Cambridge Cottage, Kew Gardens

"Breathe deep in the green bower of Kew Gardens LONDON // In the heyday of the British Empire, London’s botanical gardens were a hotbed of intrigue, as colonial botanists smuggled in seeds and cuttings from across the globe in the hope of breaking the horticultural monopolies of rival powers. It was through these gorgeous gardens that rubber made its way from Brazil to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), breaking Portuguese control of the world’s bottle stoppers, rainproofs and tyres. Kew’s towering 19th-century glasshouses rank among Britain’s best-loved buildings, especially the Palm House, which allows a mature tropical rainforest to flourish. These Victorian wonders have been joined by contemporary glasshouses hosting everything from alpine blooms to agave cacti. Kew sprawls over 121 hectares, offering miles of walks through ornamental gardens and woodland glades dotted with ginkgos, monkey puzzles and coastal redwoods. In between picnicking and ambling through the forest canopy, you can drop into a number of historic follies, from mock-up Greco-Roman temples to a 10-storey Chinese pagoda built by Sinophile architect William Chambers. Take the Tube to Kew Gardens station, or a boat from Westminster Pier (April to October)."