Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksGardens
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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 - 8:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Kew is London's largest UNESCO World Heritage site offering unique landscapes, vistas and iconic architecture from every stage of the Gardens' history. Our collection of living plants is the largest and most diverse in the world, growing out in the landscape and within our glasshouses and nurseries.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Admission tickets
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£22.00
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The area
How to get there
  • Kew Gardens • 7 min walk
  • Kew Gardens • 7 min walk
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See what travellers are saying
  • Travelaround59
    London, United Kingdom2,032 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It is amazing!
    Yes the park is amazing! The grass and the roses and the wonderful glass houses…I personally think that Kew Gardens is one of the major attraction in London. Few subway stops away from Central London and you are in open countryside with wonderfully landscaped gardens (also from Capibilty Brown) and if you are a gardener is a feast of the eye. In a beautiful sunny and warm day is a unforgettable day out.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 October 2023
  • LarryGentry
    San Francisco, California178 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful grounds, worth the effort
    I visited in mid September and the gardens and grounds were still very nice but blooming season was pretty much over except for some roses here and there. I didn't realize there was a place there and it was interesting to tour. I took the Underground but there were some service or maintenance issues so I had to complete the journey to Kew Gardens via a bus. It wasn't too bad and it's in a very suburban part of London.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 15 October 2023
  • Annie M
    Thornton, Colorado19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Kew
    Kew Gardens is an amazing escape from busy London--just a 40 minute tube ride. The grounds are sprawling...beautiful and impeccable. We climbed the spiral staircase to the walk around top of the greenhouse which provided a birds eye view of the tropical plants below. The Lilly pad greenhouse was like stepping into a Monet painting. Would need to visit again to see the whole place but well worth a second trip.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 31 October 2023
  • Bree W
    London, United Kingdom5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good family day out
    Kew gardens are beautiful and a lovely day out with the family. We go all year (all the different seasons have something special about them). There is a great playground for the kids and great cafes (good coffee) for the adults. There is so much to see.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 1 November 2023
  • Lou085
    London, United Kingdom133 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    WOW!
    Fabulous Christmas Lights display in Kew Gardens. One of the best displays I have seen . I’ve lived in West London for many years and this was my first visit to the Kew Christmas Trail. It is brilliant and and so well designed. Many of the displays are set to music and the atmosphere is amazing. The trail takes around 2 hours and there are several place’s selling food and drinks on the trail. My favourite displays were the Rocking robins and the Palmhouse. Well worth a visit.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 17 November 2023
  • Thomisa
    London, United Kingdom191 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Kew Gardens Christmas Lights 2023
    We visited yesterday and all of us (teens to 70s) thought the Christmas light trail was impressive. The music fitted perfectly with the displays and the lake at the end was wonderful. We spent 3 hours there, with time taken to toast marshmallows and have a drink. It was pretty crowded, but possible to stop and take photos if you moved to the side. All comments we heard from others were positive. I'd definitely go again another year.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 19 November 2023
  • Peter R
    Dartford, United Kingdom1,303 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Botanical Excellence
    So much has already been said about Kew Gardens by over 9,000 reviewers. The gardens are wonderful to walk around and any time of year there is so much to see. The glass houses are also amazing with such varieties of plants to delight the senses. The only downside to the visit is the main café at the entrance. The design makes it confusing as to where to get served and we found people were accidently pushing ahead of us because the queues were so random. We had thought about eating at the café but reading other reviews we decided just to have a drink and then sit outside in the autumn sun.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 28 November 2023
  • hankypanky505
    Albuquerque, New Mexico490 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic place
    What an amazing place. We went for the Christmas at Kew and it was absolutely fantastic. Something for everyone, lots of light displays, great walking, fresh air, and also lots of food booths along the way. It is definitely worth a stop, even if the lights aren't on, the gardens are absolutely worth a visit. Highly recommend if you are visiting London.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 December 2023
  • Carolyn L
    7 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Always plenty to see; catering could do with better organisation.
    Always something to see whatever the time of year; Princess of Wales House my favourite with various climates including deserts and their plants. Staff at the gate very helpful and free use of mobility scooter (book ahead advised). Coffee from the barista at the Orangery the best I have tasted, but £4.30 for a thin slice of rather ordinary cake seemed a bit steep. Main issue though is the random organisation, people milling around looking to pay and worst of all, the deli counter; food out in the middle of the room in the open being breathed over, people brushing by with winter coats and rucksacks, not to mention handling food and putting back down - has covid taught us nothing about hygiene? Please address.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 December 2023
  • Demonakis
    London, United Kingdom266 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It's bigger than you think
    We went to this amazing attraction during the week to try and avoid the crowds. We went to lunch nearby and then visited for the whole afternoon. In fairness, we should have given it longer as we ran out of time to see it all. If you are able bodied, the Pagoda is worth the small price extra on your ticket, great views.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 2 February 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles9,334 reviews
Excellent
5,839
Very good
2,139
Average
696
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364
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jjcantab
London, England37 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
I visited during one of our recent stormy weekends.

The orchid exhibit on in the Princess of Wales Conservatory was gorgeous and a beautiful refuge from our traditional British wet winter weather. Also the recently renovated Temperate House was impressive. It was a shame however that the giant waterlilies (one of my favourites from past visits) were not there as some renovation was being done in the lily house.

I’m concerned that Kew is being mismanaged and / or underfunded by the government. The ticket prices are very high (£18 for adults, before transport costs / café visits etc.). Without being asked and with all of the charm of a NYC subway ticket booth operator (as the intercom wasn’t working) I was nearly charged £19.80 for my ticket with “suggested donation” and then hounded to take out an annual membership. The gardens are advertised as open until 17.00 but the orchid exhibit stopped allowing visitors in at 16.00, and the other glass houses did the same at 16.30. On a wet, windy day the glass houses were among the few exhibits most visitors could comfortably see – was it not possible to divert staff to these locations to offer a full afternoon to the paying public?

I hope that Kew can address this to make it more accessible to all, as it is inspiring and educational for children and adults alike.
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review and it's great to hear that you enjoyed the orchid festival and the Temperate House. Due to the lack of light, The Waterlily House closes throughout the winter and the whole glasshouse is replanted each year. It will reopen in spring and I'm sorry that you weren't able to see the waterlilies on your visit. Thank you for your suggestion about the glasshouse opening times too, I will ensure that this is fed back to the Garden operations team and taken on board.
Written 19 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

peacefullife
London, UK158 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
On a brisk Valentine's Day we decided to visit Kew Gardens. It was very busy for a Friday. No on-street parking but we did not begrudge the £7 parking fee in the car park as the money goes to Kew Gardens. It was no where near as busy as the summer months but the palm house and cafes were full. The Orchid exhibition is worth a visit and we were in there for nearly 2 hours. We can see why Kew Gardens cafes are using their compostable cups, recyclable cans and have reduced plastic wrapping on food and applauded it. Charging 15p per drink extra to recycle the cup is not a very popular idea. Encouraging people to bring their own reusable cubs needs more publicity. It is not cheap to eat at Kew Gardens so take your own food if you can. But do not let that stop you visiting these wonderful gardens. Spend the day. Go early to avoid the crowds and to ensure you get parking. The land train is fun and worth using. Make the most of it during your visit by hopping on and off throughout the day, as at £5 per person it is expensive especially if you just go a couple of stops. To visit the royal kitchens, pagoda, Queen Charlotte's cottage, dells, tree top walkway, Japanese Gardens, hot houses, the hive, gallerys, views etc. etc. etc. you will need more than one day. It is well worth several return trips.
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Yasmin H
Slough, UK11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
Had a fab day out to Kew on Sat 8th Feb with friends. Made the most of a sunny dry day in Feb!
Online booking is worth saving a couple of quid.
Would highly recommend seeing the Indonesian Orchid exhibition which is currently on. It was fabulous and there was no extra cost it was included in the entrance fee which was a big bonus.
Just ensure you book your time slot to see the Orchids when you book your ticket onlineand arrive 15 mins beforehand.
Ladies if you don’t want your hair to frizz up ensure you have some head cover as the orchids are being sprayed by a fine fine mist of water regularly! Luckily I had a wide scarf to cover my freshly straightened hair!
Overall a great day out for getting plenty of fresh air and exercise whilst appreciating the beauty of nature.
The gift shop located at Victoria Gate offers a good range of gift ideas or for treating yourself.
The major disappointment of the day was that the restaurants are a bit pricy. We will definitely be taking a picnic next time.
The other downside is that the main carpark at Brentgate is quite small for such an iconic tourist spot so get there first thing. Otherwise arriving by tube or overground train can be a good alternative.
Will definitely be going back as soon as the spring blooms start surfacing. Can’t wait to see the colourful rose gardens too.
Enjoy!
Yasmin
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

helitour2017
Cambridge, UK5 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
Kew was, as expected marvellous, with the exception of charging model. Slots have to be booked and it is the same price for entry at the start of the day as it is for 2pm entry. We were most unimpressed that all the houses were closing at 3pm. Various websites have different information about closing times (15:00, 16:14 and 18:00) and there is no mention on the tickets or confirmation emails that the attraction closes so early. Whilst 3 pm is mentioned on the website it is hidden away and not immediately obvious, especially difficult when booking on a phone as most tourists probably do. After paying £35 to get in and £7 for the carpark we were very disappointed to only have an hour to see all that Kew has to offer.
The staff we met were extremely good and helpful but the policy of charging a day rate for an hour's visit is mean and unnecessary.
We also found the signage inadequate with no directions to the exit/car park. Such a shame that the wonders of Kew were sullied by poor information. I'd highly recommend visiting Kew but only if you can get an early slot. The website should make it much clearer to those booking afternoon slots that they will be asked to leave at 3 pm!
Written 31 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

M U
London, UK42 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
I often visit Kew as there is always something new to see. If you live in London I would recommend getting a season ticket as it soon covers the cost of your admission and you can bring a guest for free too.
Was a little disappointed with this years orchid festival , not as stunning as previous years. Ordered timed admission tickets on line but was told to wait outside in a line while those turning up without tickets were told to go straight in!!!
The shop is interesting but very expensive as are the cafes.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PavlH
Berkshire, England379 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
Went with my wife and mother in law for the day.

Charged £19 for entry including a small donation to research.

That was bad enough but when you get to the cafe nd they want nearly £5 for a muffin it shows how they are just trying to get as much of your money as they can get away with.

We looked at the afternoon tea but at £34 each, it was just far more than we were prepared to pay.

Needless to say, I won't be returning any time soon.

Written 16 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

michalaL
Bexleyheath, UK4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Friends
Lovely trip to kew today. Orchids beautiful but please be aware to take your own cup if you visit their cafe/ shop. They only offer single use cups but have sign saying if you choose single use cups they will charge an extra 15p per drink. Not sure what the other option is as there were no normal cups there. A customer in front challenged the staff who rudely just pointed at the sign. What a let down. The cups are compostable so not going to land fill but the charge goes to the consumer. So if news a hot drink use the orangery where there are mugs and tea pots available.
Written 14 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Evec71
Shoreham-by-Sea, UK74 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Family
The weather was pretty good on the day we went, as it was an almost rain free day, although it was chilly.
Didn't manage the whole of Kew, only about a third, as it's an extensive place. If you are disabled, the area that we covered, is mostly accessible. It was slightly irritating that there were a few things that were out of operation, or closed.
There were lots of geese enjoying the dry day and the few rays of sunshine too. Saw lots of parrots flying about the grounds, which was a total surprise and when we perused one of the glass houses, also thankful for the much needed warmth it provided, we caught sight of a Robin flying, listening to theirs and other birds singing their songs.
Even a cute little deer came hurtling through the gardens by the Princess of Wales glasshouse. The poor thing did look a bit spooked and disorientated. A gardner was surprised and delighted to see one, even admitting that it was the first one he had seen in quite a while.
I was disappointed that we couldn't get up to the tree walk, as the lift looked like it had been out of operation for a long time. I found it such a shame as I truly would have loved to have seen the view.
The work of Marianne North is absolutely fantastic. So much detail in her compositions and the whole building full from floor to ceiling of her artwork. Again though, the interactive area was also in need of repair as the screens were not working and neither was the video, you could only hear the audio.
As usual though, the cafe's are overpriced along with the various gift shops within the area.
Would we go back again?? Most probably. Hoping that the repairs and availability of disabled access addressed. As for parking at Kew, my satnav took me to the Elizabeth gate, where there are only 3 parking spaces that I'm aware of. There was also at the time, road works blocking access and resulting in restricted parking in the vicinity. I am not sure about the amount of spaces there are at the other areas.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MikeCMelbourne
Melbourne, Australia198 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
This review is for Christmas at Kew and not the Kew Gardens in general. I felt it was not worth the money as it was simply some lights adorn on trees at night. I felt underwhelmed by the whole thing. I am not sure why some people think it is fantastic. Maybe they have never been outside of England. For a cheaper entrance fee, please visit Tokyo's Teamlab Borderless and you will understand Christmas at Kew is amateurish and is a joke. Many places put up better light shows for free.

Kew Garden is great in horticulture but adorning trees with light is not their expertise. I would highly recommend a visit to Kew Garden but not to Christmas at Kew.
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review and I'm sorry to hear that you were disappointed with Christmas at Kew. All feedback is greatly appreciated and I'll ensure that this is shared with the events team.
Written 28 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Richard F
Swindon, UK1,617 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Family
We visited here in a very windy, but thankfully warm, day at the end of August. We used a corporate membership and an emergency services blue card card to get two free tickets and two discounted tickets. This made it only £19 for five (four adults plus a one-year old). Good value if you can remember to use these if you have them.

In the current restrictions, it was a good visit as you can still enjoy the majority of the gardens with only short queues into the greenhouses and some small areas closed or restricted. This does rely on it being reasonable weather though.

The most frustrating piece was the parking at Brentford gate where there was some inconsiderate parking meaning one car taking the potential space of two or three. We managed to get the very last space almost on the corner of the entrance road.

Food and drink is high cost so taking your own picnic is best value too. Also, to save picking up a map, download the map image from the website to your phone.
Written 26 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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