Princess Augusta launched Kew’s journey in 1759 by creating a 9-acre garden focused on exotic and medicinal plants. With help from botanist Lord Bute and architect William Chambers, she kickstarted Kew’s legacy in plant science.
Started by a queen-in-waiting and boosted by kings and scientists, Kew Gardens is a story of royal roots and radical plant science. Since 1759, it’s gone from cozy garden to 121-hectare giant, changing how we understand and protect plants around the world. And it’s still blooming strong.
Imagine a garden where a Chinese pagoda, a classical temple, and a faux ruin all coexist. That was the magic of Kew’s construction era. Sir William Chambers built over 20 eye-catching structures for Princess Augusta, inspired by everything from Rome to China. His bold style paved the way for the quirky, emotional garden style known as jardin anglo-chinois. With landscape designer William Nesfield’s sweeping touches later on, Kew bloomed into a true masterpiece of design and science.
Some date back to the 1750s, including temples and the Orangery by Sir William Chambers.
Over 20! From the Great Pagoda to temples, he gave Kew its early architectural flair.
18th-century Europe was super inspired by Asia, so architect William Chambers added temples and a pagoda based on what he saw during his travels.
They were removed in 1784 and lost. In 2018, all 80 dragons were rebuilt using historic drawings and modern 3D printing!
Built in the 1840s, it’s one of the world’s first iron-and-glass wonders, and it’s still packed with tropical drama.
It’s Kew’s oldest surviving building, from 1761, originally used to shelter citrus trees in winter.
It played a huge role in moving plants like tea, rubber, and quinine around the world during the colonial era.