Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The garden was nice but not worth 13 pounds. To top it off, the tram would cost 4 pounds extra and a GPS was another 5 pounds. The garden didn't have alot of useful signs so made it difficult to navigate. We were in circles. The Queen's Cottage was very disappointing. Also, there were lots of plants but not enough signs with commentaries so I wasn't sure what I was looking at. Maybe it's a garden for experts.

The acres of landscaped gardens and glasshouses full of unusual plant displays at Kew provide enough variety to keep green-thumbed visitors fascinated for days. The rest of us (especially those with children) probably will want to devote two or three hours to simply walking the grounds. A fun fact for bored children: look for the largest flagpole in the United Kingdom, located on the garden grounds.Kews elaborate glasshouses are full of surprises. In the basement of the Palm House there is a kid-sized aquarium exhibit. It is not the high tech London aquarium, but the Kew exhibit is just right for a ten-minute visit. The aquarium thoughtfully provides step stools which children can use to get eye-to-eye with the fish.Kew Gardens glasshouses have some record holdersthe worlds oldest potted plant is here. Anyone who has killed numerous house plants will be amazed that this plant has survived since 1775. Kew also has the worlds tallest indoor plant (in 1985 it was 80 feet tall). Visiting children may or may not be impressed with all the plants, but kids invariably climb the spiral staircases up to the elevated walkways which encircle the top of the glasshouses. If you lose track of a child, be sure to look up.Kews Evolution House is another favorite of children and many adults. These evolutionary plants literally crawl out of primordial ooze that bubbles up near the entrance to the exhibit. The Evolution House is an animated presentation of freshman high school plant biology, cleverly depicting the evolution of plants from the Earths creation up to modern day. While touring the Evolution House, kids can look for dinosaur tracks and spot eagle-sized dragonflies perched on prehistoric tree trunks.

We live quite close to Kew and visit the Royal Botanic Gardens a lot, and each time I go there I find something new, and I'm struck by what an amazing place it is. It is tranquil and awe-inspiring, as well as feeling like it is well-frequented and alive. The people who work and volunteer there really have gone out of their way to make sure there is something for everyone. It's great for kids (it has the Climbers and Creepers section where they can let off steam and also learn about nature) and adults alike. It's also got great cafes and shops that are full of beautiful gifts, as well as a plant shop full of really reasonably priced plants. I'd really recommend this as an attraction. A really beautiful place.