapots, plates and jugs. The Palm House opens up its tropical larder with 60 edible plants. Guides show people how many of the everyday foods have their origins in the rainforest. There are numerous other displays and activities all aimed at showing the visitor how plants are edible.
As the seasons change so do the activities. In autumn the treetop walkway is a firm family favourite to see the leaves changing colour from above. The cafés and Gallery of Botanical Art at Kew Gardens in London, are the perfect refuges from the cold winter days and in spring the garden starts to come alive as the buds begin to open. Cherry Walk is particularly appealing to visitors.
For more hands on activities visitors are able to book on to courses such as Gardening for Beginners. Experts will guide aspiring gardeners in how to plant and care for their gardens. And where better to learn than in one of the world’s most famous gardens?
There are a number of places to stop for refreshment with all tastes being catered for. Families will enjoy the White Peaks café with its ice-creamery or for something a little more formal there is the Pavilion restaurant with freshly made hot dishes and scrumptious British cakes on the menu. Throughout the summer on the last Thursday of the month the Orangery plays host to Foragers dinners which showcases edible plants on the menu. These dinners need to be booked in advance.
No visit to Kew Gardens in London would be complete without a stop at some of the speciality boutiques. There is something for all tastes and budgets with a well-stocked gift shop or the Garden Shop offering all that the budding gardener needs.
