Day 15: Sep. 18, 2018 - Kew Gardens

Today we visit Kew Gardens, well to the west of Notting Hill. We meet up with the Kids for breakfast, then head to the underground. We travel via the District Line.

Kew Gardens is the royal botanical garden founded in 1840. However, the site has been a botanical garden since at least 1759. The current mission of the Gardens is to catalog, as far as possible, the flora of Earth. The original goal was collecting strange specimens from all over the British Empire, but that has now expanded. Today, there are over 30,000 species in the 300 acre park.

On entering, Kevin takes command and decides that a good route would be to take the widest circuit clockwise, stopping first at the Temperate House and later at the Treetop Walkway.

Middle Section of the Temperate House

This building has got to be experienced! Different sections of it have different humidity. Going up the spiral staircases is interesting, as well. It gets much hotter as you ascend.

There are all sorts of different plants from all over the world. Most seem to be from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa, but many are from areas that were never subject to the British Crown. Sober panels give grim statistics on the global decline of biodiversity.

We exit the House and search for human food at the Food Village, but it is too late in the season and the BBQ Tent is not open. We head, instead, to the Treetop Walkway. It is quite a different perspective for looking at trees.

We next head for the Pagoda, a really fun building.

The Fam heading to the Pagoda

Dragon on the Pagoda

Leaving the Pagoda, we continue on our loop, seeing vast stretches of varied flora. We come upon the Great Badger Sett. Yes, there are badgers living in this park. The keepers encourage it to promote natural expanses.

We continue our adventure, taking the Sackler Crossing over the lake in the middle of the Gardens, and arrive at the White Peaks Café for lunch. The food is varied and we enjoy our lunch. We decide we are about done and ready to take the ferry downstream into the middle of London when we get the news: the tide is too low and the ferry is not running at this time.

We take advantage of the situation by visiting the Hive, which we would have missed if we didn’t have to walk back to the Underground Station.

The Hive

We also pass through the Palm House, then exit at the Victoria Gate.

On the way back to London, we stop at the Swan in Hammersmith and hoist a few. Refreshed, we continue our journey back to Notting Hill. We part ways to take a rest, then rejoin to walk to the Cote Brasserie on Westbourne for dinner, about an 8 block walk from our flat.

The food is fine, we all enjoy the meal. We discuss what we should do tomorrow and agree that Windsor Castle calls. Another fine day ends in London!