Kew Gardens, also known as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a botanical garden located in southwest London, England. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important centers for botanical research in the world. Kew Gardens covers an area of 330 acres and has a collection of over 50,000 living plants, making it the largest collection of living plants in the world.
Kew Gardens is home to a diverse range of plants, including tropical plants from around the world, cacti, carnivorous plants, and a vast collection of orchids. One of the most famous attractions at Kew Gardens is the Palm House, which was built in 1844 and is considered one of the most important surviving Victorian glasshouses in the world. The Temperate House, which houses plants from temperate regions around the world, was recently restored and reopened in 2018.
Kew Gardens also has a number of important research facilities, including the Herbarium, which houses over 7 million specimens of preserved plants, and the Jodrell Laboratory, which conducts research on plant genetics and conservation. In addition, Kew Gardens is home to several art galleries, including the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, which showcases botanical art from around the world.
Overall, Kew Gardens is a remarkable institution that plays an important role in plant conservation, research, and education. It is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in botany, horticulture, or simply the beauty of the natural world.