Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

It may be expensive, and the parking too, but this is a wonderful garden to visit, particularly in winter. Best to become an annual member if you live in the vicinity because you can return whenever you want and also visit Wakehurst Place, with its amazing Millenium Seedbank.
There is always something in bloom in the glasshouses;the water lilies are spectacular; the Princess of Wales Conservatory is a great place to take children; and if you like walking, you can't get much better than Kew Gardens - especially in the autumn when the leaves are turning, and spring, when the bluebells are in flower.

(5.0/5)

I'm not sure if its me or its Kew. Lets accept that the plants are magnificent shall we?

Its expensive? Yup I don't object per se to that but then charging me to park my car......

It doesn't "feel" like a garden it feels like a museum of plants. To me a really great garden makes me want to pull out a book and sit and soak the atmosphere up. I am sure Kew is the better planted the more interesting the..... but I am more likely to return to Batemans or Pashley. Kew never manages to draw me in the closest it comes, is away from the glass houses by the lake where the gardenmaffia tend to keep away.

I felt the same way about Wakehurst Place. Amazing, stunning but lacking in soul.

(3.0/5)

I think that the children's garden and educational play area (there's even a flower to play in) make Kew a great place to visit with a young family and of course no dogs are allowed so you can even let toddlers toddle without worrying about dog mess! The High tree walkway is also an amazing new attraction for older children.

As a Garden designer however, I am disappointed that nothing much seems to change in terms of the design of the planting. With RHS Wisley leading the way and commissioning new garden design why doesn't Kew follow suit and give us some new design to inspire us. I really feel that gardens shouldn't just be museums but should be places to be inspired and see new ideas....

(3.0/5)

It is not correct to say that there is not a car park, there is right next to one of the entrances.
I agree that it is costly especially for families but it is competitive with other attractions in London and it is a whole day out.
A unique world heritage site.
Take a picnic!

(5.0/5)

Kew is an amazing place however it is spoilt for visitors by being overpriced at £13 [US$26] entrance fees and very high prices inside. Having to pay £7 [US$14] for two ice-creams for my youngsters is in my opinion over the top. To make matters worse there is no car-parking - howe crazy is that?? Surely after all these years the muppets at Kew would have been able to set aside some land [even underground] to make a car park so that visitors can visit - however maybe that would be vastly overpriced as well.

(1.0/5)