Hortus Kew, oh forget the Latin, its Kew Gardens!

Advantages: Horticulture at its best a delight for all the family
Disadvantages: can be expensive and your feet will ache

...When mum and I climbed from the District line Underground train we discovered a pretty and quaint flower festooned station and what I suppose you would expect from our destination. Mum and I were taking another day out this time choosing the Richmond area as our destination. Mum is a keen gardener with fingers so green that should she come across a dying or wilting plant all she need do is blow on it to revive it. This was a contributing factor in our choice of day out and where better for a gardener but THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS AT KEW. ************** HISTORY OF KEW Princess Augusta, mother of George III was an amateur botanist and on land leased by Queen Caroline and George II, founded the Gardens of Kew. George III continued his mother's work he had a passionate interest in horticulture and so was nicknamed Farmer George...

melodysparks 26.09.2006 · Read review
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Review of Kew Gardens (London)

I love Kew, I do!

Advantages: It's a world heritage site, loads to see
Disadvantages: shame it's on the flightpath....

...I am just back from a trip to Kew Gardens, not my first by a long shot, but each and every time I go I find something new to see. I have been visiting Kew for over ten years now. I used to live nearby and visit on nearly a weekly basis but now that I live farther away I still like to pop back to this little oasis of green in South West London, which has more to offer than you might imagine. It is more than just a garden and there are a wealth of things to see and do. Kew Gardens is celebrating 250 years of existence in 2009. Its history is long and chequered and started with Princess Augusta employing one William Chambers to develop the gardens. Today, as of 2003, Kew has been given World Heritage Site status, and has a conservation and research into plants role, but more than this the 300 acres are a great place to visit. Full...

azana 10.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Kew Gardens (London)

I wouldn't Queue for Kew

Advantages: Lovely gardens
Disadvantages: High prices and constant Jumbo Jets

...Introduction - My partner is an avid fan of walking around, thus I often have the delight of walking around all of the national trust locations in and around Bedfordshire. At the weekend however she decided she wanted to go to the Royal Botanic Gardens, otherwise known as Kew Gardens. The gardens are located between Richmond and Kew in Southwest London. The site Director is Professor Stephen D. Hopper, it is considered an International important botanical research and education institute. The gardens employ around 700 staff and have an annual income of £44 million; they are also sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs. The site is a leading centre in botanical research, it is a hive for visitors, artists and professional gardeners and in 2005 around 1.48 million people visited them. There are numerous...

B_O_M_B_A 21.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Kew Gardens (London)

and I thought it was just a couple of greenhouses!

Advantages: A fabulous place to visit
Disadvantages: none

...We have been trying to think of different places to take our daughters during the summer holidays and yesterday we decided to take them to Kew Gardens. It's a place that I have never visited before (even though it is only a forty five minute drive from where we live) and I did not really know what to expect. To be honest, I thought it was just going to be loads of plants in a few large greenhouses and I was a little worried that my daughters might soon get bored. How wrong could I be? There are various different entrances to Kew Gardens but we entered through the Main Gate which is the nearest entrance to Kew Bridge Station. There are not any parking facilities as such but it is possible to park on many of the local roads after 10 am (taking into account any restrictions of course). You pay your entrance fee on the gate and this is very...

kingfisher111 19.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Kew Gardens (London)

No Queue at Kew

Advantages: Quiet location and great value on the special offers
Disadvantages: It is basic lodge accomodation

...was that I took the underground from central London. This was the advice given by an official at Victoria station when I explicitly descibed where I was going and asked for the most convenient way of getting there. Kew Gardens Underground is at a perfect distance from Kew Travelodge if you are in training for the 2012 Olympics walking race. If you are on your way after an overnight stay, to a board meeting, followed by a family visit for a couple of days, have a hefty case and a laptop case as well, and its raining, its cold, and you haven't got a clue which direction you should start walking in, it is enough to try the patience of a saint.! I have already booked another stay in the same Travelodge for later this year- a seal of approval indeed.!...

trevorbrock 22.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Travelodge London Kew Bridge, London

Like Kew Gardens, but with monkeys

Advantages: One of the most beautiful cities in the world
Disadvantages: Not the safest city in the world

...railway starts here, climbing through the Tijuca rainforest to the steps of the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer. At over 700m above sea level, there are stunning views of the city of Rio, Guanabara Bay and Sugar Loaf Mountain. This time the weather and visibility was good. There is also a view of the Jockey Club Racecourse, Lagoa lagoon and the Leblon and Ipanema beaches and huge lumps of granite jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean. The statue itself is also very impressive and huge, requiring a wide-angle lens to fit it all in while at Corcovado, but is of course also a striking view from far away as well, high up of the peak of the jagged lump of rock. Botanical Gardens After the half-day tour we took a taxi to botanical gardens. These are not bad, although not as good as Kew Gardens (which are about a mile from where I live in...

AndrewPo 15.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Rio de Janeiro

In the night garden ninky nonk train set

Advantages: strong, versatile, compact, nice bright colours, fun to play with
Disadvantages: none so far

...I decided to buy the in the night garden ninky nonk train set from Amazon as my young daughter is a big fan of in the night garden and whenever it comes on TV she gets really excited. So as my daughter already had some of the other characters from the show I wanted her to have the whole set and since buying it the train set the ninky nonk train set has become one of her favourite toys to play with on a daily basis. The train set can come apart and be attached on many different ways and my daughter enjoys looking at the nice bright colours and putting some of the other in the night garden characters onto the train set even though it keeps falling of now and again it keeps her busy and sometimes I hear her in fits of giggles. The train set is very cute and versatile and its great as children such as mine can have hours of fun with it...

jmarlene 02.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Hasbro In the Night Garden Ninky Nonk Train Set

YES THEY HAVE SOME BANNANAS

Advantages: very restful day trip area
Disadvantages: can be expensive- best take own food

...Remembering as a child with great joy my trips to kew gardens along with my parents and sister. I would like to tell you a little about the area. The 288 acres contains more than 25,000 varieties of differnt plants. It is set away from all the hussle of the busy built-up areas, and is very worth of a trip if you are near at any time. It is also know as the Royal Botanic Gardens.The gardens began in the year 1759 by princess Augusta,George III's mother. At the dutch house(kew palace) the Georges and their queens spent many,many days.It is a fine building and has been restored during the years and contains quite a few relics. The gardens are full of beauty,with wonderful walks.Some of the plants being housed in spectacular buildings such as the Orangery,the palm House,built by Decimus Burton. There are also various hothouses. Great...

linda01865 31.08.2001 (02.09.2001) · Read review
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Review of Kew Gardens (London)

Beautiful place, shame about the catering

Advantages: Beautiful plants and gardens... lovely picnic spots... nice and peaceful
Disadvantages: Caterers (Sodexho) don't seem to do Kew credit.

...I was raised near Kew Gardens and was taken there many times as a child. Years ago it was one old penny to go in there, now it is a fiver although there are concessionary admitance fees. With its 45,000 species of plants there must be something to appeal to everyone at Kew, and the greenhouses guarantee it is a safe bet for a day out, whatever the weather. Kew Gardens is an easy tube ride out from the center of London on the Richmond Line and it is a short walk from Kew Gardens tube station, which is the last stop before Richmond. Or you could take the slow, scenic route and go on the Thames Water Bus from Westminster Pier to Kew Pier. The Gardens is a 250 acre site, and if you visit on a summer day, it might seem to be packed full. However I have never failed to find a quiet, peaceful spot to eat a picnic. There are some lovely...

spankygoodtime 29.05.2001 (01.06.2001) · Read review
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Review of Kew Gardens (London)

World Heritage Winter Wonderland

Advantages: Plenty to see all year around
Disadvantages: Can be expensive

...Kew Gardens opens its gates on selected evenings during the winter, allowing visitors to see the famous gardens from a different perspective. Entry is free, although donations are welcome. Sadly this review is a little late for this winter, but hopefully it will be of some use for those interested in visiting next winter. Kew at nighttime has the ability to enchant. The old and majestic trees within the grounds are up lit by carefully positioned lights, creating a medley of shadows and coloured lights which can enthral both adults and children alike. This really is natural artwork at its best. Having entered through the Main Gate (at Kew Green) one follows the path, which is edged by hanging lanterns, towards the Orangery. Just beyond the Orangery a carousel is available for both children and those who are simply young at heart...

HedgeWytch 10.01.2004 · Read review
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Review of Kew Gardens (London)