Visit a botanical garden greenhouse

A botanical garden greenhouse is a few warm, green hours in the middle of winter. The outdoor beds are bare, but inside the glasshouse it’s warm, humid and full of leaves, flowers and sometimes fruit. Wander slowly, read the name tags and let your shoulders drop. It’s an easy half-day plan, and it works in any weather.

When and where

Most botanical gardens have a glasshouse, a conservatory or both, and they stay open through winter. Look for one near you by searching for botanical gardens or conservatories in your area.

Before you go, check:

• Opening hours. Winter hours are often shorter, and some places close on certain days. Look at the garden’s own site that morning.
• Entry cost. Many charge an entry fee, and some have free days or discounts for students. Prices change, so confirm before you go.
• Booking. Some gardens ask you to book a time slot, especially around busy holiday weeks.
• What’s inside. Many have different zones, such as tropical, desert or orchid houses. Choose the ones you like.

A weekday or an early morning is usually calmer. Weekends can be busy, particularly in the holidays, and a crowd changes the feel of a quiet place.

What to wear and bring

Beyond layers, think about the contrast between outside and in.

• A coat you can carry, and a top you’ll be comfortable in when it’s warm and humid
• Comfortable shoes with grip. Greenhouse paths can be damp and slippery.
• A bag with room for your coat, hat and scarf
• A small notebook or your camera, to write down or photograph plants you like
• Water. It gets warm, and you’ll walk more than you think.
• A cardigan or scarf, since some houses are cool and some are tropical

How to do it

1. Arrive and leave your coat in the coat check or carry it. You’ll want to be lighter inside.
2. Look at the map or ask which house is best to start in.
3. Walk slowly. The first minute in the warm air is half the pleasure.
4. Read the name tags. Pick three plants you’ve never seen, and find out what they are.
5. Notice the details: how leaves unfold, the smell of damp earth, the sound of dripping water.
6. Take photos, and take a few seconds to look up as well as ahead.
7. Sit down, if there’s a bench. Stay a while.
8. Visit the shop or the cafe at the end if there is one, and warm up properly before you go back out.

What goes wrong

• You’re too hot. Take your layers off, drink some water and move into a cooler house.
• Your glasses and camera steam up. Wait a minute for them to adjust to the humid air, then wipe them.
• It’s crowded. Go back to the quieter houses at the end, or return on a weekday.
• You can’t tell what’s what. Use the name tags, or ask a staff member. People who work there are usually glad to talk about plants.
• You touch the plants. Look, but don’t pick or touch unless a sign says you can. Some plants are delicate and some are not safe to handle.
• It closes earlier than you thought. Check the hours that morning, and plan to arrive with plenty of time.

Photographing plants

Soft, even light is good for plants. Get close to a leaf, a flower or a droplet. Try shooting with the light behind it. Ignore other visitors, and photograph the shapes, such as the curl of a fern or the veins of a leaf.

After your visit

Pick a plant you liked and look it up. If you’d like to bring a little green home, a small pot on your windowsill is an easy way to keep the feeling going. Many visitors keep a list of favourites to see again in another season.

Make it a winter afternoon

Treat it as a slow, warm afternoon: go in the middle of the day, stay as long as you like and finish with something hot. If you want to extend the day, add a museum afternoon or a quiet hour at a cafe with a book.