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Kew Gardens


London finally seems to be making the transition into Autumn, and although I'm ready for cosy nights in, woolly jumpers and pumpkin-spiced-everything, looking back on these photos from the summer has me wishing I was lying somewhere hot and sunny.


Kew Gardens was on my hit-list for this summer, so with the sun shining behind us, Liv and I armed ourselves with homemade biscuits and a camera, and headed over to get our fill of all things Kew.




I'd definitely recommend booking ahead online, especially if the weather is nice, as we sailed past the growing Kew - *ahem*, queue.


After a quick bask (and several biscuits) in front of the Temperate House, we set off to explore.


We had a map of the main attractions, but mostly just worked our way round in a rough circle, stopping whenever something beautiful caught our eye.



Kew certainly isn't short of beauty, with something different hidden around every corner. The plants are grouped and landscaped in a way that allows you to be walking through a Mediterranean olive grove one minute, and an English wildflower meadow the next.

^an olive tree, for Olive.


The Temperate House has recently reopened at Kew, and is well worth a visit. Essentially the greenhouse of your dreams, the Victorian glasshouse is home to thousands of plants from around the world.


Warmer than outside, but not humid, light floods in through the glass and onto the plants below. I'm no plant expert, but for those more green-fingered among us useful plaques inform visitors about each species' origin and natural climate.




In the centre of the three "rooms", you can climb a spiral staircase to roof-level, and admire the jungle floor below.


We'd unintentionally visited at an ideal time, as from our birds' eye view, we could see a cellist and an acrobat warming up below. Soon the music kicked in, and we watched as the acrobat swung around from a ribbon, suspended above the floor.




After a lot of twirling (the acrobat) and gasping (us), we both left pretty impressed, and in Liv's case, with a crush on a cellist. Unfortunately, by the time we'd got downstairs, he'd left without her even getting the chance to say cello. No?


Luckily there was still a lot outside to distract ourselves with, so we disappeared back among the leaves.

Unfortunately it wasn't open when we visited, but at the moment you can climb up the Great Pagoda, with views across Kew and London that are sure to be amazing. Tickets here.


Calling all gardeners! Any idea what these white flowers are? I'd like the sweet, floral scent bottled up and ready for me to bathe in, please.

One of my favourite things about Kew is how quiet the gardens are. Despite the numbers of people at the gate, once we'd wandered further in it often felt like we were completely on our own. There are plenty of secluded spots dotted about amongst the flower beds, perfect for picnicking, reading, or having a snooze.

We stepped back in time...



...and took a walk through some woodland...


...before finding ourselves at Kew Palace.


Once home to King George III, most of the original features inside the Dutch House have unfortunately been lost, but the kitchen garden and surrounding grounds remain.




The medicinal garden was one of my favourite parts of the entire gardens; with a plaque next to each plant revealing the medicinal properties the 18th century user believed it to have.




What a beauty Liv is- such a Kew-tie. Too much?



We had one final stop; the Palm House.


The Palm House replicates the climate of the tropical rain-forest. Hot and humid (read: sweaty), you leave London's geese and greenery outside, and emerge inside a jungle.




Even having wandered for hours, we'd certainly missed parts of the gardens, but sore feet and rumbling tummies are enough to drive anyone mad. Instead of risking going the same way as Mad King George, we called it a day and headed towards the nearest tea shop.



Finding somewhere aptly named we finished the day the way all good days should end, with a cream tea.



Cream or jam first?


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