Kew Gardens was founded in 1759 by Augusta, Princess of Wales, who established a nine-acre botanic garden within the existing pleasure grounds at Kew. The gardens were expanded and eventually merged with the royal estate at Richmond in 1772, becoming the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

​

Visitors to Kew’s 320 acres have an enormous choice of things to see, including some 14,000 trees, endless hothouses, the pagoda, follies, ancillary buildings, extensive outdoors plantings, restaurants, shops and Kew Palace itself with its poignant history of royal tragedies including the premature death of Frederick Prince of Wales and the madness of his son, George III. There is even a railway to get you to all these wonders.

​

After our introductory tours we split up and between us probably saw most of the attractions the gardens had to offer - but it would take many more visits to do the tour full justice. By the end of the trip our group had definitely met the criteria of a great day out – being suitably fatigued and being determined to return for more!

Hugh Bethell