Autumn is a lovely season. Just think about it: golden foliage, soothing breezes, moderate temperature, spiced pumpkin lattes…… it’s a season that gets you motivated with its beauty. Like skiing in the winter, there are activities particularly suitable for the autumn. For example, going to a botanic garden, where you can enjoy refreshing air and appreciate the fine combination of nature and human intervention – a perfect autumnal getaway. In London, the destination for this – Kew Garden – is quietly sitting in Richmond, southwest London.
Kew Garden, founded in 1840, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the largest and most diverse botanical gardens in the world, covering approximately 326 acres, and is home to tens of thousands of plant species, including rare and endangered ones. You would be struck by the giant Amazon waterlily sleeping in the Waterlily House. It has a record-breaking size: circular leaves reaching 3 meters wide, strong enough to support the weight of a small child.. Catch the chance before Waterlily House’s winter closure to see this miraculous plant! The Kew team also thoughtfully dyed the water black to make prettier reflections.
It might be intuitive for a botanic garden to feature a unique collection of plants, but Kew Garden has much more to see which might as well amaze you. For example, the Temperate House, opened in 1863, is the world’s largest surviving Victorian glass structure. Its elegance would mesmerize you to stop and find an angle for the perfectly symmetrical postcard picture.
Temperate House, Kew Gardens
Kew Garden also has two brilliant galleries. Marianne North Gallery celebrates the talent and accomplishments of Marianne North, who turned her back on her expected life as a sedate Victorian woman and travelled the world solo to paint as many plants in faraway places as she could. North chose the location herself and supervised the gallery’s construction in Kew. Now, 832 remarkable paintings cover the walls, representing the beauty of nature and the spirit of an independent woman artist and globe trotter. Shirley Sherwood Gallery has the best of today’s collections of contemporary botanic art from around the world, often holding updated, experimental exhibitions.
Art Installation, Shirley Sherwood Gallery
Stepping outdoors, the landscape consisting of lakes, wooden bridges, and hydrophytes also comfort the soul on an autumn sunny day. Early-mid November is the best period in autumn to visit Kew Garden. That’s when the leaves have mostly turned gold and red, adding more colours to your day – definitely more beautiful and vibrant than an evergreen view in the spring or summer. After mid-November, trees began to defoliate, and the winter view becomes comparatively bleak.
The cost for the entire trip should be around 10 pounds (if you travel in autumn, off-peak season), including public transportation and online student tickets. In autumn, choose a sunny day, hop on the district line or Overground from central London, get off at Kew Gardens station, and enjoy a good day of visual relaxation and mindfulness.
PS: You probably want to save an hour for the gift shop before the Garden closes at 5pm! The variety and quality of gifts is incredible. Bring back to London the Raspberry and Rose Chocolate – you will remember Kew Garden forever!
