During the Victorian era, many magnificent gardens were located within traveling distance from the center of London; because these gardens were accessible by steamboat, omnibus or steam railroad, their role as a public attraction grew.  The gardens were undulated with carriage drives around and through the grounds; with broad graveled walks in various directions, opening long vistas through well grown trees—some in rows, but generally irregularly planted with plenty of room for the full development of each and every tree. At some locations, such as Kew Gardens, numerous varieties of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants were plainly labeled.  This series of photochrom color images, featured at the Library of Congress, provides a glimpse of these glorious nineteenth century gardens sprinkled throughout England during the late Victorian era.

Kensington Gardens, one of the Royal Parks, has 275 acres of  formal avenues of magnificent trees and ornamental flower beds.  The Gardens are located at Kensington Palace, the choice of William III and Mary II for their London home. Queen Victoria was born in Kensington Palace and lived there until she became queen in 1837.  Queen Victoria commissioned the Italian Gardens and the Albert Memorial. Outside Kensington Palace stands a statue of Queen Victoria sculpted by her daughter, Princess Louise, to celebrate 50 years of her mother's reign.

The Valley Gardens in Harrogate, England are listed as an English Heritage Grade II and cover 17 acres. They are famous for their mineral springs. Their noted historical structures, such as the Sun Pavilion and Colonnades still stand.

Bournemouth is a seaside resort in southern England. The city dates from 1810 but did not grow rapidly until the railway reached Bournemouth in 1870.  In 1880, the population of this resort town was near 17,000, and then more than tripled by 1900. During the late Victorian era, Bournemouth was famous for its glass Winter Gardens, built in 1875 and the Theater Royal built in 1882. Another attraction was the Pleasure Gardens laid out in the 1870s.

Pittville Gardens were completed in 1827 as the backdrop for Joseph Pitt’s magnificent new Pittville Pump Room where visitors could "take the waters." The gardens included a large lake with beautiful stone bridges.

Kew Gardens, the museum, London, England, c1900. 
[Detail of image from the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division: LC-DIG-ppmsc-08589]

Kew Gardens, known today as the Royal Botanic Gardens, are located on the River Thames in southwest London, England.  Kew Gardens was originally a private fruit and vegetable garden belonging to the Prince of Wales, the father of George III. The dowager princess of Wales, the mother of George III, began to improve it as a botanical garden and pleasure ground about 1760.  Kew re­ceived additions from time to time, so that by the late nineteenth century it contained 270 acres. Kew Gardens became public in 1810 but suffered a decline from 1820-1840.  In 1840 the gardens were presented to the nation as a royal gift and placed under the control of Her Majesty’s office of public works.  Under Queen Victoria’s patronage, Kew Gardens flourished and by the late nineteenth century, the Garden was said to be one of the finest and most complete botanical collection and arboretum in the world.

Whitworth Gardens, Darley Dale, Derbyshire, England, c1900.
[Detail of image from the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division: LC-DIG-ppmsc-08342]

The land for the Victorian Borough Gardens, located near the center of Dorchester, was purchased in 1895. The center structure shown is still used today.

Buxton, the gardens, Derbyshire, England, c1900.
[Detail of image from the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division: LC-DIG-ppmsc-08293]

The spa town of Buxton was famous for its natural warm waters and their supposed curative powers.