Come UK

Plant your feet in two different time meridians at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park. Nearby is the world’s biggest, emptiest and most expensive bouncy castle, the Millennium Dome, which is now closed as a tourist attraction.

Huge Hyde Park used to be a royal hunting ground, was once a venue for duels, executions and horse racing, and even became a giant potato field during WWII. It is now a place of fresh air, spring colour, lazy sunbathers and boaters on Serpentine Lake. Features of the park include sculptures by Jacob Epstein and Henry Moore, the contemporary Serpentine Gallery and Speaker’s Corner.

At the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, there are 300 acres of beautiful gardens, with six glasshouses to visit including the Evolution House. The Gardens are open daily from 9.30am. Closing time varies according to the time of year, but it’s not earlier than 4pm or later than 7.30pm. For exact times call the Gardens on 020 8940 1171.
Admission to the gardens is £5 for adults, £2.50 for children; during the last hour before closing, there is a reduced rate of £3 for all visitors. Kew Gardens are closed 25 December and 1 January.
The nearest Underground station is Kew Gardens and you are also within easy reach of Richmond with its riverside pubs, antique shops, village green and royal park.