Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Richmond, United Kingdom

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The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in Richmond, United Kingdom, originated in 1759 when Princess Augusta, mother of King George III, established a nine-acre botanic garden within the pleasure grounds at Kew.

Over time, the gardens expanded to cover about 300 acres, becoming a premier global center for botanical research, conservation, and education. Famous botanists such as Joseph Banks and the Hooker family shaped its development, turning Kew into a site housing over 50,000 living plants alongside a herbarium with millions of preserved specimens.

Iconic structures include the Palm House, built in 1848 as one of the first large-scale glasshouses, and the Temperate House, the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse. Kew was instrumental in the development of economic botany and plant introduction worldwide, notably contributing to the spread of rubber plantations. It remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site and holds a vast seed bank, supporting global conservation efforts.

The gardens blend historic landscapes, scientific buildings, and extensive collections, providing a unique living museum and educational resource visited by millions each year.​