The Queen's Cottage, Thatched cottage in Kew Gardens, England.
The Queen's Cottage is a small timber-framed house with traditional Norfolk reed thatching and a peaked roof located within Kew Gardens. The window frames incorporate recycled 17th-century materials with leaded panes, giving the building an authentic historical appearance.
The cottage was built in 1772 when Queen Charlotte commissioned it as a private retreat, making it one of the early examples of cottage orné architecture. This architectural style blended rural simplicity with decorative elements, starting a new trend among the nobility.
The cottage is named after Queen Charlotte, who used it as a personal retreat and expressed the royal family's deep connection to nature and gardening. Today visitors can see how the rooms feature botanical artwork that reflects this passion for plants and natural studies.
The building is part of Kew Gardens and can only be visited with a general admission ticket to the gardens. Visitors should note that the cottage remains closed until April 2025, so it is best to check current opening status before planning a visit.
The property once had a paddock housing exotic animals, including England's first kangaroos and the now-extinct quagga. This collection shows how the royal family expressed their passion for nature and scientific discovery.
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