The royal greenhouses of London’s Kew Gardens

After five years of extensive work and a budget of €45 millions, the world’s largest greenhouse is once again open to the public. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, this symmetrical building is capped with a glass dome and sits proudly amidst a former exotic garden dating back to the sixteenth century. The 121 hectares of the site’s English-style gardens make it the British capital’s green lung.

Kew Gardens : London’s royal greenhouse

Nature lovers and picnickers enjoy the site’s 30 000 plants, flowerbeds, waterfalls, and pond features. There is lots to see, starting with the Palm House. This heated, Victorian-style metal structure is home to a host of tropical plants, including palms and papaya, mango, and banana trees.

On the building’s pediment, capitals decorated with acanthus leaves, cut stone urns, and statues create a striking effect. © DR

Inside the Hive, you can learn all there is to know about bees and the important role pollination plays in feeding the planet. © DR

Nature and culture in one fell swoop

Outside the greenhouse, follow the Treetop Walkway, a 200-metre-long bridge, for a bird’s eye view of the urban jungle. Make sure to visit the Hive, too. This sensory-rich experience teaches you about bees inside of a giant 17-metre-high hive. You’ll want to set aside a full day to explore all Kew Gardens has to offer the next time you visit London.

At the end of one trail, this Chinese pagoda will sweep you away to a unique and exotic world, in the heart of London. © DR

The leaves of the giant water lily, one of the most popular plants in the park, are so big you can stand on them. © DR