Horrible Science Economic Botany Collection Tours

Go behind-the-scenes of the Economic Botany Collection to explore some of Kew’s oldest Foul Fungi, Vicious Bug-Eating Vegetation and Revolting Roots.

Have you ever wondered where your cotton T-shirt or your rubber shoe soles come from? If you’d like to find out, join us to explore this impressive collection of the plants and fungi that you might use every day without even knowing it.

In this tour, you’ll get the chance to touch, see and smell some of the gruesome and grotty plants that have been collected and curated at Kew from the 18th century to the present day. 

The tour will also offer a handling session, so you can get up close and personal in a one-off chance to learn about this slightly slimy side of science.

Horrible Science® is a registered trademark of Scholastic Inc. Illustrations © Tony De Saulles