This new edition of the classic work Kew: The History of the Royal Botanic Gardens is the definitive history of the world's greatest botanic gardens. Comprehensively revised, this stunning, richly illustrated reference takes in every aspect of Kew's history over two centuries - its origin, pivotal roles in collecting, classifying and identifying the world's plants, the commercial crops it gave to the British Empire, to being a world renowned institution at the cutting edge of plant science. Kew's heritage - the herbarium, art and architecture, from Kew Palace and Burton's great Palm House to the Princess of Wales Conservatory, state of the art laboratories and new alpine house - is illustrated and described, together with the events leading to its UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2003. Lastly, it is a social history of the Gardens, and of the scientists, architects, designers and gardeners who have made Kew. Detailed appendices and bibliography have been updated and the two new chapters added make this the authoritative reference. RBG Kew is home to one of the world's greatest botanical gardens with extensive living collections, millions of herbarium specimens, a rapidly expanding seed bank, and an important library and repository of botanical art. It is an international centre for economic botany and research in taxonomy, molecular biology and biological interactions. World plant conservation is one of its principal missions, and its work includes scientific expertise in plant diversity and sustainable development in the UK and around the world.

Kew Gardens is also a major international visitor destination, covering 132 hectares and attracting over one million visitors per year. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and represents over 250 years of historical landscape. The site houses over 40 listed buildings and other structures including the Palm House, Temperate House, Orangery and Pagoda as well as two ancient monuments, Queen Charlotte's Cottage and Kew Palace. Kew's beginnings as a small physic garden founded in 1759 will be celebrated in 2009 with its 250th anniversary.