Kew Gardens: Tickets

Kew Gardens - Tickets and Visitor Information

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What is Kew Gardens?

Kew Gardens, officially known as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a large botanical garden and UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest London.

• The Gardens cover around 320 acres and contain more than 50,000 living plants.
• Kew combines botanical collections, historic buildings, gardens, glasshouses and woodland areas.
• Popular attractions include the Palm House, Temperate House, Great Pagoda and Treetop Walkway.
• Kew has played an important role in botanical research and plant conservation for more than 250 years.
• The Gardens are in Richmond upon Thames, around 30 minutes from central London by public transport.

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Quick Information

• Address: Kew Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB.
• Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00 - Closing Times Vary
• Suggested Visit Duration: 3-5 hours
• Nearest Stations: Kew Gardens Station / Kew Bridge Station
• Kew Gardens Ticket Options

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Is Kew Gardens Worth Visiting?

Kew Gardens is a good choice if you want to spend some time outdoors while seeing a mixture of gardens, historic buildings, glasshouses and botanical collections.

• There is enough to see to fill most of a day, although you can also visit for a shorter time if you concentrate on the main highlights.
• The Gardens are family-friendly and a good choice for people interested in plants and gardens, and anyone looking for a break from the busier areas of central London.

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What You Can See at Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens has a large number of gardens, buildings and attractions spread across its 320-acre site and highlights include:

• Palm House: The Palm House is one of Kew's best-known glasshouses and contains tropical plants from around the world. It was built in the 1840s and remains an important part of Kew's historic glasshouse collection.
• Temperate House: The Temperate House is the world's largest Victorian glasshouse. It contains plants from temperate regions including Asia, Australasia, Africa and the Americas.
• Great Pagoda: The Great Pagoda was completed in 1762 and was designed by Sir William Chambers. The 10-storey building stands close to the Temperate House and offers views across London when open.
• Treetop Walkway: The Treetop Walkway rises 18 metres above the ground and takes you through the tree canopy. It is a good place to see parts of Kew from above and get a different view of the Gardens.
• Princess of Wales Conservatory: The large glasshouse contains plants from different climates, including tropical and carnivorous plants. Its different sections recreate a range of growing environments.
• Great Broad Walk Borders: The Great Broad Walk Borders stretch for around 320 metres and contain plants arranged in different themed areas. They are particularly colourful during the spring and summer months.
• Kew Palace: Kew Palace is a former royal residence within the Gardens. It was used by King George III and Queen Charlotte and gives visitors an opportunity to see a much smaller and more personal royal residence than the major palaces in central London.

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About Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens, officially known as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Richmond upon Thames in southwest London. The 320-acre site contains gardens, glasshouses, historic buildings, art galleries, open spaces and a large collection of plants from around the world.

The history of Kew as a botanic garden dates back to 1759 when it was founded as a private garden by Princess Augusta, the mother of King George III. It was later developed from royal gardens and became an important centre for botanical research and the study of plants from around the world.

Kew is now home to more than 50,000 living plants, including rare species, as well as millions of preserved plant specimens. Its collections and scientific research play an important role in the study and conservation of plants and fungi.

Kew is also home to the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, which works to conserve seeds from plants around the world. Kew scientists carry out research into plant and fungal biodiversity, conservation and the effects of environmental change.

Kew Gardens became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. UNESCO recognises the Gardens for their historic landscape, botanical collections and contribution to botanical science.

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