Kew Gardens, officially the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is one of the most important botanical gardens in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spread across a large stretch of land beside the Thames in south-west London, it combines famous Victorian glasshouses, landscaped lawns, woodland and a working scientific institution. A visit can easily fill a whole day, and it changes with every season.
Why visit Kew Gardens
Kew has been a garden since the eighteenth century and holds an enormous living collection of plants from around the world, along with a herbarium and a seed bank programme that support research. For visitors, that translates into an extraordinary range of things to see: tropical rainforest under glass, a Japanese gateway, a ten-storey pagoda, a walkway up in the tree canopy and wide lawns for a picnic.
It is also one of the most peaceful places in London. Even on a busy day, the gardens are big enough that you can find a quiet corner.
Getting to Kew Gardens by Tube
The nearest station is Kew Gardens, served by the District line (Richmond branch) and the London Overground. When heading out on the District line, make sure your train is going to Richmond, as the line has several branches. From the station, walk through the small shopping parade and along Lichfield Road to the Victoria Gate entrance, a walk of around five to ten minutes.
Other ways in:
- Kew Bridge rail station, on the other side of the river, is closest to the Elizabeth Gate on Kew Green.
- Richmond (District line, Overground and rail) is further away but connects with buses toward Kew.
- In warmer months, river boats have run from central London to Kew Pier; check current services before planning around them.
Kew Gardens tickets and opening hours
Entry to Kew Gardens is paid, and buying tickets online in advance is usually cheaper and quicker. Children and members often get reduced or free entry. Prices vary by season, and some special events, such as winter light trails, are ticketed separately. Opening and closing times change through the year, with longer days in summer. Check the official website, kew.org, for current prices, opening times and events.
Highlights at Kew Gardens
The Palm House
The curved iron and glass Palm House, completed in the 1840s, holds a humid tropical rainforest. Climb the spiral staircase to the upper walkway to look down through the palms.
The Temperate House
This is the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse in the world, home to plants from temperate regions. It reopened after a major restoration in 2018.
The Treetop Walkway
A steel walkway raised high among the treetops gives a bird's eye view of the woodland. There are stairs and a lift.
The Great Pagoda and The Hive
The eighteenth century pagoda is one of Kew's landmarks, and The Hive, a large lattice sculpture inspired by bee life, hums and glows as you walk inside it.
Kew Palace
The small red-brick royal palace in the gardens is open seasonally and is included in Kew entry in normal times.
Tips for getting around
Kew is much bigger than many visitors expect, and walking from one end to the other takes a while. Pick up a map at the gate and plan a loop that takes in the glasshouses you most want to see. A land train has operated around the gardens in the past, which helps if you have limited mobility. There are several cafes and restaurants, and picnics are welcome on the lawns.
Best time to visit and how long
Spring is the favourite season, with cherry blossom, bluebells and magnolias, but every season has something: summer for long days and the lawns, autumn for colour, and the glasshouses for warmth in winter. Arrive early on weekends and bank holidays. Plan at least half a day, and a full day if you want to see the main glasshouses and walk the grounds.
Nearby on the same stop
- Kew Village: the cafes, bookshops and small shops around the station.
- Kew Green: the historic green by the main gate, with a cricket pitch and pubs.
- The National Archives: a short walk north of the station.
- Richmond: the riverside town one stop further down the line.
Plan your day with the Kew Gardens page, or browse the London guide for more places by station.