Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew cover more than 300 acres and are home to over 38,000 species of flora and fauna. Some of the plant life at Kew is completely extinct in the wild, with only a few examples left in the world. The Queens Garden is located behind Kew Palace and was built by Sir George Taylor from 1963. The Garden was competed in 1969 and officially opened by Queen Elizabeth later that year. The Aquatic Garden is said to have been inspired by the sunken Garden at Hampton Court Palace and features more than one hundred varieties of aquatic plant life. The Pagoda is one of Kew's most striking structures. Standing ten storeys, this octagonal structure was inspired by designer William Chambers's trip to the Orient. The Great Pagoda was completed in 1762, though not to unanimous acclaim. The Aroid House is a humid facility for maintaining tropical plants, designed by architect Nash and built in 1836. During the last century Kew Gardens has extended to incorporate Wakehurst Place. The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew is a fascinating excursion for the entire family, as educational as it is beautiful. There is a small admission charge and the facilities has excellent access for all visitors.