Kew Gardens, Richmond

‘Whispering in the Leaves’ is a lovely if not a little misleading title of a most intriguing sound exhibition in the huge tropical palm house at Kew Gardens. It replicates the early morning and dusk sounds of a tropical forest with painstaking accuracy. There are insects rustling at your feet, coos and cries of birds from the heights of the ‘canopy’, augmented with low pitched grunts and squeals of howler monkeys or spider ones. They are all just that bit too far away to be seen, a kind of reverse of the maxim about well-behaved children. The sounds are authentic, having been recorded in the Central and South American rain forests by Chris Watson, one of Britain’s foremost sound engineers. ‘Whispering’ it is not, but adding this eerie cacophony of the sounds of its fauna to the Palm house’s splendid tropical display of flora adds a new dimension and brings it to life. It is on until September 5th 2010.

As a local I've been coming to Kew for years. I have an annual pass which is exceptional value for money for families. Even without the pass, it makes for a brilliant day out & worth the entrance fee. The Gardens are wonderfully tendered and the facilities are second to none. There are a number of entrances but parking is very limited in Kew. It's only 10 mins walk from Kew Gardens station or 15 mins from Richmond so don't be afraid to travel there by public transport . My kids love exploring the many follies (Pagoda, Ruined Arch etc.), seeing the wildlife (including badger's den, geese and peacocks) and the amazing glasshouses. Kew puts on loads of events and exhibitions so try to co-ordinate your trip with one of these occasions - my kids loved the ice skating and ferris wheel at Christmas and pumpkin exhibition in Autumn. There is a soft play / discovery area, train ride and hundreds of places to picnic. If you prefer not to prepare for a picnic there are a number of good cafes where you can get hot and cold food - although it is expensive. Expect to spend a whole day in the Gardens and take a brollie / rain jacket if the forecast is for rain as there aren't a huge number of places to shelter.