First Date trail

Walking distance

• Approx 2.1 km
• 45 min – 1 hour

1 - Take a trip to the tropics in the Palm House

Dense with lush vegetation and heavy, fragrant air, the sultriest of Kew’s glasshouses is the perfect escape for a chilly day. Make this a coffee date by visiting the Arabica coffee plant (Coffea arabica) in the Africa section or seek out the heart-shaped leaves of the peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) in the Asia section at the north end. 

2 - Wander the roses in the Rose Garden

Kew’s Rose Garden is home to 170 different species and cultivars of these iconic symbols of love. Roses feature in mythology, art and culture, with millions sold globally on Valentine’s Day alone. The best time to see the Rose Garden in full bloom is in the summer months. Not the right time? Perhaps a follow-up date is required…

3 - Find yourself on Love Lane

Look down Holly Walk: this was once a public bridle path known as Love Lane. It ran all the way past Kew Palace to the Thames, between the high boundary walls of two separate royal estates. Take a pleasant stroll and keep an eye out for any mistletoe (Viscum album) growing high in the trees – stealing a kiss under a sprig is a well-known festive tradition. 

4 - Stroll arm-in-arm down the Great Broad Walk

Recently extended to stretch right up to the front of the Orangery, the Broad Walk is framed by what are believed to be the longest double herbaceous borders in the country – and possibly the world. A great place to see and be seen.

5 - Step into The Hive with your ‘honey’

The striking latticework and LED lights of this multi-sensory art experience offer the perfect backdrop for a first date photo to commemorate the day. You may have heard the theory that humans produce ‘chemicals of attraction’ called pheromones – but did you know that bees rely on pheromones to communicate both simple and complex messages, which can impact the behaviour and development of other bees in the colony?

6 - Need a rest?

Providing a perfect secluded spot to sit, this iron frame is covered by the fragrant purple flowers of a spectacular Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) when it blooms in May and June. It was planted at Kew around 200 years ago from a cutting collected in China in 1816. In Chinese, Japanese and Korean art and folklore, wisteria plants symbolise longevity, wisdom, good luck and love. In the Japanese Kabuki dance Fuji Masume (‘Wisteria Maiden’), the spirit of the plant is embodied by a young woman expressing her unrequited love for a passing gentleman.

7 - Get lost in the Princess of Wales Conservatory

Take a journey of discovery through this glasshouse’s labyrinth of ecological zones. Keep an eye out for the red love-heart-shaped anthuriums and find the cacao plant (Theobroma cacao) in the tropical rainforest zone. 

Cacao trees are native to Central and South America, and their seeds are used to make chocolate. In Aztec culture, cacao beans were considered more valuable than gold, and the Aztec ruler Montezuma II allegedly drank gallons of Aztec chocolate (xocolatl) each day for energy and as an aphrodisiac.
 

8 - Stop by the statue of Hercules

Fighting for love – it’s a tale as old as time. In Greek mythology, both Hercules and the river god Achelous were suitors of the nymph Deianeira. As they fought for her hand, Achelous attempted to overcome Hercules by transforming himself into first a serpent and then a bull. Hercules eventually defeated him by tearing off one of his horns. Perhaps there are easier ways to win another’s affection?
 

9 - Share a decadent afternoon tea in The Botanical Brasserie

For a dining experience to remember, sit by the window or on the outdoor terrace and gaze across the water to the Palm House. To book a table, visit kew.org/kew-gardens/eating-and-drinking.