I’ve been a Friend of Kew Gardens for about 30 years. I live only a couple of miles away so these famous – indeed, UNESCO World Heritage Site – Gardens are local to me and where I most often go for a walk. Usually, I can just turn up when the fancy takes me and show my membership card, but since Covid restrictions, I now have to book a slot so the Gardens can limit the number of people there at any time. I do sometimes miss the spontaneity, even if I understand the reasons, but today’s visit was almost spontaneous. Yesterday, I saw the weather forecast for today was for full sun – or at least that’s what my iPhone said. As you can see from the photos, it wasn’t quite like that, but it was still nice enough to enjoy a walk.

It’s a Bank Holiday Monday here in UK so my last-minute booking of a slot came up with only space for an 8am entry (or late afternoon). I always get up quite early, but even I hesitated … but then one advantage was to get in before the crowds … and the 8-9am slot was also Friends only.

It was gloriously quiet. Even in ‘normal’ times I choose to almost always go at quiet times to try to avoid the coach loads and day trippers that come in their masses. But even so, I can tell you that 8am on a Bank Holiday morning is very quiet indeed!

As you’ll see in the photos below, I hardly came across anyone else; only occasionally, and was able to enjoy a welcome tranquillity and calm.

The last few days have been quite autumnal and the Gardens are showing signs of change; their transition from summer to autumn. There was colour, but many of the blooms were dying and dropping yet it’s still too early for gorgeous autumn colours to shine. But Kew is always beautiful whatever time you visit. If you want to know more about how the Gardens change throughout the year, see my A Year in Kew Gardens when I recorded all that was happening in every month of one year: Click here. Otherwise, just enjoy my walk this morning through the following photos:

 

 

   

   

 

   

 

If you want to visit Kew Gardens or find out more visit their website: click here.