Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens are a spectacular 300 acre Royal Botanical Garden

Palm House in the beautiful Kew Gardens
Palm House in the beautiful Kew Gardens Photo courtesy Kew Gardens

The stunning 300 acre Kew Gardens is only 30 minutes from central London and is more than worth the trip. You can easily reach the gardens on the tube.

The gardens grew from an exotic garden in Kew Park started by Lord Capel John. They were later expanded by Augusta, the Dowager Princess of Wales, who had a number of garden structures built. Of these a Chinese Pagoda built in 1761 is still there today. Over the years the gardens and their collection continued to grow under the direction of different individuals. In 1840 the gardens became a National Botanical Garden.

The Kew Gardens offer so much to explore and one can easily spend a full day or more here. Some of the top attractions include:

  • The Palm House: A curvaceous glasshouse first completed in 1848 in which palm trees and tropical plants from around the world thrive in a warm moist environment.
  • The Temperate House: The world's largest remaining glasshouse from the Victorian era with an area of 53,000 square feet and reaching a height of 63 feet. The Temperate House preserves a large collection of sub-tropical and temperate region plants from around the world including endagered varieties which are being propagated to help reestablish them in their original locations.
  • The Princess of Wales Conservatory: A newer conservatory that has 10 different climate zones all managed by computer.
  • The Great Pagoda: The oldest structure still in the Gardens, the Great Pagoda, built in 1761 has 10 floors, stands 163 feet high and is 49 feet in diameter at the base.
  • Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway: This new attraction takes you both below ground to the root zone of the trees as well as along a 660 foot long walkway 60 feet above the Arboretum that stretches between the Temperate House and the Lake

All of the above are set in a beautiful park setting. These are just a few of the many things to see and discover in these beautiful gardens which are now recognized as a World Heritage Site. If you love plants and gardens, visiting the Kew Gardens is a must during your London Vacation.

The Kew Gardens are open daily, except December 24th and 25th, from 10am. Kew Palace is open to the public during Spring and Summer from April through to the last weekend in September.

For more information about the Kew Gardens and their admission charges visit their official website.



Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes.

Kew Gardens Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Address: Richmond, UK

Phone: 020 8332 5655

Official Website: Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens Reviews

Rated 4.7 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating We went the day before the years hottest temperature was recorded at Kew! It was pleasantly quite - we presume due to the heat - water stations available in the restaurants/cafes and some others dotted around. Great service when we interacted with staff. Great day out with 11, 9 & 3 year old plus a baby. Lots of shade under the trees. Good facilities in the family restaurant next to the playground/waterplay area. We'll definitely make the effort to come again when it's greener!
Sarah Ballard - 4 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating We had a wonderful family get-together at Kew Gardens and couldn't have asked for a better day. The gardens are absolutely stunning, with so much natural beauty to explore. The children had an amazing time, and we adults enjoyed every moment too. It was a very educational visit, with fascinating plants, trees, and beautiful landscapes around every corner. We brought a picnic, which made the day even more special, as there were plenty of lovely spots to relax together. To finish the day, we treated ourselves to delicious ice cream and refreshing drinks at the café. It was a warm day, so sitting inside with the air conditioning was the perfect way to cool down before heading home. A fantastic day out for all ages—we'll definitely be back!
Aisha - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating Kew is one of my favorite London attractions. It takes all the world’s botanical gardens and multiplies that another twenty times. Such a great place. This was our first fall time visit. While not as many blooms as spring, it was still tranquil with lots of amazing specimens.
Yauchzee - 4 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating Royal Botanic Gardens in London are an absolutely amazing place to visit. It’s a place where both adults and children will have a great time. You can enjoy this incredible feeling of freedom, nature, and lush greenery. You might even see foxes literally running just a few metres away from you, stopping and looking at you with curiosity. You can discover some truly amazing and very rare plants in the tropical glasshouse, and you can also visit the Palm House. You can climb up the Pagoda, and from the seventh level you can enjoy spectacular views across the park, the surrounding area, and a large part of London. And then there’s the 18-metre-high walkway, which will definitely remind your adrenaline just how high up you actually are! It’s a really exciting experience and something truly worth seeing. And if you love nature — or even if you don’t — believe me, you will enjoy visiting this place. There’s one more important thing to know. If you receive benefits such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or certain child benefits, you may be able to enter this wonderful park for as little as £1–£2. You just need to provide proof that you receive the benefit. Normally, an adult ticket costs around £27.
Jelena Petusko - 3 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating Great place to hangout for people who loves nature and architecture. The glass houses close at 5pm though the park /cafe timings are upto 6.45. There is a family restaurant and children play area available. The kids and family restaurant is itself quite engaging for kids. This place is worth spending a whole day. Dont miss out the treetop walkway that gives a good view of the whole park
neha fatima - a month ago

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Directions

Tube Line Nearest Station Walking Time
District and Overground LinesKew Station8 Minutes

How to get to Kew Gardens by Tube

From Kew Gardens Station walk west along Station Parade, then right on High Park Road, then right on Sandycombe Road followed by a quick left onto Lichfield Road. The entrance to Kew Gardens is at the west end of Lichfield.

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