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Originally called the Royal Botanic Gardens parts of these gardens were originally owned by Royalty until the gardens were given to the nation in 1840. Princess Augusta established the Gardens in 1750 with a plan that they would contain all the plants known on earth.   Its first gardener focused on medicinal plants.  The botanist Sir Joseph Banks who accompanied Captain Cook on his 1769 South Pacific voyage to Australia New Zealand and Hawaii brought back 1000's of new specimens. The western part was designed by Capability Brown and the gardens cover over 300 acres. 
Highlights include:
The Palm House, a tropical glasshouse built in the mid 19th century
The Princess of Wales Conservatory which was opened by Diana Princess of Wales in 1987, and includes 10 climatic zones.
The Temperate House was built in the early 1860s and is the largest glasshouse in the Kew Gardens. It has plants from Australia, the Pacific Islands, South Africa, parts of Asia, and the Mediterranean.
The Waterlily House was built in the 19^th century and is home to rice and other plants needing a hot humid atmosphere.
The Alpine House which was opened in 1981
The Evolution House where you can learn about the evolution of plants over the last 3500 years.
Museum No. 1 its exhibition illustrates the relationships between plants and man.
The Marianne North Gallery
The Royal Palaces - Queen Charlotte's Cottage and Kew Palace
The Pagoda is 10 stories and was completed in 1762
The Japanese Gateway is a replica of a famous Gateway in Kyoto and is surrounded by Japanese gardens.

Designers: various
Owner: Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens
Size: 300 acres
Location: Kew, Richmond, Surrey