Kew Gardens — officially the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Richmond, south-west London, holding the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world across 320 acres.
This guide was updated in June 2026. Two things many guides understate: the peak adult online price is now £25, with the gate price reaching £28 — figures that are meaningfully higher than the £20-22 appearing in much older coverage. Second, a discounted after-4pm ticket costs just £10 online from 1 May to 30 September, a genuine opportunity that is almost entirely absent from third-party guides. Book on Viator to secure your entry.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE |
| Hours | Seasonal — typically 10:00 to between 16:00 (winter) and 20:00 (peak summer). Last entry 1 hour before closing. Check the official site before visiting. |
| Adult ticket — peak online (1 Feb–31 Oct) | £25 |
| Adult ticket — peak gate | £28 |
| After-4pm ticket — online (1 May–30 Sep) | £10 |
| Adult ticket — off-peak online (1 Nov–31 Jan) | £17 |
| Child (4–15) | £2 online / £4 at the gate |
| Under-4s | Free |
| Universal Credit / Pension Credit | £1 |
| Nearest Tube | Kew Gardens (District line, 5-min walk) |
| Dogs | Not permitted (registered assistance dogs only) |
| Typical visit | 3–5 hours |
Opening hours
Kew Gardens is open every day of the year except Christmas Day (25 December). Opening time is typically 10:00 year-round. Closing times vary significantly by season: peak summer sees closing at 20:00 or later; winter closing falls as early as 16:00. Last entry is always one hour before closing. Check the official opening times page before every visit, as seasonal transitions are not always widely flagged.
Members-only early opening runs daily from 8:00 between 1 May and 30 September (with a handful of exclusions). This benefit is via the Victoria and Brentford gates only; glasshouses and indoor spaces open at 10:00.
Five great things to do in London
- 🚖 Take a private black cab tour around London’s highlights – with hotel pick-up.
- 🧙 Discover Harry Potter filming locations – and spots that inspired the books – on a wizarding walking tour.
- 🍴 Taste the best of British cuisine on a food tour through Borough Market.
- 🚲 Combine landmarks, pubs and street art – on a guided bike tour.
- ⛴️ Take a sightseeing cruise along the Thames from Westminster to Greenwich.
Ticket prices
All prices include VAT. Booking online gives a consistently better price than buying at the gate. Walk-up tickets are always available, but the £3 saving per adult ticket makes advance online booking worthwhile.
Adult prices
| Period | Online | At the gate |
|---|---|---|
| Peak (1 Feb–31 Oct) | £25 | £28 |
| After 4pm, 1 May–30 Sep | £10 | £11 |
| Off-peak (1 Nov–31 Jan) | £17 | £20 |
Other ticket types (all periods unless stated)
| Visitor type | Online | At the gate |
|---|---|---|
| Child (4–15) | £2 | £4 |
| Under-4s | Free | Free |
| Young person (16–29) / student — peak | £10 | £12 |
| Young person (16–29) / student — off-peak | £7 | £10 |
| Concession (disabled / senior 65+) — peak | £23 | £26 |
| Concession — off-peak | £15 | £18 |
| Local resident (Richmond, Kingston, Hammersmith, Fulham, Wandsworth, Hounslow) | Same as concession | Same as concession |
| Universal Credit / Pension Credit | £1 | £1 |
| Essential companion | Free | Free |
| Registered blind or partially-sighted | Free | Free |
The £1 ticket applies to those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or a range of other named benefits. Proof is required on arrival. Students must have an NUS or University card; those aged 16–29 need no student card at all.
Book on Viator to confirm your entry time and rate.
Why visit Kew Gardens?
- 🌿 The world’s most important botanical collection: Over 50,000 living plant species, the Millennium Seed Bank project, and more than 8.5 million preserved specimens make Kew a scientific institution of global significance — and a beautiful place to spend a day.
- 🏛️ UNESCO World Heritage Site: Designated in 2003 for its outstanding landscape and collections, Kew’s 320 acres include listed Victorian glasshouses, a restored pagoda, and a royal palace used by King George III.
- 🌸 Something in flower every week of the year: Orchid festivals in February, bluebell season in spring, summer blooms, autumn colour, and winter garden walks mean no two visits are the same, regardless of the season.
- 💰 After-4pm tickets from £10 online: Between 1 May and 30 September, a discounted late-afternoon ticket costs just £10 online — covering the same 320 acres as a full-day ticket, at a fraction of the price.
- 🌳 Free guided walking tours included: Seasonal walking tours led by experienced Kew guides are included in the price of admission, running regularly throughout the day across the gardens.
How to get there
By Tube: Kew Gardens station (District line, Zone 3/4) is a 5-minute walk from the Victoria Gate, the main entrance on Kew Road. It is by far the easiest option.
By Overground: Kew Gardens station is also served by the London Overground. Kew Bridge station (Overground) is on the Strand-on-the-Green side, about 12 minutes on foot from the Brentford Gate.
By river: Thames Clipper services stop at Kew Pier, a short walk from the Brentford Gate — a scenic alternative from central London or Richmond.
By car: Parking is very limited at Kew. A small paid car park is available at the Brentford Gate, but it is restricted primarily to Blue Badge holders. Public transport is the standard option for almost all visitors.
Why book The London Pass?
- 🎟️ Access 90+ Attractions: Visit London’s most legendary landmarks, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and The View from the Shard.
- 💰 Substantial Savings: Save significantly on total admission costs compared to purchasing individual tickets at the gate for each site.
- 🚌 Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: Includes a 1-day sightseeing bus ticket, making it easy to navigate between major districts and see Big Ben and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
- 📱 Instant Digital Pass: Download your pass directly to your smartphone for quick, paperless entry at every attraction throughout the city.
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Parking
Parking is extremely limited and is not suitable for general visitor use. The small pay-and-display car park at the Brentford Gate is primarily designated for visitors with Blue Badges and other qualifying criteria. Visitors without a Blue Badge are strongly encouraged to arrive by Tube, Overground, bus, or river.
How long to spend
Three to five hours is the realistic minimum for a first visit to Kew. The site is 320 acres and the main glasshouses, the Treetop Walkway, the Pagoda, Kew Palace, and the gardens themselves each take significant time. A full day is comfortably absorbed by most visitors. Allow for longer in spring (bluebell season) and during special events.
Accessibility
Kew is largely accessible, with wheelchairs available to borrow free of charge (first come, first served) from the Victoria Gate and other key points. The grounds include some uneven terrain and sloped paths. All major glasshouses and the Treetop Walkway have lifts. Registered assistance dogs are welcome; no other dogs or pets are permitted anywhere in the gardens. Essential companions for disabled visitors enter free. Accessible toilets are distributed across the site.
What to see at Kew Gardens
The Palm House is the architectural centrepiece of Kew — a sweeping Victorian curvilinear glasshouse built in 1848, housing palms, tree ferns, and tropical plants from across the world. The spiral staircases and upper walkway give views into the tree canopy from above.
The Temperate House is the world’s largest surviving Victorian glasshouse, restored and reopened in 2018. Its collection of plants from temperate climates includes the world’s oldest indoor plant — a Eastern Cape cycad over 200 years old.
The Princess of Wales Conservatory simulates ten different climate zones under one dramatic glass roof, from desert to tropical rainforest. It is home to the spectacular annual Orchid Festival, which draws plants and themes from a different country each year.
The Treetop Walkway rises to 18 metres above the woodland floor of the Arboretum, giving a canopy-level perspective on native British trees. The walkway is accessible by lift and gives a perspective of Kew impossible to appreciate from ground level.
The Great Pagoda is a 10-storey, 50-metre Chinese-style tower built in 1762 for Princess Augusta. A major restoration completed in 2018 reinstated its original 80 gilded dragons. Climb to the top for panoramic views across the gardens and across London.
Kew Palace is the smallest of the royal palaces and was the country retreat of King George III. Its rooms are preserved and interpreted to show life in the early 19th century.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| The after-4pm ticket is genuinely good value | Between 1 May and 30 September, a £10 online adult ticket gives access to the full 320 acres from 4pm. Note that many indoor attractions close before the gardens — check the closing times for specific glasshouses before planning around them. |
| Dogs are not allowed | This catches visitors out regularly. No dogs except registered assistance dogs are permitted anywhere inside Kew Gardens. Plan accordingly if travelling with a pet. |
| Closing times vary dramatically by season | In peak summer, Kew closes as late as 20:00 or 21:00. In winter it can close as early as 16:00. Always check the official site the day before your visit. |
| Book online for the best price | The gate price is consistently £3 higher for adults than the online price. Book on Viator to avoid paying more at the gate. |
| Children’s Garden water features currently off | As of May 2026, the water features in the Children’s Garden are switched off for essential maintenance. Check the official homepage for updates if this is a key reason for your visit. |
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the adult price really £25? | Yes — online, for peak visits (1 February to 31 October). The gate price is £28. Many third-party guides still show older figures of £20-22. Book on Viator to confirm the current price. |
| Can I bring my dog? | No. Dogs are not permitted inside Kew Gardens. The only exception is registered assistance dogs with appropriate ID. |
| Is Kew open in winter? | Yes, every day except Christmas Day. Closing times are earlier in winter (as early as 16:00) and the selection of open glasshouses may be reduced. |
| Do children under 4 pay? | No — under-4s enter free. Children aged 4–15 pay £2 online or £4 at the gate. |
| Is there a late-afternoon cheaper ticket? | Yes — between 1 May and 30 September, an after-4pm adult ticket costs £10 online (£11 at the gate). Many attractions close before the gardens, but the grounds themselves remain open until the standard closing time. |
Things to do nearby
Richmond Park is approximately 20 minutes on foot from Kew Gardens station and is the largest of the Royal Parks in London. Home to over 600 red and fallow deer, ancient woodland, and the Isabella Plantation (spectacular in spring), it is entirely free to enter.
Richmond town centre is 10 minutes on foot or a few stops on the District line, with independent shops, riverside pubs along the Thames, and the historic Richmond Hill viewpoint — a landscape protected by Act of Parliament.
Hampton Court Palace is 30 minutes from Kew by train from Richmond station, or 40 minutes by river. Henry VIII’s Tudor palace offers a complete contrast to Kew’s botanical focus. If driving, I’ve written a guide to parking at Hampton Court Palace.
The River Thames towpath connects Kew to Richmond and Twickenham along flat, scenic riverside paths. The stretch from Kew Bridge westward to Richmond takes about 30 minutes on foot.
Syon House is immediately across the Thames from the Brentford Gate of Kew Gardens and is a privately owned Robert Adam-designed mansion with grounds landscaped by Capability Brown. The house and Great Conservatory are open on selected summer days.
What to visit tomorrow
Hampton Court Palace Garden, East Molesey (~30 min by train from Kew): The largest historic garden in the Historic Royal Palaces estate, with the famous maze, the Privy Garden, the Great Vine (planted in 1768), and 60 acres of grounds. A natural companion piece to Kew given its historical royal horticulture connection.
RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey (~30 min by car or 1 hr by public transport): The flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society, covering 240 acres with world-class planting, glasshouses, and seasonal displays. The most directly comparable horticultural attraction to Kew within easy reach of London.
Chelsea Physic Garden, London (~30 min by Tube): One of the oldest botanic gardens in Britain, established in 1673, covering four acres in Chelsea. Smaller than Kew but intensely planted and historically significant — the garden from which tea plants were first sent to India and rubber plants to Malaysia.
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Gloucestershire (~2 hours by car): The UK’s premier collection of trees, managed by Forestry England, with 2,500 tree species across 600 acres. Particularly spectacular in autumn colour; a longer journey but the most rewarding tree collection outside Kew in Britain.
More London travel
Other London travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Underrated London attractions: Apsley House, Jewel Tower and the Postal Museum.
- Maritime Greenwich: The Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark.
- Bloomsbury and Holborn: The Foundling Museum, the Charles Dickens Museum and Sir John Soane’s Museum.
- The cultural treasure of Hampstead: Kenwood House, the Freud Museum and Keats House.
- Away from the centre: Eltham Palace, Charles Darwin’s Down House and Marble Hill.
