Restaurant Glasgow

Glasshouses: 10.00am – 4.45pm (4.15pm in winter) Visitor Centre: 11.00am – 4.00pm Toilets: 10.00am – 5.00pm

The Botanical Gardens consists of a well maintained park hosting some beautiful trees including a 200 year old weeping ash, immaculate gardens including; a world rose garden, a herb garden and a chronological garden, and a children’s play park. Within the gardens are the arboretum and the Kibble Palace, the ‘A’ list building constructed from glass and iron into an exquisite curvilinear design. The Kibble Palace was originally a concert hall but now houses an impressive range of tree ferns and fish pond. The glasshouse arboretum hosts a large collection of tropical orchids and an extensive tropical plant collection.

Visiting the Botanical Gardens on a sunny day is definitely a wise choice; it was bustling with activity, and given its location nestled amongst the West End it is shielded from the wind; making it a true oasis in the middle of the city. The gardens were immaculately kept with several paths winding round the gardens allowing walkers to absorb the wide variety of mature trees and foliage the gardens have to offer.

Kibble Palace is quite small and although stocking a wide variety of tree ferns, was most impressive for its architectural qualities and beauty. The main glasshouse area is like a jungle; it is humid, leafy, and full of rustling exotic noises. The flowers are amazing, I found myself stopping every five steps to take pictures of unusual and evocative blooms and the array of flowers on display within such a small space is amazing. The piece de résistance of the entire gardens has to be the tropical orchids; in every colour you can imagine and some so delicate that they have to be kept behind glass, if you visit the gardens ensure that you have a visit to view these delicate beauties.