Travel Europe at Kew

Visit the Mediterranean

Enjoy the sun-drenched landscape of Southern Europe in our enchanting Mediterranean Garden.

Stroll among the stone pines (Pinus pinea), Tuscan olive trees (Olea europaea), cork oak (Quercus suber) and Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) to be teleported to the wild botanic landscapes of Italy, Spain, and the Greek Islands.

Aromatic herbs like rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), lavender (Lavandula lanata) and rock rose (Cistus) fragrance the air.

Our collection of Mediterranean plants thrives in our Gardens as Kew is one of the sunniest places in the British Isles, enjoying warm summer months.

Did you know? As with all our scientific collections, our Mediterranean Garden is a living reference library for our scientists and aims to only showcase plants grown from wild-collected seed.

Enhancing the Mediterranean atmosphere is the Tuscan portico of our King William’s Temple, nestled among the diverse plant life of the region.

This beautiful folly was built in 1837 for Queen Victoria, in memory of William IV.

Continue your trip of the Mediterranean by ambling along our 320-metre Great Broad Walk Borders.

A feast for the senses and a floral treasure trove, this aromatic and colourful walkway displays many stunning plants native to the Mediterranean, including species from the mint family (Lamiaceae), and Verbascum and Phlomis genera.

Browse our collection of books on Mediterranean plants in the Kew Online Shop. 

Visit the Alps

Trek to the Alps without the need for mountain gear by exploring our wonderful Rock Garden.

Seek out our dedicated section for alpine plants from the European Alps and Pyrenees.

Many of the amazing species on show are impressively resilient and have adapted to survive extreme conditions at high altitudes.

Inside our Davies Alpine House, you’ll experience the cool and dry climate that allows alpine plants to flourish.

Vibrant purple campanulas, pink dianthus, pretty lavenders, tulips and verbascums can be found blooming here, after being nurtured in our Alpine Nursery.

Did you know? The Davies Alpine House was specially designed to recreate the dry, cool, light, and windy conditions alpines need to thrive. It keeps plants dry in winter and provides the cool summer conditions of mountain habitats.

In our Pinetum, can you spot the three conifers native to Britain? They are the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), English yew (Taxus baccata) and juniper (Juniperus communis).

Head to our Queen’s Garden behind Kew Palace and you’ll go back in time to discover plants which were grown in Britain in the 1600s and earlier.

For a secret and secluded spot, why not explore our walled Duke’s Garden? Located near the Grass Garden, this beautiful space of herbaceous borders and manicured lawns reflects the design of a traditional 20th-century English flower garden.

Visit other parts of Europe

If your holiday plans normally include visiting ancient temples and ruins, then you’re in luck.

You can do some sightseeing and discover the historical European follies across our Gardens.

Pick out these four Grade II listed structures designed by architect Sir William Chambers in the mid-18th century…

The Temple of Arethusa, near the Palm House Pond, is named after a nymph from Greek mythology and is the setting of Kew’s war memorials.

The Ruined Arch near the Marianne North Gallery is a scenic mock ruin in the classical Roman style, while the Temple of Bellona next to Victoria Plaza is named after the ancient Roman goddess of war.

In the Woodland Garden, you’ll see the Temple of Aeolus perched high on a mound. Originally built from wood, the temple, named after the ruler of the winds in Greek mythology, was rebuilt in stone in 1845 by Decimus Burton.

See how many other notable structures and statues you can spot on your next visit to Kew.