Kew Gardens, Glass Sculptures…And The Rain

In the leafy and rather well heeled south western suburbs of London lies Kew Gardens, reputedly the most diverse botanical collection in the entire world, with both indoor and outdoor plantations, tropical and temperate greenhouses, lakes and parkland. These royal gardens have been in existence for over 250 years and yet somehow neither of us have ever been before today.

For our first ever visit today, the gardens are also dotted with attractive glass sculptures, a major exhibition of the works of American blown glass sculptor Dale Chihuly, picking up the botanical theme and exhibiting exotic creations of style and colour. 

So most of the day is a wander around the beautiful gardens, in and out of the greenhouses, and admiring Chihuly’s intricate and colourful creations. And, of course, trying, and failing, to dodge the rain. October in England has brought much rain so far, and we aren’t spared as we wander the grounds. 

The exhibition is extensive, with large numbers of imaginative sculptures placed around the grounds, some interspersed with the plants themselves, others taking pride of place in front of the larger buildings or beside lakes. Each is beautifully crafted and vividly colourful, many blending perfectly with the lush surroundings.

Around all this the gardens are stunning, even though we are in between the blooms of summer and the colours of autumn, and even though the weather is somewhat miserable.

Of course, any trip of ours to London is incomplete without a few pubs and a meal, so after Kew we head into the West End to take in a few of our favourites (The Lamb & Flag and The Harp in Covent Garden, The Coal Hole in The Strand), before a delicious Mexican meal at Cafe Pacifico in Langley Street. What a great little place this is.

We don’t know how many more London trips we’ll fit in before our major travels begin in January, but we know that wherever we travel to, London will remain close to our hearts.