Kew Gardens
Highlights
- Kew houses the largest and most diverse botanical collections in the world
- A stunningly diverse wilderness of beautifully preserved nature
- See some of the rarest plants in the world in the Temperate House
- Find the hidden temples including the Tuscan designed Temple of Aeolus
Inclusions
Please Note:
- Kew Palace and the Royal Kitchens are included in the cost of admission when they are open (from Easter to the last weekend in September annually).
- Parking is prohibited on Kew Road and is limited around the area. Consider walking or cycling if you can.
- There are no lockers or baggage storage facilities available.
Golden Tours act as an official agent for these activities, as such you are subject to the terms and conditions of the supplier.
Description
Explore 330 acres of tropical oasis at Kew Gardens in Richmond, southwest London. This incredible natural haven is full of rare and beautiful flowers and dangerous and carnivorous plants housed in temperate Victorian glass greenhouses.
Walk through the stunning Palm House, a feat of Victorian glass architecture, full of endangered and useful plants, including the cocoa tree and the oldest pot plant in the world.
Discover mountainous flora and fauna in the Rock Garden filled with waterfalls and plants from Himalayan mountain streams and meadows and the peaks of New Zealand.
Among an array of incredible attractions at Kew Botanical Gardens is the must-see Princess of Wales Conservatory. Adventure from the deserts to the tropics in this glass labyrinth full of Venus fly traps and pitcher plants that have evolved to swallow their prey in less than half a second. Giant water lilies float in the wet tropical zone in this humid hothouse, opened by Princess Diana in 1987.
Kew Botanical Gardens is truly one of London’s most beautiful attractions filled with wild and exotic natural phenomena, a real escape from the frenzy of modern life.
Sounds of Blossom
Celebrate the arrival of spring at Kew Gardens, surrounded by spectacular spring blossoms. In collaboration with the Royal College of Music, Sounds of Blossom will bring the spring blooms to life. Music students from the college have composed new music, commissioned by Kew and inspired by the glory of spring. These new compositions will be played around the Gardens in Kew’s blossom hotspots. Immerse yourself in nature and feel all your senses awaken as you wander amongst the trees – see the pastel colours, hear the gentle music and smell the sweet scents on the breeze. Sounds of Blossom is a chance to breathe, to lift your spirits and to reconnect with nature and yourself.
Bluey
The loveable Blue Heeler puppy is joining Kew for interactive activities inspired by the show. Perfect for budding adventurers, Bluey is guaranteed to deliver laughter, discovery, and lots of fun in the beautiful setting of Kew Gardens in springtime. Choose from a variety of fun outdoor activities and games inspired by fan-favourite episodes of the show and learn about the plants and wildlife found at Kew and in Bluey’s native Australia along the way. Plus, there’s the chance to meet Bluey at the Gardens at intervals on each day throughout the event.
Marc Quinn: Light into Life
Light into Life brings together stunning outdoor sculptures and installations across the Gardens, along with a presentation of artworks in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. Featuring more than 20 newly conceived artworks that Marc Quinn has developed in close collaboration with Kew scientists and horticulturists, there will be plenty to discover, including a series of new sculptural portraits of palm leaves, drawings on Bismarck and Sabal palms found in Kew’s 170-year-old Palm House, as well as large-scale sculptures based on Herbarium specimens of medicinal plants.
Schedule
Venue Address: Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Surrey, TW9 3AB
Nearest Train Station: Kew Bridge
Nearest Underground Station: Kew Gardens
Bus Routes: 65, 391, 237, 267
Days of Operations:
1 March 2024 to 31 March 2025: Daily, 10am to 6pm (last entry 5pm)
Sounds of Blossom
23 March to 14 April
Open: 10:00am to 6:00pm (last entry 5:00pm)
Late opening 10:30am on 31st March
Talks and performances 11:00am & 11:30am (weekend only)
Bluey
29 March to 14 April
Open: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Bluey costume character will appear every hour from 10:00am to 3:00pm in April
Marc Quinn: Light into Life
4 May to 29 September
Open: 10:00am to 7:00pm (last entry 6:00pm)
The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art: 10:00am – 5:30pm (last entry 5:00pm)
Gardens closed 24 and 25 December