Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew - Richmond upon Thames (Winter)

Today I'd like to get us all into the festive spirit by sharing some photographs from Kew Gardens' annual exhibition - 'Christmas at Kew'. This incredible after-dark festival of light certainly did not disappoint when we visited yesterday evening. What's more, Kew is located just 9 miles from central London and served by both the District Line and Overground, so we did not have to travel far to revel in a magical trail of over one-million lights.

Beech tree adorned with hundreds of fairy lights, perfectly outlining

its bare winter form. Taken December 2018 on iPhone 5s.

With over 326 acres of land, Kew Gardens is definitely one of the hotspots of rural London. During the Christmas exhibition, visitors are not able to explore the famous greenhouses, or access the entirety of the site. However, you will still be greeted by a plethora of tree species - some had already lost all their leaves and others were covered in stunning autumn reds, yellows and oranges on our visit.

 

Autumn oranges at Kew - taken December 2018 on iPhone 5s. 

Autumn yellows and greens at Kew - taken December 2018 on iPhone 5s.  

The trees are becoming bare, but still beautiful - taken December

 2018 on iPhone 5s.

Still covered in leaves, despite the cold weather - taken December

2018 on iPhone 5s.

During a Christmas at Kew experience, you will be treated with an array of different light displays. Some of my favourites for 2018 included 'Firework trees', lit from top to toe with pea-lights that glittered in time to music, and the calming view of hundreds of small but colourful boat-like structures bobbing on the lake. The grand finale was a water display over the Palm House (the iconic greenhouse), with festive and city scenes projected into the water as it splashed up, tickling our faces from afar. 

The iconic Palm House, lit by a grand light display to end the trail - December 2018

on iPhone 5s.

It's been a pleasure to share these photos with you and reminisce about our first ever Christmas at Kew experience. I hope to be sharing more photos of Kew in the spring/summer time, when all the trees and flowers are out in bloom. For now, I will leave you with a photo of a more classically decorated, festive-feeling tree from the Royal Botanic Gardens...

Classically adorned tree, with red and gold baubles at Kew - 

December 2018, on iPhone 5s.