The world’s largest collection of living plants is an extraordinary place

Seven wonders of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK

Kew Gardens, as it’s colloquially known, has been at the forefront of botanical research since 1759, and boasts the world’s largest collection of living plants.

1. Get strolling along the Great Board Walk

You’ll find extraordinary examples of exotic flora in these famous 265-year-old gardens, but the magnificent herbaceous borders that flank the 320-metre Great Board Walk are one of its most English attractions. The 60,000 flowering and aromatic plants, arranged in “natural” English garden style, are at their best in June, July and August. Not all the plants are English: you’ll spot lovely flowers from as far afield as South Africa and Brazil.

2. Admire the painted blooms in Marianne North Gallery

The panels in the Marianne North Gallery.

This delightful red-brick pavilion, often overlooked, is one of the world’s more unusual art galleries. It’s filled floor to ceiling with panels painted by an intrepid 19th-century botanical artist who travelled the British Empire (and other places such as Brazil and Japan) to detail its flora. The Australian section has superbly detailed depictions of banksia and bottlebrush. The gallery is wonderfully evocative of the Victorian age of amateur scientific discovery and endeavour.

3. Explore the jungles of the Palm House

The Palm House and formal gardens surrounding it.

The centrepiece of the gardens is a vast Victorian-age greenhouse in wrought iron and glass. Its warmth is especially welcome on a nippy English spring day. The interior erupts in a lush collection of soaring palms and banana trees, ancient cycads, ferns and exotic blooms, all entangled in creepers and epiphytes, the latter best seen from the upper walkway. See if you can spot the resident water dragon. The exterior is surrounded by parterres of bright flowers.

4. Get trapped in the Princess of Wales Conservatory

The stinky giant titan arum in the Princess of Wales Conservatory.

These high-tech modern glasshouses display 10 different climatic zones, from dry desert to wet tropics. Orchids are flamboyantly showcased in one section. The giant water lilies the size of cartwheels are marvellous, and the “corpse flower” or giant titan arum, is as stinky as its reputation. But don’t miss the small and seemingly modest carnivorous plants, which include Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, and other ingenious flora adept at swallowing up unwary insects.

5. Spot the dragons at the Great Pagoda

Chinoiserie was all the rage in 1762 when this pagoda was built by a Scottish-Swedish architect. There isn’t much that is truly Chinese about it apart from its suggestive shape, but who doesn’t like a good folly? The pagoda rears 10 storeys high and is decorated with 80 wooden dragons painted green with gold wings. You can clamber up the pagoda (book a time slot) for a view all the way to central London.

6. Ascend the Treetop Walkway for a bird’s eye view

Walk with a view – the Treetop Walkway.

Pant up 118 steps to this metal walkway in the arboretum for a good outlook over the gardens as you zigzag between a canopy of chestnut, beech and oak trees, which are an especial delight in autumn. You’ll hear the dainty cheeping of British birds, and might spot squirrels. The walkway is 18 metres above ground, and those with no head for heights might be unnerved at its mesh floor and shivering movement on a windy day.

7. Learn about Georgian-era food in Kew Palace

Kew Palace, a royal retreat.

One of London’s least known royal palaces was built in 1631 and became the summer family retreat of King George III. Entry is included in the gardens ticket, which makes this a good retreat if it rains. The interior’s relative simplicity and Georgian elegance is a pleasing contrast to the baroque bling of other palaces, but the most interesting part is the kitchens, where you can learn about life below stairs.

See kew.org