HOME of the Royal Botanical Gardens and #57 on the London Top 100 list, you can find Kew Gardens tucked away out in the south west of the English capital near Richmond. If you happen to travel there by rail (which is much quicker than the tube) and you fill in a 2-4-1 pamphlet found at local rail stations, you are able to get in for half the price. Otherwise it is about £14 a pop.
The 300 acre gardens sprawl daintily alongside the River Thames, which is a great place to wander as you take in the gardens. However if you are after more than just a stroll, there is plenty to look at along the way. For those who aren’t afraid of heights there is the tree top walk. Built high up so you can walk amongst the branches of different types of trees, the tree top walk way is a great way to see a sprawling view of the park.
One of my favourite places in the gardens was the Palm House which is one of three conservatories. It’s basically a giant greenhouse divided into different sections according to continents the plants are from. In the basement you can visit an aquarium and see all different kinds of weird and wacky fish. You can even take the winding staircase up to a mezzanine walkway to inspect the top of the tall palms and gaze down upon the plants.
It’s not just plants and gardens you can see at the Royal Botanic – although the spring flowers are gorgeous. But where there is flora there is always fauna. From roosters and chickens crossing your path to squirrels chasing each other, don’t be surprised if you come across a variety of animals as you walk through.
Like any other London attraction there is a café and restaurant nearby to rest your weary legs and to warm up in when the sun goes behind the clouds. It is the perfect way to recoup after a lot of walking! However we were after one more thing for our spring Sunday which was a pint and a roast. We wandered around the edge of the gardens and found the Rose and Crown pub nearby and settled in for an early evening roast and a rest.
It was fun to explore the gardens and if it wasn’t for the expense of paying I would love to head back and take a picnic with me so I could just sit and enjoy the surroundings. If you decide to check it out make sure you make the most of it and go prepared!