Street Kew: Google creates virtual tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens

The world's most hi-tech tricycle has been used to create a virtual tour of Kew Gardens.

Google has used the Streetview tricycle to ride through Kew and even through its greenhouses to capture 360 degree views.

Staff spent two days cycling around areas its fleet of cars cannot drive into.

The specially built tricycle has a 360 camera containing eight lenses, and a computer control system housed in a container the size of a small fridge.

At Kew it was ridden through 26 km of paths, and through the Palm House and Temperate House.

The tens of thousands of pictures have been electronically stitched together to create Streetview at Kew.

"It's the same same technology as in our cars, but shrunk down to fit on a tricycle," said Ed Parsons, Google's Geospatial Technologist.

"Kew is part of an ongoing exercise to capture places that are of interest to the public, and we thought it would be a really interesting place for people to see. It's useful for planning a visit, and also to look around if you're never likely to be able to go there."

A recent survey of Streetview users showed that one third (33%) of visitors to the site had used it to look at visitor attractions abroad - often ahead of a trip.

The firm also asked Evening Standard readers for help on where it should capture next.

"London is pretty well covered, and although we're looking at what we can do around the Olympics, we are always open to suggestions from users," said Mr Parsons.

Professor Stephen Hopper, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said: "We were very pleased when Google approached us to put Kew Gardens on Streetview. A virtual overview of one of the world's most famous gardens is bound to encourage people to visit us and experience Kew for themselves.

"Spring is one of the most beautiful times of year to enjoy the colour and scents of Kew. The sheer beauty of the plant collections are bound to inspire a delight in the natural world, especially after a long hard winter."

To view the pictures, visit Google Streetview