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. Created in 1759, the gardens celebrated their 250th anniversary in 2009.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Some of the best attractions includes:
- Pagoda
- Temperate House
- Treetop walkway
Temperate House
Pagoda
In the South East corner of Kew Gardens stands the Great Pagoda (by William Chambers), erected in the year 1762, from a design in imitation of the Chinese Ta. The lowest of the ten octagonal storeys is 49 feet (15 m) in diameter. From the base to the highest point is 163 feet (50 m).
Temperate House
Temperate House
This greenhouse has twice the floor area of the Palm House and is the world’s largest surviving Victorian glass structure. It contains plants and trees from all the temperate regions of the world. There is a viewing gallery in the central section where visitors may look down on the collection there.
Temperate House
Treetop walkway
A new treetop walkway opened on May 24, 2008. This walkway is 18 metres (59 ft) high and 200 metres (660 ft) long and takes visitors into the tree canopy of a woodland glade. Visitors can ascend and descend either by stairs or by the use of a lift. The floor of the walkway is made from perforated metal and flexes as it is walked upon. The entire structure sways in the wind.
