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This month's feature is the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The Gardens-Guide directory listing for these gardens also includes beautiful 360° panoramas (here). You may also take our Virtual Travel ® tour:

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WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE INSCRIBES THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW, WITH 23 OTHER NEW SITES ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST.

The historic landscape garden features elements that illustrate significant periods of the art of gardens from the 18th to the 20th centuries. The gardens house botanic collections (conserved plants, living plants and documents) which have been considerably enriched through the centuries. Since their creation in 1759, the gardens have made a significant and uninterrupted contribution to the study of plant diversity and botanic economics.

Inscribed: 2003 Criteria: C (ii) (iii) (iv)

Justification for Inscription:

Criterion (ii): Since the 18th century, the Botanic Gardens of Kew have been closely associated with scientific and economic exchanges established throughout the world in the field of botany, and this is reflected in the richness of its collections. The landscape features and architectural features of the gardens reflect considerable artistic influences both with regard to the European continent and to more distant regions.

Criterion (iii): Kew Gardens have largely contributed to advances in many scientific disciplines, particularly botany and ecology.

Criterion (iv): The landscape gardens and the edifices created by celebrated artists such as Charles Bridgeman, William Kent, Lancelot 'Capability' Brown and William Chambers reflect the beginning of movements which were to have international influence.