Kew Gardens in London is celebrating its 250th birthday this year as the botanical gardens were established in 1759. 

At Kew, there is something for everyone – even non-gardeners and particularly children.

An 18 metre high “Tree Walk” has been constructed. This is not for the faint hearted or those scared of heights.   There is a lift as well as stairs up to the 18 metre high walkway which snakes through the treetops and affords wonderful views and fantastic photo opportunities.

For children, there is an underground reptile exhibition and a dinosaur walk with fascinating facts about prehistoric times through humid leafy undergrowth in one of the glass houses. At one of the many shops throughout the gardens, you might find a gift or souvenir to take home. There are also several cafés and restaurants offering formal and informal dining or just an ice cream.

If all of this becomes too tiring, there is also a little train which stops at strategic points along the way. If you buy a ticket, you can jump on and off at points of interest all day long. This makes it ideal for visitors of all ages and abilities. The gardens are fully accessible for wheelchairs and prams alike.

It is possible to fly to Gatwick and from there, take the train to Clapham Junction and on to Kew Gardens directly – there is no need to go in to London city centre. The train journey takes less than an hour.