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Excerpts from 1,000 word article KEW: A GARDEN FOR ALL SEASONS
Article ends: ........ Our senses were well pleased by a visit to The Original Maids of Honour, the adorable bow-windowed tea shop across from the Gardens' main entrance. Their maids of honour tarts are famous, baked from the same recipe as those served to Henry V111. If that's not reason enough to drop in, their homemade ginger chocolates presented in miniature carrier bags should be. Sandwiches and pies as well as the tarts are sold from a counter for a take- out. Or you can relax in the dining room. At our fireside table a third chair was taken by a large tortoise-shell cat who blinked wisely at everything we said. Outdoors heavy clouds rumbled across a leaden sky. We tucked into our veal, ham and egg pies and had no need for a plant to exhilarate and make our minds glad. IF YOU GO: Kew Gardens is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the winter and 6:30 p.m. in summer. From central London it is reached by tube (District Line Kew Gardens station) or bus (routes 65, 237 and 267), and best of all in summer by river boat from Westminster Pier. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB,(0181) 3325000. |
Long ago and far away when we didn't have two
ha'pennies to rub together, a favourite
family outing was to Kew. There we would
rejoice the passing of winter with a picnic
beside a carpet of bluebells and nodding
daffs. When the roses bloomed we took jam
jars and collected fallen petals to make
perfume that
never quite
worked out. If
we were too
early or the
roses late, no
matter. The
jars were ready
for catching
tadpoles. At
Kew (within
easy reach of
central London
by public
transport) we
made our own
fun, teasing ducks, surprising young lovers,
trying out homemade kites, and searching for
chestnuts bound to make us neighbourhood
conker kings. Kew's botanical gardens are no
longer a popular venue for large families
having to count their small change. Until a
decade or so ago admission remained at a
penny. Now it costs considerably more, but is
still a bargain as admissions in the London
area go...... 
