PIN Kew Gardens

The magnificent gardens of Kew

Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most visited attractions in London. Founded in 1759, Kew Gardens has quite a history. It holds the world’s last surviving Victorian Greenhouse, the Temperate House (under renovation until 2018), the world’s largest living plant collection (with over 30,000 species!), the oldest potted plant, and the smallest royal palace in the country. Visitors looking for a meeting place often congregate by the Lion gates.

History

The exotic garden was founded in 1772 by William Chambers who built several garden structures, including the lofty Chinese pagoda built in 1761 which still remains today. The "Dutch House" adjoining was purchased by George III in 1781 as a nursery for the royal children. It is a plain brick structure and is now known as Kew Palace.

In 1840 the gardens were adopted as a national botanical garden,
The Palm House was built by architect Decimus Burton and iron-maker Richard Turner between 1844 and 1848, and was the first large-scale structural use of wrought iron. It is considered "the world's most important surviving Victorian glass and iron structure."

The Temperate House, which is twice as large as the Palm House, followed later in the 19th century. It is now the largest Victorian glasshouse in existence.

In February 1913, the Tea House was burned down by suffragettes Olive Wharry and Lilian Lenton during a series of arson attacks in London. In July 2003, the gardens were put on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

TripTide Thoughts

Plan for a day trip and get there early (preferably on a weekday, as it’s less busy) and two: bring food for a picnic! Take your time, try to see all that Kew Gardens has to offer, and pace yourself! It’s a big place, after all.

Opening hours

10am–6.30pm (Mon–Thurs)

10am–9pm (Fri–Sun and bank holidays)

Wakehurst

10am–6pm

How to get there

By car/coach: we are on the B2028, south of Turners Hill and north of Ardingly.

Directions from London:

Take the M25 then M23, leave at Junction 10, turn left onto the A264
On the A264 go straight over first roundabout, turn right at next roundabout, onto the B2028
Wakehurst is on the right after Turners Hill

By train: our closest station is Haywards Heath (6 miles away). Turn right out of the station for the Perrymount Road bus stop. For train times.

By bus: route 272 stops outside Wakehurst, serving Crawley, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill (Monday to Saturday only). For 272 timetable and route map

Owner

sebastian soler

Hi I am Sebastian - a french student on an internship in London for TripTide. I love music, movies and history - and London. My Home Town is Nice in France. ...