Glasgow Botanic Gardens and Kibble Palace, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. (Photo by: UIG via Getty Images)

UIG via Getty Images

Botanic Gardens

Glasgow

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A marvellous thing about walking in here is the way the noise of Great Western Rd suddenly recedes into the background. The wooded gardens follow the riverbank of the River Kelvin and there are plenty of tropical species to discover. Kibble Palace, an impressive Victorian iron and glass structure dating from 1873, is one of the largest glasshouses in Britain; check out the herb garden, too, with its med­icinal species.

The gorgeous hilly grounds make the perfect place for a picnic lunch. There are also organised walks and concerts in summer – have a look at the noticeboard near the entrance to see what's on.

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