When the hustle and bustle of London begins to pale, do what Londoners do and head for Kew Gardens. This famous botanical garden is home to thousands of rare plants, collected by intrepid explorers from around the world since 1752. It’s also 300 acres of elegant parkland, striking greenhouses and surprisingly modern sculpture. The best way to enjoy the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is to simply wander around. Stop under a tree and you’ll find it’s probably older than you by about 100 years. An absolute must is the famous Palm House, a Victorian marvel of iron and glass. Once inside its impressive domed spaces, you’ll be transported to the heat of the tropics – a popular choice on a chilly winter’s day. Orchid lovers should come in February for the annual festival, when the elegant Prince of Wales Conservatory is packed with 250,000 orchids from around the world. (A little-known secret is that beyond the conservatory pond, under the false rocks, are tanks brimming with exotic fish.) When your legs start to tire, head for the Orangery, where you can watch the world of Kew go by while enjoying traditional tea and cakes. (The Orangery is a huge space, so it can get very noisy.) Kew Palace, where King George III recovered during his bouts of “madness,” will be open in 2006.