Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
4.5
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.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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from $17.42
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Top ways to experience Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
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How to get there
- Kew Gardens • 7 min walk
- Kew Gardens • 7 min walk
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
8,982 reviews
Excellent
5,645
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655
Poor
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Terrible
281
Bebadosamba
Brasilia, DF260 contributions
Nov 2022
A short Underground ride to Zone 3 will take you to this magnificent botanic garden. It is huge so plan to spend the day there. The main buildings are the Temperate House, the Princess of Wales Conservatory and the Palm House, but you will find incredible species and sceneries everywhere, plus don't miss the Marianne North Gallery. I would point to the excellent signs placed by the Garden's staff indicating blooming flowers, interesting species and all sorts of facts about particular items spread around Kew. There is a Children's Garden, with nice playgrounds.
I was a bit frustrated we could not go up the Treetop Walkway because they were doing some work for the "Christmas at Kew" attraction. I would ask that they indicate this on the website or at entrance so visitor's can plan better. Minor issue though.
Buying tickets online will give you a small discount - though you have to buy it until two days before.
I was a bit frustrated we could not go up the Treetop Walkway because they were doing some work for the "Christmas at Kew" attraction. I would ask that they indicate this on the website or at entrance so visitor's can plan better. Minor issue though.
Buying tickets online will give you a small discount - though you have to buy it until two days before.
Written November 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wacky Author
2 contributions
Dec 2021
The enchanting experience with a prodigious light festival at Kew Gardens was an incredible experience that stunned me every step of the way. Each artistic set along the trail was spellbinding as the variety of music was magnetic in harmony with the twinkling lights.
Parking on a weekday can be hard to find, ensure that you have bought a prepaid ticket from the National Archives for £10. From there it is a 15-minute walk to Victoria Gate Kew Gardens.
Wrap up in warm clothes and comfortable walking shoes or trainers and don’t forget your face mask as some areas can get very busy. Pack a rucksack with marshmallows, skews. The trail can take just over 75 minutes, it took me almost 4 hours with plenty of snack stations to devour and hot chocolates to keep me warm.
I highly recommend going to the Montezuma hot chocolate hut for their warm cocoa, walk a little further and you will find the marshmallow roasting pit. Take your own marshmallows and skews if you are vegetarian or vegan.
There are traditional fairground rides for all to enjoy: Helter Skelter, a carousel, swing boats and for the very young there is a car and train ride. 1 token per ride, £3 for 1 token and a special offer which allows you to have 6 tokens for £15.
Take your time to see the fabulous finale, go straight to the viewing point, don’t stop halfway, and get as close to the rail as possible so you can have an amazing view of the show.
Finally, at the end of the trail, buy the “World Famous Halloumi Fries,” seasoned in za'atar yoghurt and fresh pomegranate kernels, it tasted amazing.
Wacky Author (Age 9)
Parking on a weekday can be hard to find, ensure that you have bought a prepaid ticket from the National Archives for £10. From there it is a 15-minute walk to Victoria Gate Kew Gardens.
Wrap up in warm clothes and comfortable walking shoes or trainers and don’t forget your face mask as some areas can get very busy. Pack a rucksack with marshmallows, skews. The trail can take just over 75 minutes, it took me almost 4 hours with plenty of snack stations to devour and hot chocolates to keep me warm.
I highly recommend going to the Montezuma hot chocolate hut for their warm cocoa, walk a little further and you will find the marshmallow roasting pit. Take your own marshmallows and skews if you are vegetarian or vegan.
There are traditional fairground rides for all to enjoy: Helter Skelter, a carousel, swing boats and for the very young there is a car and train ride. 1 token per ride, £3 for 1 token and a special offer which allows you to have 6 tokens for £15.
Take your time to see the fabulous finale, go straight to the viewing point, don’t stop halfway, and get as close to the rail as possible so you can have an amazing view of the show.
Finally, at the end of the trail, buy the “World Famous Halloumi Fries,” seasoned in za'atar yoghurt and fresh pomegranate kernels, it tasted amazing.
Wacky Author (Age 9)
Written December 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Andrew Jones
London, UK357 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
Kew Gardens is one of my favourite places in London and, as locals, we visit regularly with our Friends of Kew membership.
The site is large so I’d recommend you plan your visit in advance and prioritise what you want to see, as it’s challenging to do everything in one visit! Particular highlights are the Temperate House, Waterlily House and the Princess of Wales Conservatory.
I’d recommend bringing your own food though as the on-site catering is a bit hit and miss and overpriced.
The site is large so I’d recommend you plan your visit in advance and prioritise what you want to see, as it’s challenging to do everything in one visit! Particular highlights are the Temperate House, Waterlily House and the Princess of Wales Conservatory.
I’d recommend bringing your own food though as the on-site catering is a bit hit and miss and overpriced.
Written September 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Joanne K
3 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
Kew The Music- Total lack of organisation, I have never been to an event that was this poorly organised in my entire life, complete shambles. No signposts to indicate which ticket holders should use which entrance. Late opening of gates by about 30-40 minutes due to staff trying to remove the general public from the gardens. Queues of 100’s of people in separate queues then all merged into 1, for a bag check this was laughable with 2 people checking bags of all shapes and sizes, cool boxes, picnic hampers etc, I assume this was a security check but it was literally impossible for them to check everyone so they might as well not have even bothered. There was then a third queue for people to be directed into their area depending on ticket type at which point people had had enough and were removing barriers and running through bushes and attempting to get through by any means. The bbq in the Orangery was reasonably better organised and an enjoyable meal, though in terms of value for money we would’ve been better making a decision to dine elsewhere and pay for cheaper tickets as the area to view the concert for those with wristbands and top price tickets was not near the front. The area in front of the stage was open to anyone regardless of ticket type purchased. Drinks were also very overpriced with a bottle of prosecco costing £45 plus a £1 deposit for a plastic glass! Gipsy Kings were amazing as was the weather, wouldn’t hesitate to watch them again their performance was outstanding but I’m afraid I will never attend an event at Kew Gardens again
Written July 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
G G
11 contributions
Nov 2022
This was our first time visiting the Christmas lights at Kew, having previously been to a number of light shows elsewhere. We had heard great things about Kew, but the lights really are average compared to the light shows at places like Blenheim Palace.
There weren't that many light displays and the displays they did have were distinctly un-Christmasy! They were playing a few Christmas Carols here and there to try and create something of a seasonal atmosphere, but I don't really think it worked.
It was a real shame that the event is so commercialised. There were certainly many more fast food stalls than light displays. It felt at times that we were following a fast food trail rather than a light trail. It is also worth mentioning that the stalls are eye-wateringly expensive - £9 for two cookies! I guess nothing says Christmas more than an Indian Street kebab though!
The final problem from our perspective were the huge crowds at the event. Kew are clearly selling too many tickets as it felt like we were walking around in the middle of a huge crowd all the way around.
Next year, we will be going back to Blenheim Palace!
There weren't that many light displays and the displays they did have were distinctly un-Christmasy! They were playing a few Christmas Carols here and there to try and create something of a seasonal atmosphere, but I don't really think it worked.
It was a real shame that the event is so commercialised. There were certainly many more fast food stalls than light displays. It felt at times that we were following a fast food trail rather than a light trail. It is also worth mentioning that the stalls are eye-wateringly expensive - £9 for two cookies! I guess nothing says Christmas more than an Indian Street kebab though!
The final problem from our perspective were the huge crowds at the event. Kew are clearly selling too many tickets as it felt like we were walking around in the middle of a huge crowd all the way around.
Next year, we will be going back to Blenheim Palace!
Written November 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
C_S
3 contributions
Feb 2023
We went to Kew Gardens specifically for the Orchid festival. The flowers themselves were lovely but the organisation of the event was awful.
You had to book a time slot in advance which is no problem, we booked 12.15.
When we arrived there was a large queue heading into the festival conservatory.
At 12.05, we tried to join the queue but one of the female staff members told us we were too early and sent us away, telling us to return in 10 mins.
When we returned in 10 mins, the queue was twice as long with people who had a time slot at 12.45 before us in the queue. A different female worker let them in before us even though they were 30 mins early.
The crowd control was very poor, despite the pre-booked slot, they let a lot of people in which meant you couldn't enjoy the flowers as much because everyone was on top of each other.
When we were leaving, another public member was arguing with the same worker who sent us away as she had done the same to them.
Staff need a massive overhaul or retraining. They had no clue what they were doing.
You had to book a time slot in advance which is no problem, we booked 12.15.
When we arrived there was a large queue heading into the festival conservatory.
At 12.05, we tried to join the queue but one of the female staff members told us we were too early and sent us away, telling us to return in 10 mins.
When we returned in 10 mins, the queue was twice as long with people who had a time slot at 12.45 before us in the queue. A different female worker let them in before us even though they were 30 mins early.
The crowd control was very poor, despite the pre-booked slot, they let a lot of people in which meant you couldn't enjoy the flowers as much because everyone was on top of each other.
When we were leaving, another public member was arguing with the same worker who sent us away as she had done the same to them.
Staff need a massive overhaul or retraining. They had no clue what they were doing.
Written February 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
F P
Woking, United Kingdom9 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
We were looking forward to the Orchid festival especially as we had a timed ticket. When we turned up there was a massive long queue which had a wait time of at least 35 mins, which makes a mockery of a timed entry. We were told people were spending too long looking at the orchids, surely they should be moved along and timed entry and non timed numbers counted.
Poor organisation.
This meant we were unable to compete out visit to other places in the gardens.
If Kew want people to come back they may need to smarten up their act!
Very disappointing as the gardens are beautiful, it may be awhile before we come back.
Poor organisation.
This meant we were unable to compete out visit to other places in the gardens.
If Kew want people to come back they may need to smarten up their act!
Very disappointing as the gardens are beautiful, it may be awhile before we come back.
Written February 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. I’m very sorry to hear about your experience visiting the Orchid Festival.
The entry queue to the Orchid Festival is actively managed to regulate capacity inside the Princess of Wales conservatory and to mitigate any unnecessary wait. We have structured the queue so there is a maximum 35-minute wait from the time the queue opens for a timeslot to the time the visitor enters the glasshouse, although it can look like much longer. The movement of the line is somewhat dependent on movement through the exhibition so although we do have staff inside encouraging people not to linger for long periods, this can occasionally slow the line.
We started implementing a timeslot system in the last three years because during busy periods, with no allocated times for visitors to enter the glasshouse, the bottlenecks inside the glasshouse and the insufferably-long queues to enter the glasshouse, made the old system unacceptable.
Thank you again, for taking the time to share your comments. As is our protocol, we have logged and forwarded this to the appropriate management team, so they are aware. Visitor feedback is vital in helping us to improve our overall customer experience, and we appreciate your taking the time to provide yours.
Written February 15, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jay Son
56 contributions
Dec 2022
There are good things and some average things and some bad things.
The good. The park is huge! lots of space to walk around, and get some quiet corners for romantic alone time. There are some truly unique art installations throughout the space. It is completely closed off from the public and is only accessible through one of three gates that I was able to see. There are several water features throughout the park but they were all frozen/semi-frozen. I found the sight interesting.
My favourite part without a doubt was the Glass greenhouse aka the Palm house. The iconic building of the gardens. When you enter, I would suggest taking a bag or something to put your jacket in if you have one. It is tropical inside and you will be much more comfortable without a jacket. Also, be prepared for some artificial raindrops. The inside is filled with all kinds of tropical plants from Africa, The Americas and Oceania. I didn't notice any desert plants. There is a canopy catwalk that goes around the house so you can get an up top view of all the plants. The white metal stairwells are one-way only. Be sure to make sure you are at the correct one when going up. Once you are up there, the catwalk will lead you around and down the exit stairs and back to the main floor.
The letdown for the Palm House was that there appears to be a Marin section downstairs but it was closed.
This brings me to the average things:
Many things were closed. The marine section of the palm house, the gift shop, every single food vendor, some buildings/exhibitions, the Treetop walkway/treetop trekking outside. I didn't notice any WC/washrooms/Toilets aside from the main gate. For anyone with an active bladder, I imagine this place would be a nightmare.
The bad things.
The door price of around 14 GBP seemed too high for what was delivered. It was mainly an outdoor park with mostly dead/featureless plants(because of winter) with a relatively decent greenhouse. I had low to medium expectations for this place and it under-delivered. I got more disappointed when I saw some potentially exciting things that were closed.
I am sure the experience in the Warmer months would be much better. I cannot comment on the night experience with the lights as I was not there for that portion.
The good. The park is huge! lots of space to walk around, and get some quiet corners for romantic alone time. There are some truly unique art installations throughout the space. It is completely closed off from the public and is only accessible through one of three gates that I was able to see. There are several water features throughout the park but they were all frozen/semi-frozen. I found the sight interesting.
My favourite part without a doubt was the Glass greenhouse aka the Palm house. The iconic building of the gardens. When you enter, I would suggest taking a bag or something to put your jacket in if you have one. It is tropical inside and you will be much more comfortable without a jacket. Also, be prepared for some artificial raindrops. The inside is filled with all kinds of tropical plants from Africa, The Americas and Oceania. I didn't notice any desert plants. There is a canopy catwalk that goes around the house so you can get an up top view of all the plants. The white metal stairwells are one-way only. Be sure to make sure you are at the correct one when going up. Once you are up there, the catwalk will lead you around and down the exit stairs and back to the main floor.
The letdown for the Palm House was that there appears to be a Marin section downstairs but it was closed.
This brings me to the average things:
Many things were closed. The marine section of the palm house, the gift shop, every single food vendor, some buildings/exhibitions, the Treetop walkway/treetop trekking outside. I didn't notice any WC/washrooms/Toilets aside from the main gate. For anyone with an active bladder, I imagine this place would be a nightmare.
The bad things.
The door price of around 14 GBP seemed too high for what was delivered. It was mainly an outdoor park with mostly dead/featureless plants(because of winter) with a relatively decent greenhouse. I had low to medium expectations for this place and it under-delivered. I got more disappointed when I saw some potentially exciting things that were closed.
I am sure the experience in the Warmer months would be much better. I cannot comment on the night experience with the lights as I was not there for that portion.
Written December 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
999brianx
Oxford, UK32 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
Used the Food and Well being cafe... Absolute rip off, 2 hot chocalates, 2 coffees and 4 toasted small cheese and tomatoe baguettes... Total £43.30...The toasties were bland and tasteless. Use the other cafes for prepacked sandwiches.
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
barrynuttall
Peterborough, UK216 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
Not what you might expect,we visited Kew specifically for the light show having been to similar events at Blenheim, Chatsworth and the like but the effort at Kew was extremely poor in comparison. Plenty of mulled wine shacks etc around what was quite an extended route, few displays with any musical accompaniment and then swathes of “garden lighting” between the displays.
We had already booked tickets for the upcoming Orchid Festival early in the New Year but to be honest I was a little concerned as to how this might also turn out.
How right I was, given that you are provided a “timed entry “ ticket you are then expected to join a queue that turns out to be around 1 hour long to gain entry to the actual Festival. Was I impressed with the number and quality of exhibits ? hardly, even allowing for the fact our trip was towards the end of the Festival the condition of the exhibits was not exactly what you might expect from a Premier Garden looking after horticultural history.
The shops / food outlets obviously massively busy and priced to penalise you even more. I would have to think very seriously about re-visiting KEW given the last two experiences and we had planned to visit Wakehurst when we are next in the area but I am now re-thinking my options and would rather go back to Wisley for a whole much better experience.
We had already booked tickets for the upcoming Orchid Festival early in the New Year but to be honest I was a little concerned as to how this might also turn out.
How right I was, given that you are provided a “timed entry “ ticket you are then expected to join a queue that turns out to be around 1 hour long to gain entry to the actual Festival. Was I impressed with the number and quality of exhibits ? hardly, even allowing for the fact our trip was towards the end of the Festival the condition of the exhibits was not exactly what you might expect from a Premier Garden looking after horticultural history.
The shops / food outlets obviously massively busy and priced to penalise you even more. I would have to think very seriously about re-visiting KEW given the last two experiences and we had planned to visit Wakehurst when we are next in the area but I am now re-thinking my options and would rather go back to Wisley for a whole much better experience.
Written February 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're sorry to hear Christmas at Kew and the Orchids Festival didn't live up to your expectations. The Orchid Festival is always incredibly popular, and we were extremely busy last weekend. The Princess of Wales Conservatory has limited capacity and to make it safe for a large number of visitors, we need to carefully manage the number of people inside by having pre booked timeslots. Unfortunately, this inevitably causes queuing, and we are sorry the queues were longer than we would have liked last weekend. There are over 5,000 orchids on display including a variety of plants from Cameroon, but will take your feedback onboard to inform our future plans. If you would like to speak to our customer care team, please don't hesitate to email info@kew.org. Best wishes, Maddie
Written March 3, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sillyme123
1 contribution
How long does it take to do the treetop walk in kew gardens?
Humphman
Kessingland, UK534 contributions
The walkway is 200 metres long so depends on how long you want to stay up there and look round. Its a bit of a climb up (18 metres) but a lift is available should you need it.
Marc O
London, UK10 contributions
I got tickets for the regular Kew Gardens entry, only now I see gates close to prepare for the evening Xmas at Kew event and tickets are sold separately. Is there any chance to transfer the tickets or to enter at 2pm and staying for the evening event?
Ph_C
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg67 contributions
Unfortunately no !
You can’t stay in the park after 3 pm…
Jennifer C
St. Albans, UK1 contribution
Are any of Dale Chihuly’s sculptures still exhibiting at Kew? I saw there was an exhibition in 2019.
Derrick Aw
Singapore, Singapore682 contributions
No more, sadly
Bronia P
60 contributions
We’re thinking of visiting in November, and considering doing a day visit and followed by a visit for the Christmas lights. Will we need to exit the area and then re-enter for the evening?
Nigel Blackwell
37 contributions
I am afraid you have to have a separate ticket for the Christmas lights and so they clear and close the gardens before letting the Christmas light customers in.
Scott Sinclair
5 contributions
Travelling from up north, is there anywhere to park within sensible walking distance (that we stand a chance of getting into?)
CarolynNYC
New York City, NY114 contributions
Hi--Google this phrase: "parking kew gardens london"--I just did and it brought up a lot of information about lots (7 pounds/day, but limited spots), available street parking close by, days it's more crowded--depending on whether you visit during the week or on a weekend, etc--I think you'll find it helpful!
Mariatheresa M
Island of Malta, Malta1 contribution
I have printed my Kew garden tickets Di I still need to go to redeem them?
Sharon B
Harlow, UK149 contributions
Sorry I don't know.
KatieSmithExplores
Norfolk, UK165 contributions
Hi all, please could someone tell us if they still have covid restrictions in place (AUG 2021)? We're booked to go so we can't back out now, but reading some reviews (admittedly older reviews!) I'm worried there will be some of the main buildings all shut off 'because of covid' again? Please can someone who's been recently clarify if anything is closed? We are still going obviously, but we'd rather be prepared to avoid disappointment. Thank you :)
Treina
Gloucester, UK200 contributions
Anyone know if there are mobility scooters or walking aids there to hire? If not are you able to bring your own?
CAROLNASH2013
Hordle, UK37 contributions
We saw a land train taking people round and also some wheelchairs at the Brentford gate.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is open:
- Mon - Fri 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Sat - Sun 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $17.46, while a popular guided tour starts around $6.22 per person. See all 10 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew can be crowded, so we recommend booking e-tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. See all 10 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew:
- Kew Gardens Entrance Ticket (From $17.46)
- The London Pass®: Access 80+ attractions inc. Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (From $94.76)
- Go City: London Explorer Pass - Choose 2 to 7 Attractions (From $61.09)
- Amazing Kew Gardens & London Landmarks Tour (From $85.65)
- Full Day London Pick & Mix Customized Tour (From $1,077.84)
- Hotels near Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew:
- (0.22 mi) Kew Gardens BandB
- (0.21 mi) Newens Original Maids of Honour
- (0.38 mi) The Coach and Horses
- (0.32 mi) Kew Gardens Hotel
- (0.24 mi) Clarendon Apartments - Kew House and Gardens
- Restaurants near Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew:
- (0.10 mi) The Botanical
- (0.21 mi) Newens The Original Maids of Honour
- (0.13 mi) Family Kitchen, Kew Gardens
- (0.30 mi) Ma Cuisine
- (0.42 mi) Rara