Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, UK
Famous for its Victorian glasshouses, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew are also an important center for horticultural research. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the largest collection of plants and fungi in the world.
Kew Gardens were the passion project of Princess Augusta, the wife of Frederick, Prince of Wales. George II’s son died young and his widow actively developed the collection of exotic plants that she and her husband had started together.
Among the highlights of a visit to Kew Gardens are the Treetop Walkway, the Japanese-style pagoda, and the Princess of Wales Conservatory. The Palm House was the first large-scale use of wrought iron, while The Temperate House is the biggest surviving Victorian glasshouse in the world.
Another interesting attraction is The Hive, a geometric structure with an immersive visitor experience controlled by bee activity. Kew also has a charming hidden gem, the Marianne North Gallery. This Victorian building showcases 832 botanical paintings representing over 900 species of plants.
Address: North Gate, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AE, UK
