Located in southwest London, Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and internationally significant botanical institution spanning 132 hectares (330 acres). Formed through the merging of historic royal estates and an exotic garden originally established by Lord Capell, the site formally began operating as a botanic garden in 1759. Today, the expansive grounds accommodate living plant collections alongside millions of preserved herbarium specimens, historical volumes, and scientific illustrations.
The landscape features four Grade I listed buildings and dozens of Grade II listed structures, including several historic glasshouses. The Palm House, constructed between 1844 and 1848 from wrought iron and hand-blown glass, offers an elevated interior walkway among palm canopy fronds and is fronted by stone statues known as the Queen's Beasts. The nearby Temperate House is the world's largest surviving Victorian glasshouse. Other historic landmarks scattered across the property include the 1761 Great Pagoda, the brick Kew Palace, the Nash Conservatory, and the historic Orangery, which now serves as an onsite restaurant.
Visitors can explore diverse botanical environments within Kew's modern conservatories. Opened in 1987, the Princess of Wales Conservatory houses ten computer-controlled micro-climatic zones featuring dry-desert cacti, tropical orchids, and carnivorous plants. The Davies Alpine House uses low-iron glass and subterranean cooling pipes to maintain optimal conditions for high-altitude plants. Outdoors, notable natural highlights include the 'Five Lions'—five historic trees surviving from 1762—and a massive working compost heap with a public viewing platform constructed from confiscated timber.
Additional architectural and artistic features are integrated throughout the grounds. The Treetop Walkway guides guests 18 metres above the ground through a woodland canopy, while the minimalist Lake Crossing bridge curves across the water in black granite and bronze. Near a wildflower meadow stands The Hive, a 17-metre-tall aluminium honeycomb structure designed to showcase the life of bees. To navigate the extensive site, guests can take daily volunteer-led walking tours or ride the Kew Explorer, a circular electric road train with informative commentary.
Kew Gardens in pictures
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