January 2nd 2015: London: Back to Kew

Monty the Motorhome is back at Abbey Wood Caravan Site, London. We were last here in early April last year, staying for a few days before travelling on to Holland.

This time it is just London. 

We spent the New Year at home, having had both children back for Christmas. Now they are both in London - James returning to resume medical studies next week and Rachael having a short break before returning to Norway.

So we decided to join them, along with their respective partners, and have our last bit of family time for a while.

The journey down was uneventful, with our route going clockwise round the northern part of the M25. Total travel time was three and three quarter hours - longer than I expected, but that M25 seems to go on forever.

Once pitched up we headed for Kew Gardens and met up with everyone. It is over 34 years since I was last there, surprising really that I’ve never taken the family there on one of our many trips to the capital. The area has obviously changed - new shops and developments; however the general layout remains unchanged, albeit difficult to make a true judgement as it was getting dark when we arrived.

Our visit was to see ‘Christmas at Kew’ - an illuminated trail through part of the gardens, with various features lit up with coloured lights.

The first part was spectacular with the Palm House bathed in ever changing colours, while Christmas themed music rang out with a co-ordinated fountain display in the Palm House lake. The trail continued past more glitzy features, with a fairground and eateries (mega expensive), before circulating round past the Palm House again where jets of fire were sprouting up, in time with dramatic music. 

We were lucky with the weather - cold and clear, so perfect conditions for such a show. 

Afterwards we went along to Kew Green and had a drink at The Botanist - a new looking pub that has taken the place of several small shops (including a fondly remembered ‘Lena’s Cafe’). 

Finally the long trek, right across London, and back to Abbey Wood for the night.