What was at the top of my list while visiting London? No, it wasn’t to see the Big Ben or to sit atop the London Eye. I was determined to see enchanting fields of cherry blossoms and cacti-filled conservatories.
Tucked outside of London’s city center, the Kew Gardens are an oasis of blooming flowers, exotic foliage, and fresh air. This UNESCO heritage is where beauty meets a longstanding commitment to conservation and climate action.
Safeguarded by locals and overlooked by masses of tourists, there’s no doubt that The Kew is London’s best-kept secret (garden).
Kew Garden Attractions
Kew Gardens are the largest UNESCO heritage site in London, stretching over an area of 1.2 kilometers. Kew Gardens has over 14,000 types of trees, 30,000 types of plants, and 90 dedicated attractions.
Though the park is located 9 kilometers outside of London, a short tube ride takes you away from London’s crowds and into the heart of a spacious sanctuary. It’s without a doubt one of London’s best hidden gems!
Here are the top highlights of the gardens:
The Cherry Walk
I’ll admit, the cherry blossoms are what originally brought me to the Kew Gardens in the first place. The park is decorated with budding blossoms and bushes like Mother Nature’s overflowing cotton candy machine. To say that I was in my element of mermaid fairy goddess would be an understatement.
The Treetop Walkway
Now, this is perhaps one of the most unique attractions at Kew Gardens. If you’re a little afraid of heights like me, it’s also the scariest. In the middle of the park, sits the legendary treetop walkway. It perches atop branches and you can even see downtown London in the distance. It only takes about 15 minutes to walk through the entire walkway. We went on a windy day and the entire walkway was swaying in the wind! We literally had to hold on, which apparently is totally normal. It still was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.
The Hive
What’s that in the distance that looks like a metal dome? That’s what Kew Gardens has named, the Hive. Illuminated by nearly 1,000 LED lights, the Hive is an artistic structure that represents a beehive. It’s intricate detail gave me all the feels about the importance of our pollinators, and even a bit sad about colony collapse disorder #savethebees.
The Arboretum
As eloquently put by Kew.org itself, “Kew’s arboretum is a living library of over 14,000 trees, many of these specimens dating back to the 18th century…” There’s even a few parrots flying around in the trees, and I’m not exactly sure how they got there.
The Palm Room
Enter the palm room and you’ve stepped into a tropical rainforest climate. Palm trees and too many tropical species to name, this is the most exotic part of the Kew Gardens.
Princess of Wales Conservatory
Raise your hand if you have a thing for succulents? Well, than the Princess of Wales Conservatory will be heaven on earth. This cacti haven was opened by Princess Diana in July 1987, which makes it all the more special.
A Commitment to Climate Action
Despite having terrible seasonal allergies, I felt like I could finally breath again upon arriving at Kew Gardens. For a city the size of London, green spaces like the Kew Gardens are crucial.
First, Kew is actively committed to plant diversity as a way of cutting carbon emissions. Since plants, in particular trees, take in carbon, Kew Gardens are helping reduce London’s overall carbon footprint.
Secondly, Kew Gardens is also a global resource for plants, fungi, and climate. From numerous research initiatives to ambitious policy work, Kew’s scientific network spans over 110 countries and in loves over 400 worldwide institutions.
Clearly, Kew Gardens is paving the way for a more sustainable London, and an eco-conscious future.
If I could camp out and live in these gardens, I would.
When to visit Kew Gardens
I don’t think there’s a bad time to visit the Kew, as there are both outside and indoor attractions at any time of the year. However, I loved visiting in the springtime, because many of the flowers were blooming including the cherry blossoms.
How to get to Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens are outside of the city by 9 km, but it doesn’t take long to get there. It took me about 50 minutes to get there from East London.
The easiest way would be to take the Westward bound tube going towards the Richmond station, and get off at the Kew Gardens stop.
What to bring to Kew Gardens
- 15 pounds per person for an entrance fee (reasonable once you see how big it is).
- A pair of good walking shoes
- A blanket and a picnic lunch (optional)
- A map (you can get this at the entrance)
They also have pretty good food in the café. However, it is a bit pricey, so bring food or eat later if you’re budgeting. (I indulged in some gluten free chocolate cake from the café!)
How long you’ll need to Visit Kew Gardens
I thought I would spend an entire day at Kew Gardens, but surprisingly we only needed 3-4 hours. The entire area is huge, so it may take longer if you’re committed to seeing every corner of the park. We arrived at around 2 and left at 6, and still had plenty of time to explore more of London in the evening.
Just remember that the Gardens close at 6:30, and some of them close at 5:30, so it’s better to come earlier in the day with enough time to spare.
Have you been to Kew Gardens? Dying to visit? Comment below!
Wow this place looks amazing! I’m in South East London and hadn’t thought to make the trip out!! Now I’m adding it to the list! Thanks for sharing x
You should check it out sometime! It was the highlight of my trip to London, without a doubt! Any cool London recommendations for me? Thanks!
This looks absolutely gorgeous!! I have never heard of it, but I’ve been wanting to plan a trip to Europe and will definitely be adding this to the must-sees!
It’s worth the trip when you’re in London! Thanks for reading!
Never heard of these gardens before, but I definitely would like to visit when I go to London again. I would love to see all the plants and that metal hive structure. Great shots with the cherry blossoms!
Thanks so much! the Hive is super awesome, as well as the treetop walkways and cherry blossoms and basically everything ! 💞
What a shame that I didn’t know about this before I went to London last month! Actually now that I think about it, a friend did rave about this place and especially the hive structure. Your photos are really nice and the flowers look beautiful.
Oh shoot! well it’s worth a visit next time you’re in town! Glad you liked the photos!!
I’ve been to Kew Gardens during my time in London this summer and absolutely loved it 🙂
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Ahh I’ve always wanted to go to Kew Gardens – my boyfriend at the time lived so close but somehow you never quite make all the plans you’re wanting to do, do you? Lovely photos! xx
It’s really worth the trip! I hope you do decide to visit!
I love Kew Gardens and been a couple of times. The first I was a kid and was dragged around by my parents, not appreciating it at all…although I do remember loving the pagoda. Then when I returned 20 years later, it was completely different to what I remembered as most things are between 9 and 29, lol… I spent all day at Kew and loved it! Would like to see the new installation The Hive – watched a programme about it when it was launched last summer and would relish to chance to see it in person. I feel a return trip is on the cards soon.
Love your photos too by the way! Similarly, I love spring blossoms! Best time of year for garden visits!
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