Tucked away in stunning countryside near London you'll find the unheralded alternative to Kew Gardens . Owned by the National Trust but managed by Kew, Wakehurst is home to gardens and temperate woodlands which wouldn't look out of place in California. Wakehurst is situated near the Sussex town of Haywards Heath - which is about halfway between London and Brighton on the Brighton Main Line rail route.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is one of the most popular attractions across London with millions of people visiting the site every year. But even people who visit the site regularly might not know about its sister location in Sussex. Previously known as Wakehurst Place, it is huge - with 500 acres of wild botanic gardens.
READ MORE: 'I visited the pub loved by Taylor Swift fans and bumped into a Swiftie from Arizona' As you walk around you experience sights and smells from around the world, with plants grouped together by country or region as they are in the wild. Countries including Australia, China, Greece, Chile, Japan and Mexico are represented. There's also a Himalayan Glade and a Southern Hemisphere Garden.
But perhaps our favourite part of the whole estate is the magical Bloomers Valley, which transports you to Yosemite National Park, in California. The American Prairie can also be found in the site, which looks to preserve the North American grasslands which are under threat. Working with experts from the USA, some 12 million seeds were gathered and checked by scientist.
