Are you interested in visiting the royal family's botanical gardens, which have entered the Guinness Book of Records, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and have combined science, art, and history since the 1700s?
Kew Gardens is located west of London in Richmond. You have no idea how big this place is. I should point out right away that if you're coming for the first time, you should set aside at least half a day along with the 17 pound entrance fee. Leave it until your next visit if you've been to London for two or three days. Alternatively, you can visit Hyde Park or Regent's Park, shoot some squirrel videos, take in some oxygen and continue your journey. However, if you are staying for at least a week, you should definitely stop by. Especially if you will be living in this city for a long time, you might want to consider getting an annual membership card since the cost is 77 GBP for a year and you can visit as many times as you like. Each time you come, a guest can come for free with you. There is a lot to do here, particularly for families with children, because there are many events throughout the year, and most of them are fun for children.
Click here to find out about the membership and entrance.
Okay, let's talk about the 7 wonders you shouldn't miss at Kew Gardens. Let's get started:
#1: The Hive
"The Hive" is a giant metal beehive. This structure flickers to vibrations coming from a real beehive in Kew Gardens. Inside the metal hive, you can hear the vibrations of the bees. A totally different experience, like the sounds don't belong here. If you come a little later, the lights get even more magical.
#2: Palm House
There's a huge collection of plants from all over the world in this garden. It's so awesome that even Newton's famous apple tree seed was planted here in 2020, where he discovered gravity. So if you're passing by trees, check out their tags. Their names, age, and hometown are all on there. That means none of those trees are just standing there by accident, each of them has a story.
Many tropical plants live in these houses. When you step inside the Palm House, you're literally in a tropical jungle. A perfect place with every shade of green, but it's too hot and humid to stay more than 5 minutes :)
#3: The Great Pagoda
The Great Pagoda is undoubtedly one of Kew Gardens' most important structures! Princess Augusta was gifted this 10-storey temple by the founder of Kew Gardens in the 1700s. The view of London is great from the top.
#4: Queen Charlotte's Cottage
It's called Queen Charlotte's cottage, the hidden paradise of this place. The royal family rested here after long walks, which surprised me. They treated it like a roadside resort since it's like a fairy tale!
#5: Waterlily House
There's a glass house here from the 1800s. Designed to show off the giant Amazon Water Lilies inside. I think this summarizes why this garden is protected by UNESCO.
#6: Lake and Crossing
Are you tired of walking? I'd like to invite you to relax by the lake at Kew Gardens. There are tons of birds here. It's a great spot to listen to nature...
#7: Kew Palace
Ready to meet the smallest royal palace? It was originally built in the 1600s for a wealthy silk merchant in London. This is why the palace is so elegant! The royal family fell in love with this spot and started spending weekends here. With its bright orange color and rustic style, it's my favorite place.
Kew Gardens isn't like the touristy botanical gardens in other countries. Every step you take will bring you closer to science, art, and history. Would you say it is as good as they say or is it exaggerated?
Comments