Davies Alpine House
Discover resilient alpine plants thriving in a modern greenhouse designed to mimic extreme high-altitude environments.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Catch peak bloom of alpine flowers
Davies Alpine House
Best Time
Catch peak bloom of alpine flowers
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Discover resilient alpine plants thriving in a modern greenhouse designed to mimic extreme high-altitude environments.
"A small but fascinating glimpse into the world of nature's toughest survivors."
Check Seasonal Blooms
Alpine plants bloom at different times. Check Kew's guide for peak flowering to see the best displays.
Appreciate the Design
The greenhouse itself is a marvel, designed for optimal plant survival. Notice the ventilation and glass.
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Resilient Alpine Flora
Davies Alpine House
Discover plants adapted to extreme high-altitude conditions, showcasing nature's toughest survivors.
Modern Architectural Design
Davies Alpine House
Admire the sleek, contemporary greenhouse designed to perfectly replicate alpine environments.
Seasonal Rockery Displays
Outside Davies Alpine House
Enjoy the beautifully planted rockeries and high grasses surrounding the house, especially in autumn hues.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Timing is Key for Alpine Blooms
Embrace the Microclimate
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Check Seasonal Blooms
Alpine plants bloom at different times. Check Kew's guide for peak flowering to see the best displays.
Appreciate the Design
The greenhouse itself is a marvel, designed for optimal plant survival. Notice the ventilation and glass.
Explore Surrounding Gardens
Don't miss the beautiful rockeries and high grasses outside, especially stunning in autumn.
Small but Mighty
It's a compact space, but packed with fascinating, resilient plant life.
Tips
from all over the internet
Check Seasonal Blooms
Alpine plants bloom at different times. Check Kew's guide for peak flowering to see the best displays.
Appreciate the Design
The greenhouse itself is a marvel, designed for optimal plant survival. Notice the ventilation and glass.
Explore Surrounding Gardens
Don't miss the beautiful rockeries and high grasses outside, especially stunning in autumn.
Small but Mighty
It's a compact space, but packed with fascinating, resilient plant life.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Visitors find the Davies Alpine House a fascinating, albeit small, greenhouse showcasing resilient alpine plants adapted to extreme conditions. While some feel the contents are less engaging than the modern architecture, others appreciate the peaceful atmosphere and the unique botanical specimens. The surrounding rockeries are often praised, especially in autumn.
"This greenhouse is small but designed for give plants more natural dry, windy and hot atmosphere to bloom and flourish them all round year."
UK Photo Journey
"The world of extreme survivors! The Davies Alpine House was opened in 2006, the third version since 1887. This greenhouse is not large, only 16 meters long and 10 meters high, but it is ultra-modern. Good ventilation, special glass that allows 90% of the ultraviolet light to pass through and a temperature that does not exceed 20° C, all measures that make alpine plants (plants that grow in the polar regions or above the tree line, and therefore the best survivors of the plant world) have to protect. The Davies Alpine House is small, but certainly no less interesting!"
Koen
"Beautiful rockery specimen as well as spring scented ones.
Very peaceful , open and well aerated.
For a Thursday afternoon it was very quiet.
The space outside the Alpine house at the moment with all the planted high grasses is gorgeous, left uncut after the summer and all in beautiful shades of golden colours.
Well worth the visit in that part of the garden."
Veronique Soret-Walker
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
The Davies Alpine House is located within the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. You can reach Kew Gardens via the London Underground (District Line to Kew Gardens station), by bus, or by car. Once inside the gardens, follow the signs for the Davies Alpine House, which is a distinct modern structure.
Yes, Kew Gardens is generally very accessible with paved paths. The Davies Alpine House itself is a modern building designed with accessibility in mind, though some of the surrounding rockeries might have uneven terrain.
Grab a map upon entry or use the Kew Gardens app. The Davies Alpine House is usually well-signposted. It's located in a specific section of the gardens, so orient yourself with the map to find the most direct route.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
No, entry to the Davies Alpine House is included with your general admission ticket to Kew Gardens. You do not need a separate ticket for this specific greenhouse.
The Davies Alpine House generally follows the opening hours of Kew Gardens. It's best to check the official Kew Gardens website for the most up-to-date opening times, as they can vary seasonally.
While the house is designed to showcase plants year-round, visiting in spring can offer the best chance to see a variety of alpine flowers in bloom. Autumn also provides beautiful views of the surrounding rockeries.
Yes, booking your Kew Gardens tickets online in advance is highly recommended, especially during peak seasons, to guarantee entry and potentially save time.
🎫 🌿 Onsite Experience
You'll find a diverse collection of alpine plants, which are species adapted to grow in harsh, high-altitude environments. Expect to see resilient flowers, grasses, and succulents that thrive in dry, windy, and cool conditions. 
Absolutely! The unique plants and modern architecture make it a great spot for photography. The special glass allows for good light, and the vibrant colors of the alpine flowers are very photogenic.
Given its compact size, a visit to the Davies Alpine House itself might take 15-30 minutes. However, combined with exploring the surrounding rockeries and gardens, you could easily spend longer in this area.
While not heavily interactive in a traditional sense, the design of the house itself is an exhibit, showcasing how extreme environments are recreated for plant survival. Informative signage often accompanies the plant displays.
Its primary uniqueness lies in its specific focus on alpine plants and its advanced design to replicate their natural, challenging habitats. It's built to provide maximum light and controlled cool, dry, and windy conditions.
📸 📸 Photography Tips
Early mornings or late afternoons can offer softer light, which is often ideal for plant photography. The setting sun behind the house can also create beautiful shots.
Tripod policies can vary. It's best to check the official Kew Gardens website or ask staff upon arrival. Smaller, unobtrusive tripods might be permitted, but larger ones could be restricted to avoid congestion.
Use a macro lens if you have one to capture intricate details. A moderate aperture (f/5.6-f/11) can provide a good balance of sharpness and background blur. Pay attention to the lighting conditions inside the greenhouse.
Focus on the unique textures and colors of the alpine flowers. The architectural lines of the greenhouse itself also make for striking compositions. Don't forget to capture the surrounding rockeries, especially with autumn colors.
For Different Travelers
Tailored advice for your travel style
👨👩👧 Families with Kids
Consider making it a scavenger hunt to find specific types of flowers or textures. The surrounding rockeries and water features outside the house can also be engaging for children. Remember that the greenhouse is designed for specific plant needs, so encourage gentle observation rather than touching. It's a great way to introduce kids to diverse plant life in a contained and interesting environment.
📸 Photographers & Sketch Artists
Experiment with macro shots to capture the intricate details of petals and leaves, or use wider angles to include the greenhouse structure. The surrounding rock gardens, especially in autumn with their golden hues, also present fantastic photographic opportunities.
+1 Remember to check tripod policies and be mindful of other visitors while capturing your shots.🌿 Plant Enthusiasts & Garden Lovers
Pay attention to the innovative design of the greenhouse, which is a testament to modern horticultural science. Discussing the specific needs of these plants and how the house replicates them can be a rewarding experience. Don't forget to explore the surrounding rockeries, which are also beautifully planted and maintained.
Deep Dives
In-depth insights and expert knowledge
The Science Behind the Alpine House
To mimic the alpine climate, the house maintains a temperature that typically does not exceed 20°C, preventing overheating. It also incorporates automatically operated blinds that deploy when the sun becomes too intense. A continuous stream of cool air is blown over the plants, simulating the windy conditions found above the tree line. This meticulous control over temperature, light, and air movement allows plants that are otherwise adapted to extreme cold and dryness to thrive and bloom even in London's climate.
These measures are essential for 'extreme survivors' – plants that grow in polar regions or above the altitude where trees can survive. The short growing season in their natural habitat means they must bloom and reproduce quickly. The Davies Alpine House provides them with the optimal conditions to do just that, offering visitors a unique opportunity to observe these resilient species up close.
A Haven for Resilient Flora
These plants are carefully cultivated in Kew's nursery and transferred to the Alpine House only when they are in bloom, ensuring a dynamic and visually appealing display throughout the year. The collection highlights the incredible adaptations these plants have developed, such as drought resistance, frost tolerance, and the ability to grow in thin, rocky soils. It's a testament to nature's ingenuity and the power of adaptation.
While the greenhouse itself is a modern marvel, the true stars are the plants. They represent a world of extreme survivors, offering a fascinating glimpse into ecosystems found on mountain peaks and in polar regions. The experience is often described as peaceful and well-aerated, providing a serene environment to appreciate these tough yet beautiful botanical specimens.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit