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Lunch » Tags » Cities » Reviews » Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens

2 Ratings: 5.0

Extensive gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to simply as Kew Gardens, are extensive gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. The director is Professor Stephen D. Hopper, who succeeded Professor Sir … see full wiki

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The Royal Gardens at Kew:

Aug 20, 2009

by MarySoderstrom

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The Royal Gardens at Kew began as the private garden of the British Royal family at the end of the 18th century. George III grew up there, although even Americans shouldn't hold that against the beauiful gardens. He hired the best landscape gardeners of the day and decreed that British explorers should send specimens of what they found to the gardens.

Extensively redesigned in the mid-19th century, it has become one of the foremost research gardens in the world--even, perhaps, the best. Certainly it and its scientists encouraged the establishment of botanical gardens all around the British empire. The Palm House, seen here, was completed in 1848, and was one of the first large glass houses constructed. Since then it has become a model for conservatories around the world.

If you go, be sure to allot at least a day to wandering around the grounds, which are gorgeous whateer the season. The gardens are easily accesible by train from central London, and the main street of Kew itself looks like a Disneyland idea of an English village. But it's the real thing.

The only downer is the incessant air traffic landing and taking off from Heathrow airport. Because of the danger of a possible air disaster--as well as the threat of flooding from the nearby Thames as sea levels rise with global warming--Kew's massive project to preserve seeds from around the world, the Millennium Seed Bank, is located miles away on higher ground in West Sussex.

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MarySoderstrom August 20, 2009

I've alway wanted to go to the botanical gardens in Edinburgh which are supposed to be terrific, also. Ah, so many gardens, so little time. P.S. I see I've let a few typos slip through. Shame on me!

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Husher315 August 20, 2009

These sound really Beautiful! When i was in Scotland, I went to the Botanical Gardens in Glasgow and I couldn't get enough of them. If I ever get myself out to London, I will make sure to go! Thanks!

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