The leaves had turned an autumnal colour and there was a coolness in the air when Ben and his family arrived at Kew Gardens in London. In front of us, in the queue, there were other families eagerly waiting to go inside the botanical gardens. It was the first day of the annual opening of the Gruffalo Adventures at the attraction, which explained the excitement on some of the kids’ faces.

London Family Photographer, Kew Gardens family photography

Once inside the gardens, Ben’s son, Leo, took the lead and he soon spotted the trail for the Gruffalo hunt. I remember reading the Gruffalo books to my boys when they were about Leo’s age, so it was wonderful to observe Leo taking it all in and interacting with the neatly placed displays. To be fair, they were not hard to spot and Leo soon preferred to play a game of hide-and-seek. There were plenty of trees in Kew Gardens to go hide behind as well as climb on. 

After lunch and snacks, we walked some more, through the bamboo garden and the Hive. Leo had forgotten about the Gruffalo by that time but stopped to look down a drain which I found out was a favourite spot for a curious mind such as Leo’s. And I quite agree with Leo, since you never know what to expect when you look down a drain. If you listen hard enough, you might find echoes coming from beneath its metal walls and eavesdrop on visitors wandering through the conservatory from right next to the spot.

By the time we had left the conservatory, Leo’s energy levels were dipping and it was time to head home. At one point, Leo hung his arms and legs around Ben and Pippa as they walked in semi three-legged fashion to exit the attraction. All saw the funny side and you could tell from Leo’s beaming smile that he enjoyed it very much. It also showed the collaborative spirit that both Ben and Pippa shared in supporting their young son, who is full of energy and cheekiness as well as having a bright, curious mind.    

Thank you Ben, Leo and Pippa for the wonderful time in having me document your family in a half-day adventure session at one of your regular favourite spots. 

The adventure session is a great alternative to having an in-home session if you visit a particular spot often and would like to have photos documenting your family spending time there. We can chat and discuss more these documentary family sessions and where you’d like to go with your family (e.g. zoo, beach, country park). The choice is limitless! It’s also great if you are planning an extended family reunion there too! Contact me at hello@dianahaguesphotography.co.uk or via the website. Let’s talk about your plans today!