Botanic gardens
The tradition at Britain’s botanic gardens is to collect and display as comprehensive a range of flora and fauna as possible. You can benefit from this obsession as the gardens are more than keen on inviting you in for a look.
The steamy atmosphere of the Palm House at The Royal Botanic Garden Kew is packed with lush banana, mango and coconut trees – a tropical fruit bowl on London’s doorstep. Now a World Heritage Site, Kew boasts the largest collection of plants in the world. Not to mention 39 listed buildings. Climb to the top of the ten-storied Chinese pagoda for an aerial view of 300 wonderful acres alongside the River Thames.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is actually four different gardens in four very different locations. For rock gardens and herbaceous borders try Edinburgh. At Benmore, trees and shrubs from truly wet climates flourish. The exotic, sub-tropical garden at Logan transports visitors to warmer climes, whilst Dawyck is hot on hardy plants from cool, dry regions.
Norman Foster’s Great Glasshouse dominates the landscape at The National Botanic Garden of Wales – Britain’s first national botanic garden for 200 years. It tempts visitors up the hill along cobbled paths beside a trickling rill. On the way up visit the Apothecaries Garden, the Double Walled Garden and the Bog Garden and be bowled over.
Get your Great British Heritage Pass
For any of you garden lovers or those planning a history or heritage themed trip around Britain, the essential "buy before you leave" product is the Great British Heritage Pass. Providing free entry into over 600 castles, gardens and stately homes across the length and breadth of Britain, it really is the key to unlocking Britain's secrets.
For full details and to order click here