Isleworth Hotels

Leafy idyll

Opened in 1840 and granted the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, the historic Kew Gardens holds more than 30, 000 distinct species of plant. There are several different houses and conservatories that provide the appropriate climate for the flora within, and you'll see fungi, roses, orchids, junipers, aquatic plants, mouth-watering fruit and vegetables and much more.

Even if you hold only a passing interest in gardening, it's hard not to be impressed by the scale of living exhibits held here. The botanical garden plays a leading role in the study and research of plant biodiversity on Earth.

Galleries, museums and libraries

One of the world's most significant sources of botanical reference can be found at Kew. The Library, Art and Archives wing houses over half a million sources of information from biographies, manuscripts and letters to books, photographs, illustrations and maps. You'll find this the perfect environment to learn more about the plants at Kew, and in the world at large.

Activities and oddities

The botanic garden itself could take you all day to fully explore but there are many other attractions within the grounds. In keeping with the ecological nature of Kew Gardens, the Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway, which opened in 2008, is a 200m walkway, 18m high, that gives you the opportunity to walk around the peaks of oak, lime and sweet chestnut trees. It's the perfect way to get a different perspective on the flourishing flora and fauna of the area.

The influence of the East can be seen in two structures. The Pagoda, a 10-storey structure completed in 1762 and measuring nearly 50m in height is a fascinating structure. And the Chokushi-Mon (Gateway of the Imperial Messenger) is a slightly smaller replica of Kyoto's Western Temple of the Original Vow. These may seem to like incongruous sights but the pagoda was built at a time when Chinese design was becoming fashionable in Europe and the temple's construction coincided with the Japan-British Exhibition in 1910.

Restaurants, cafés and shops

There are two restaurants and two cafés in Kew Gardens providing soups, pies, quiches and sandwiches. You'll also find a selection of speciality shops selling items reflecting the nature of your visit, from botanical books and plants to notepaper, trays and tea towels.