Blooming Marvellous: Hotels in Fascinating Spots for Botany

“There are few better ways to experience the beauty of the natural world in the closest detail than with lush plant-life and flowers in bloom. Every corner of the globe has its own specialties of flora, and the botany of any given place can be a totally defining feature, or even a reason to visit. These five hotels give you the chance to experience spectacular botanical displays up-close in beautiful settings.

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Kyoto Uji Hanayashiki Ukifune-en, Kyoto, Japan
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Each spring, Japan gives flower-fanciers the ultimate natural spectacle with its cherry blossom season. And there are few better places to experience it than Kyoto. Even outside those special weeks, the Kyoto Uji Hanayashiki Ukifune-en is a great base from which to explore the Byodoin Temple, a short walk away, with its UNESCO-listed gardens. The hotel itself is in a beautiful natural setting, with its own hot springs, sauna and two restaurants offering superb Japanese cuisine.

Have a look at our hotels in Kyoto page for more options.

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The Cellars-Hohenort, Cape Town, South Africa
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Ask any botanist to list their favourite gardens around the world, and most will have space for the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on the lower slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town. Kirstenbosch is one of the oldest such gardens in the world, with over 1,300 acres criss-crossed with trails. The Cellars-Hohenort hotel is a luxury hotel less than a mile from the gardens, surrounded by vineyards, and is even home to one of the top restaurants in South Africa, Greenhouse.

Have a look at our hotels in Cape Town page for more options.

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Lodge on the Desert, Tucson, USA
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July to September in the Sonoran Desert is wildflower season, as the various cacti of these dry lands come into bloom, particularly in the American section. Tucson, Arizona is a good place from which to discover the Sonoran Desert, and the Lodge on the Desert resort is also a short stroll from the Tucson Botanical Gardens. The resort has an outdoor pool, fitness centre and restaurant with terrace where you can relax and take in the natural surroundings.

Have a look at our hotels in Tucson page for more options.

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Ovolo Woolloomooloo, Sydney, Australia
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Dating back to the 19th century, the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney is in the heart of the city, close to the Opera House and right on Sydney Harbour. Walk through the gates, and the city melts away as you explore the 74 acres of landscaped gardens, palm houses and water features. The five-star Ovolo Woolloomooloo hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Royal Botanic Garden, and its location right on the wharf, with views across the harbour, makes it the ideal spot from which to strike out into the city.

Have a look at our hotels in Sydney page for more options.

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Holiday Inn Brentford Lock, London, UK
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No botanical garden in the world boasts a collection as extensive and impressive as Kew Gardens in London. As well as over 30,000 species of plants, you can enjoy the treetop walkway, ornamental buildings such as the Japanese Gateway, and numerous plant houses. The Holiday Inn Brentford Lock is a design-oriented hotel on the Grand Union Canal, and just a couple of miles from Kew Gardens, and just 10 minutes’ walk from Syon House.

Have a look at our hotels in London page for more options.”