Kew turns 250


As the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew celebrates its 250th birthday, we take a look at some of the splendours the tourist attraction has to offer.

The gardens grew haphazardly until collector Francis Masson extended and planned plantings. By 1840 the gardens were adopted as a national botanical garden.

The gardens grew haphazardly until collector Francis Masson extended and planned plantings. By 1840 the gardens were adopted as a national botanical garden.


Kew Palace was originally bought by George III in 1781 as a nursery for royal children and was called Dutch House. Other buildings have a more controversial history: in 1913 two Suffragettes burnt down the famous Tea House.
previous image icon Almost two million people visit Kew each year giving the gardens an annual income of £56 million. In 2005 visitors tipped 1.5 million, which was the most the garden had seen in 50 years and the largest amount for any paid entry garden in the UK.
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As the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew celebrates its 250th birthday, we take a look at some of the splendours the tourist attraction has to offer.

8:22am Mon 16 Feb 09

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