(photos courtesy of Jim Linwood)

One of Britain's busiest tourist attractions is the Kew Gardens, also called the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. This year, the gardens celebrated their 250th anniversary, reminding us they are one of the oldest tourist attractions in Europe. 

Besides being a tourist attraction, it is also an educational institution and botanical research centre of international importance.  

Attractions on site will keep you busy for an entire day. They include the Kew Palace, builit near 1631(below left). The world's largest compost heap is there, alone with the Marianne North Gallery, which housed 832 paintings by Marianne North. 

Museums, the Nash Conservatory, the Orangery and the Pagoda(right). Free guided tours are available daily.  

The Kew Gardens receives close to 2 million visitors annually, and has a staff of more than 700 employees. 

They are located in southwest London, England. In 2003 the gardens were placed on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.