Kew Gardens: A Walk in Nature in the City

Living and working in London, especially inner-city London, can feel like working your way through a concrete jungle at times. London is quite a green city compared to other major cities across the globe, but to immerse yourself in nature for some hours and spend time among the flowers, very often you have to seek out that space. One place that’s worth a visit is Kew Gardens.

Kew Palace © 2024 Vivian Ma

Kew Palace Gardens © 2024 Vivian Ma

About a 30-minute train ride from Waterloo Station to either Kew Bridge Station or Kew Station, Kew Gardens is located in south-west London, formerly Surrey. The Gardens hold a vast array of botanic collections, holding a number of glasshouses that hold exotic plants from around the world.

You do have to pay to enter the Gardens but there are discounts available to some, with some tickets costing as low as £1. Once on the grounds, there’s so much to see – too much if taking my recent visit into account. It’s easy to fill up a whole day walking around the World Heritage Site, veering off trails to see sites such as the Japanese Pagoda or an art installation such as Marc Quinn’s Light into Life.

Marc Quinn Art Installation © 2024 Vivian Ma

Stand out features included Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, both retreats for King George III and his wife, Queen Charlotte. Not only are both beautiful heritage sites that are worth a visit, but they’ll delight any Bridgerton fan (as would visiting these filming locations). Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, in particular, may interest fans of Marie Antoinette’s Hameau de la Reine on the grounds of Versallies, both locations being a bit rustic-cottagecore in style.

Kew Palace © 2024 Vivian Ma

What I most enjoyed about Kew was rambling along the trails and exploring whatever we came across. With woodlands, glasshouses, historic buildings, plants and flowers from around the world, and a lot of green spaces to enjoy, there really is something for everyone here and is well worth a day trip out.