What to Expect on Your Visit to Kew Gardens, London

One of the world's largest botanical gardens can be found at Kew Gardens in London, also known as the Royal Botanic Gardens. Here you'll find a place to soak up the sunshine and enjoy a walk with nature; it's the spot to walk through a butterfly garden, experience the area's best horticulture, and learn about the conservation movement. The eco-friendly movement is a top priority throughout Kew Gardens, and it's part of their action plan to help endangered plants and wildlife combined with efforts in sustainability. A visit to Kew Gardens is unlike any other park or greenhouse you've ever experienced and there's plenty to explore.

You'll want to start at the Aquatic Garden, a collection of water lilies and exotic plants that come into full bloom during the summertime. Most of the plants are housed in tanks and ponds throughout the space, and the Rock Garden is where you'll find even more of these rare collections. The Rock Garden was built in 1882 and was designed as a miniature Pyrenean mountain valley. It's a typical 'bog' garden setup to explore native plants from six different world regions.

Right behind Kew Palace is the Queen's Garden, a stylish and well-maintained garden with hedges, roses, posies, and unique plants. You'll find a pond in the middle that separates the different varieties of plants an flowers; the gardens are designed to imitate those found at the royal palaces. The Queen's Garden is an ideal spot to take a walk on a hot London summer afternoon.

The Rose Garden is another highlight at Kew Gardens, and the best time to see it in full bloom is between June and August. There are over fifty rose beds in the space here, including Old English roses and an abundance of exotic and hybrid flowers. The site itself was built for King George III so that he could sail his boat around the lake, and today the area offers beautiful views of the lush landscape.