Kew Gardens in Richmond, southwest London is a World Heritage Site and houses the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world.
There is plenty to do at Kew Gardens to keep everyone entertained, including families with children. There are five glass houses to explore including the Grade 1 listed iconic Temperate House; the must-see Princess of Wales Conservatory (with famous giant water lilies and Venus fly-traps) and the stunning Palm House, a feat of Victorian glass architecture, full of endangered and useful plants.
Discover the Rock Garden, a dramatic valley carved through the landscape filled with waterfalls and plants from Himalayan mountain streams; a stunning woodland garden; Arboretum; Bamboo Garden and much, much more.
There are children-specific activities including The Hive, Kew from the Trees, the Children's Garden, family nature activities and activities for families with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Included in your ticket are Kew Palace and the Royal Kitchens when they are open (from Easter to the last weekend in September annually).
Kew Gardens is a full day out which will entertain and enthrall everyone.
Kew Gardens BOOK TICKETS Kew Gardens opening times & location Kew Gardens ticket information What to expect at Kew Gardens Kew Gardens + Kensington Palace Kew Gardens with a pass or 2 FOR 1 Other royal palaces in London
Kew Gardens London entry tickets
• Entry tickets to Kew Gardens: adult, child, student, young person, concession
8 January to 31 January 2024:
Daily, 10am to 4pm (last entry 3pm)
1 February to 29 February 2024:
Daily, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm)
1 March to 31 March 2024:
Daily, 10am to 6pm (last entry 5pm)
Gardens closed 24 and 25 December.
Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Surrey, TW9 3AB.
District Line Kew Gardens station is 500m from Victoria Gate. It is in Zone 3 and is served by the District Line (Richmond branch) and London Overground.
Kew Bridge station is the nearest station to Kew Gardens when travelling by train. You can get a direct train to Kew Bridge from London and Staines, and other popular routes include travelling from Reading and Woking. From Kew Bridge, you're just 800m from the Elizabeth Gate entrance.
Visitors can access Kew Gardens via four entrance gates: Victoria Gate (TW9 3JR), Elizabeth Gate (TW9 3AB), Brentford Gate (TW9 3AF) and Lion Gate (TW9 2DF).
If you are wishing to enter Kew Palace, The Elizabeth Gate is closest.
Tickets for Kew Gardens are available for adults age 25-64, children aged 4-15, students with a valid Student ID card, young person (16 -29), concession (65+) and infants aged 0-4 go free.
Off-peak tickets are available from 1 November to 31 January.
There is also half price (or more) entry for those arriving at 4pm or after from 1 May to 30 September.
Mid-week tickets are always a couple of cheaper than weekend tickets.
Discounts are available for students and seniors as well as children (see above).
National Rail and the London Pass offer 2 FOR 1 and free (at point of visit) tickets respectively at Kew Gardens.
Technically there are no free days offered at Kew Gardens, but there are ways to get in for free or almost nothing, including the following options:
Children under 4: free.
Kew/Wakehurst Members: free.
Corporate Members: free.
There are no fast-track tickets for Kew Gardens, even for those with membership.
All tickets are booked from 10am and It is highly recommended to visit the Kew Gardens as early as possible, but there is no specific timeslot.
Group ticket options are available at Kew Gardens for groups of 15 or more. Prices vary according to season.
Group visits must be made by emailing the Kew Gardens groups team.
Private guided walks are available from 60 to 90 minute tours.
Kew Gardens London entry tickets
• Entry tickets to Kew Gardens: adult, child, student, young person, concession
The average visit to Kew Gardens is around 3-4 hours but you could easily spend all day exploring the 326 acre site.
Note, there can sometimes be queues at Kew Gardens (particularly on peak days) so if you wish to avoid being held up it is recommended you arrive punctually.
Kew Palace is automatically included with your ticket to Kew Gardens, but is only open seasonally (March to September).
Kew Palace lies on the bank of the River Thames, a place which reflects the personal and domestic life of Georgian kings and queens for much of the 18th century. The interior of this tiny atmospheric palace tells the powerful story of George lll, his mental illness and the members of his family who lived and died there.
Near to the palace are the famous Royal Kitchens (which survived when the nearby White House was being demolished). The kitchens were left untouched for nearly 200 years.
Nearby is the famous Great Pagoda, which has been through a major renovation recently . You can now climb the 253 steps to the top of the Great Pagoda and marvel at spectacular views across London (with a separate ticket). As you climb, learn why the Pagoda was built and how the royal family used this unique building in the 18th century.
Also nearby and included with your entrance ticket is Queen Charlotte's Cottage, a rustic country retreat in the grounds of the palace. Here you'll see Queen Charlotte's bedroom and dressing room where the Queen spent her final months - now including the wig from Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
Kew Gardens run a series of events throughout the year. Many are included with normal entry price. Special family-friendly events are put on during school holidays.
Tours and talks are available year round.
Kew Gardens and the Luna Cinema have teamed up to show spectacular big screen viewings of your favourite films every summer in the stunning grounds of Kew Gardens.
Kew the Movies - more info
See Kew Gardens What's On for more details
Only registered disability assistance dogs are allowed in the gardens.
There are many options for food at Kew Gardens which all make use of seasonal and local produce, including ingredients from Kew Gardens.
A wide range of plant based options are available.
Restaurants and cafes include: the Family Kitchen and Shop, Orangery, Pavilion Bar & Grill, The Botanical Brasserie (where they sell Afternoon Tea amongst other meals) and the Victoria Plaza Cafe.
See Kew Gardens Eating & Drinking for more details.
Enjoy a double dose of Royal pleasure. Combine entry tickets to both Kew Gardens and Kensington Palace, two of England's most important heritage sites.
Your package includes a special digital guide for an entrancing exploration of London.
Kew Gardens + Kensington Palace entry tickets
• Entry tickets to Kew Gardens • Entry tickets to Kensington Palace Entry tickets • Save on booking together
Railways 2 for 1 Promotion - Kew Gardens is covered by the Railways 2 for 1 promotion.
The London Pass - Kew Gardens is supported by London's most popular attraction pass, (with over 90 top London attractions). Top attractions on the London Pass list include the London Zoo, Westminster Abbey, St, Paul's, View from the Shard and the Tower of London. The London Pass offers incredible savings over buying individual attraction tickets.
Go City London Explorer Pass - this pass is similar to the London Pass only instead of allowing entry for a set number of days, it gives entry for up to 60 days, and you purchase by the number of attractions you wish to visit.
To purchase either of these passes follow the banner links below.
The more you visit, the more you save
• Access 90+ London attractions including Tower of London, London Eye, Madame Tussauds, London Zoo, Chessington World of Adventures, London Bridge Experience, Thames River Cruise, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey, The View from Shard, Windsor Castle, Big Bus, and many more...
• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 day passes available.
Save up to 50% on top London attractions
• Choose from two passes: All-Inclusive (unlimited) and Explorer (over 60 days) • Attractions and tours including: Tower of London, London Eye, Madame Tussauds, Chessington World of Adventures, LEGOLAND, Big Bus, Windsor Castle, The London Dungeon, Up at The O2, London Zoo, View from the Shard, City Cruises, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's and more...
Other royal palaces and castles in and around London include:
Tower of London: Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066-7 and enlarged and modified by successive sovereigns, today the Tower of London is one of the world's most famous and spectacular fortresses. In its time it has been a royal palace, a fortress, a prison, an armoury, a treasury and an astronomical observatory. The Tower of London now displays the Crown Jewels.
Buckingham Palace: has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837. Today it is the administrative headquarters of the Crown and is the main venue for the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
Windsor Castle:: Windsor Castle is one of three official residences of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and has been home to the Sovereign for over 900 years.
The Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the oldest in continuous occupation. The imposing towers and battlements of the Castle loom large from every approach to the town, creating one of the world's most spectacular skylines.
Hampton Court Palace Henry VIII's place, and also a top day out for adults and kids alike. Don't forget the fabulous maze, as well as demonstrations, talks, etc. Proper 'Living History.'
Kensington Palace: A rich royal history. Kensington Palace can boast of being the birth place of Queen Victoria and the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, not to mention being the home of a host of Georgian monarchs and royalty including Princess Diana who have all left their mark on this impressive Palace. Explore the vast state apartments which contain an array of beautiful paintings and sculptures.
Royal palaces in London - more information
The London Pass can save you £££'s on walk-up entry prices for over 80 of London's top attractions.
Included in the pass are the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Windsor Castle, Kew Palace & Gardens, The King's Gallery, and Hampton Court Palace. In addition other top attractions such as London Eye, Madame Tussauds, Chessington World of Adventures, London Zoo, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's and View from the Shard are included.
The more you visit, the more you save
• Access 90+ London attractions including Tower of London, London Eye, Madame Tussauds, London Zoo, Chessington World of Adventures, London Bridge Experience, Thames River Cruise, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey, The View from Shard, Windsor Castle, Big Bus, and many more...
• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 day passes available.
London Eye | Amazing panoramic flight on the world's highest observation wheel. » Fast track tickets available. |
The Shard | Tallest building in Western Europe with viewing of London from the top. » Fast track tickets available. |
St Paul's Cathedral | Cathedral of the Diocese of London, venue for royal weddings. » Pre-book to guarantee entry. |
Westminster Abbey | Along with St Paul's, England's main religious building.» Pre-book to guarantee entry. |
Tower of London | Home of the Crown Jewels and a rich thousand year history. » Fast track tickets available. |
Madame Tussauds | See wax statues of the most famous people in the world. » Fast track tickets available. |
London Dungeon | The creepiest attraction in town, the London Dungeon. » Fast track tickets available. |
Hampton Court Palace | Henry VIII Medieval Palace set in vast grounds. » Pre-book to save money. |
The London Zoo | World class zoo in the centre of London. » Flexi tickets available. |