Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens, located in the London suburb Richmond, was added to the list because of its role in the history of botany and its landscape gardens.
The Botanic Gardens at Kew were formally established in 1759. The sponsor of the project was Princess Augusta. It aimed to create a garden which would "..contain all the plants known on Earth".
William Aiton was hired as gardener, and he devoted the gardens mainly to medicinal plants. International fame was brought upon Kew by Joseph Banks (1743-1820), who changed its direction to serious scientific and economic botanical purposes.
The architect William Chambers constructed a number of (oriental) decorative buildings at the site.
Visit May 1987, January 2004
First visited it on the same schooltrip as Westminster. Some 17 years later I went back, mainly to add some better pictures to this site.
My second visit was cold and very slippery, and I was almost the only tourist around. From my previous visit I remembered the palm trees and cactuses. Probably that was the dry area in the Princess of Wales Conservatory: still interesting, but when you've just been to Northern Ethiopia like I have, you prefer the real thing.
After an hour or so I began to notice something else than nature: the neverending stream of planes that fly over Kew Gardens from or to Heathrow Airport.
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery
Reviews
Assif Am-David (Israel):
I have been to Kew Gardens twice, once in summertime and once in wintertime. As I come from a coutry which enjoys exceptionally mild winters I couldn't have really imagined that seasonal differences would be so extreme. But they were indeed. Behold - Do not visit Kew Gardens in the winter! It is a relatively long ride from central London, costly tickets and in the winter, a dreary atmosphere and a vacant expression. Not very rewarding, to say the least. Conversly, a summer visit is a lovely experience! For the merits of the gardens do read other comments. |
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Ian Cade (England):
 In 2003 Kew became London’s 4th!! UNESCO site. It is set next to the river Thames upriver from central London. The grounds themselves are actually quite expansive and could easily fill a whole day if you wanted to really get into them. The main site is the large Palm House and the plants are quite interesting (and hot especially up on the raised walkway!), I must admit I am not really into horticulture but there was enough to satisfy me.
The main point of interest for me though was the building itself, I am a big fan of wrought Iron and glass and this is perhaps the best example I have seen of it, the spiral stair cases are brilliant.
The other glass houses house some great exhibits, carnivorous plants and the largest flower in the world being two examples and there is plenty here to keep you entertained. Then there are other small little things around, such as a Japanese Garden and a large Pagoda all set in well kept gardens.
Kew is pretty easy to get to it has a tube station and if you are travelling by car it has the holiest of holies in London free parking (if you are lucky that is)!!!
It is well worth a visit if you have some spare time and have seen the important parts of Central London. |
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Amy Driver (England):
When i went to kew garden, me and my friends enjoyed it so much now were all doing a project on it. i have all ready told so many people to go. so anybody who reads this go because it is realy exciting love ya Amy D from Robert Mays School |
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