The Eden Project has to be one of the largest botanical gardens in the world. Based in Cornwall, England, the Eden Project has a huge range of plants from all around the world, and much more besides. This attraction really does offer something for everyone: thrill seekers, food lovers and small children alike will all have a great day out at the Eden Project.
Explore the huge site
The Eden Project biomes are a very famous sight. These enormous structures are extremely impressive, and make for some very picturesque photos. However, the biomes are not the only thing the Eden Project’s site has to offer. Rather than heading straight for them, take the time to explore the rest of the grounds around you. You will definitely be surprised by everything else there is to see and do. The gardens that take up most of the area slopes down to the biomes and are filled with winding paths and all sorts of plants, some of which we use now as modern-day medicines. There are many statues to find, including a robot made entirely from white goods found in landfills! And for the children, there are all sorts of activities, such as giant versions of board games to be enjoyed. The Eden Project is definitely a family-friendly attraction and surrounds you with interesting things right from the beginning.
Fantastic flowers
Do you know the kind of plant a pineapple grows on? Or what a cashew nut looks like when it’s growing? The Eden Project can answer these questions and so many more. Its wide variety of plants is its main attraction, and anyone interested in flowers, nature or the environment will definitely not be disappointed. There are two huge biomes at the Eden Project, one filled with plants from the Mediterranean and the other from rainforests. The range of different flowers, trees, crops and shrubs is truly staggering, and you will be able to find everything from beautiful flowers to trees towering above your head to tropical fruits growing on their different plants. The biomes provide a stunning backdrop to all of this wildlife, and are an important feature in the beauty of these scenes. If you would like to see a papaya growing, look up at the so-called ‘corpse flower’, smell a baby peach or feel a bamboo trunk, then the Eden Project is for you.
Learn about the world
The biomes provide much more than just the opportunity to see these plants for yourself, however. There is so much to learn at the Eden Project, from the sustainability issues the attraction is proud to support, to the way food makes it from the vine to our plates, to the sorts of people that live in the environments you will find yourself in. The rainforest biome will teach you all about how fruit gets picked and imported, such as bananas, which grow on trees with strange-looking flowers and must be protected from the sun before it is time to pick them and send them halfway across the world until they reach countries like the UK. Moreover, the biomes also feature scenes created among these mini forests, giving you the opportunity to see for yourself how people in the past lived, or still do. The Mediterranean biome displays the sort of environment French freedom fighters would have found themselves in during World War 2, while the Rainforest biome has a replica of a real Malay house of the kind that many Southern Asian people still live in today. The Eden Project can teach you so much, but it is so interesting and enjoyable that you barely realise you’re learning!
Feast on all kinds of food
If you’re the kind of person whose heart is reached through their stomach, this attraction has a lot to offer you. It has several different cafes and restaurants, meaning there are all sorts of food and drink to choose from, and there are plenty of options for the children as well. As responsible sourcing is very important to the Eden Project, everything on offer is fair trade or locally produced, much of it grown inside the Project itself. The Mediterranean Terrace inside the Mediterranean biome has a delicious menu full of meals from all over the Mediterranean region, while the juice bar and ice cream parlour give you the chance to try many of the other plants grown here. Have you ever tried baobab flavoured ice cream? How about a juice with sweet potato in it? Whether or not you are feeling adventurous, everyone will be able to find delicious food at the Eden Project.
Fly through the sky
While famous for its plants and ethical values, the Eden Project has so much more to offer. For all those adrenaline junkies out there, the Project features three different attractions that are bound to get your heart racing! Firstly, the SkyWire zip wire, which is actually both the longest and fastest in the country, reaching 60 mph (97 kph)! Unlike many zip wires in which you swing in a sitting position, on the SkyWire you lie on your front and are supported from above, meaning you get fantastic views of the Eden Project passing beneath you and you truly have the sensation of flying. Secondly, the Gravity giant swing, in which you (and up to two friends) swing off the edge of a 20 m (65 ft) cliff! The final activity designed for thrill seekers is the Big Air free fall jump, in which you literally jump off a 12 m (39 ft) platform, which is guaranteed to both give you amazing views over Cornwall and also to give you a massive adrenaline rush. These activities can be booked as part of your Eden experience, or they can also be booked separately or as a set with no entrance to the Project required.
A day out for everyone
As you can see, the Eden Project can offer a truly unique day out with something to do for people of all ages and tastes. It can easily be reached on public transport, as St Austell train station is on the London Paddington line and buses regularly go from there directly to the Project. A discount is even offered on on-the-day tickets if you can show you used public transport! If you would prefer to drive, the parking is free and extensive and there is even a free park and ride system in place, which can save your legs if you park in one of the furthest car parks. The Eden Project can offer you a wonderful day out never to be forgotten — definitely do not underestimate everything this attraction has to offer!
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