8. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is a world-leading scientific institution, housing the largest collection of living plants and fungi in the 330-acre Gardens, just 30 minutes from central London. The Gardens were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003, in recognition of their unique history, diverse historic landscape, rich architectural heritage, plant collections and status as one of the world's leading botanic gardens for scientific research and education.
Founded by Princess Augusta in 1759, Kew's influence in the fields of horticulture, plant taxonomy and economic botany spread internationally under the directorship of Joseph Banks in the 1770s. During the British Age of Exploration, early botanists collected specimens from around the world for safekeeping at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London.
Today, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is recognised as a global centre of excellence for the study of plants and fungi based on its unparalleled collections of living and preserved plants and fungi. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London, is renowned as a global resource for knowledge of plants and fungi, with specimens from the collection having been used to create new botanic gardens in Australia, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Today, there are over 50,000 native and exotic plant species at Kew Garden.
There are many activities for visitors of all ages throughout the year, including festivals, guided tours and special exhibitions. At the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London, visitors can explore the world's largest Victorian glasshouse, The Temperate House, which houses over 10,000 plants from temperate regions, some of which are rare and endangered.
The soaring treetop walkway offers sweeping treetop views of the royal residence and is open to the public on a regular basis. The walls of the Marianne North Gallery, founded by the intrepid artist herself, are lined entirely with her paintings. The Great Boardwalk Borders is a vibrant 320m walkway, with plants arranged thematically across eight large gardens. The world’s largest double herbaceous plant and a popular tourist attraction in summer, the walkway leads to the famous Lake and Rose Garden of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.
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