Palm house at Kew Gardens.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is a world-leading scientific organisation, showcasing the largest living collection of plants and fungi in its 330-acre Garden just 30 minutes from central London. The Gardens were inscribed onto the World Heritage List 2003, acknowledging its unique history, diverse historic landscape, rich architectural legacy, botanic collections, and position as one of the world’s leading botanic gardens for scientific research and education.

Climb to this one-of-a-kind Treetop Walkway, 18m high and 200m long—for a bird's eye view of Kew. – © Andrew McRobb

The Japanese Gateway - a highly manicured landscape comprised of three garden areas and created to complement the Chokushi-Mon (Japanese Gateway). – © RBG Kew

The Great Pagoda was the most accurate reconstruction of a Chinese building in Europe at the time. – © Radka Palenikova /Shutterstock

Take the opportunity to relax with a seat on a bench under a tree in the Royal Botanic Gardens. – © Dmitry Naumov / Shutterstock

In the centre of the Mediterranean Garden stands King William's Temple, built in 1837 for Queen Victoria, in memory of William IV. – © Kiev.Victor / Shutterstock

The Sackler Crossing, installed in 2006, gives easy access to some of Kew’s less visited areas. – © RBG Kew

The Japanese garden - a highly manicured landscape comprised of three garden areas and created to complement the Chokushi-Mon (Japanese Gateway). – © Cristian Gusa / Shutterstock

Kew holds one of the world's greatest collections of botanical art, with more than 200,000 items dating back to the days before photography could be used for the study of plants. In 2008, Kew opened a new gallery to display these works alongside pieces from the collection of Dr Shirley Sherwood. – © RBG Kew

Climb to this one-of-a-kind Treetop Walkway, 18m high and 200m long—for a bird's eye view of Kew. – © Andrew McRobb

Founded by Princess Augusta in 1759, Kew’s influence in horticulture, plant classification and economic botany spread internationally under Joseph Banks' directorship in the 1770s. During a period of exploration by Britain, the early botanists collected specimens around the world to keep them safe in that one location.

Today, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are recognised as a global centre of excellence for the study of plants and fungi—based on unrivalled living and preserved plant and fungal collections.

A scientist examines plants in the Palm House. - © Jeff Eden

This approach has evolved into a partnership with nearly 100 countries, banking seeds, supporting conservation efforts in-country and identifying new species and their potential benefits to future generations.

In line with its reputation as a global resource for plant and fungal knowledge, samples from the collection have been used to create new botanic gardens in Australia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. Today, there are more than 50,000 species of native and exotic plants and trees at Kew Gardens.

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew has more than 50,000 species of native and exotic plants, trees, and flowers on site. – © RBG Kew

There are plenty of activities all year round for visitors of all ages, including festivals, guided tours and special exhibitions. In the Gardens, visitors can explore the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, The Temperate House, which contains over 10,000 plants from temperate regions, some of which are rare and endangered.

The Palm House is another Victorian glasshouse with a rainforest climate, home to a unique collection of tropical plants from some of the most threatened environments on Earth. The Princess of Wales Conservatory hosts 10 controlled climate zones, from arid deserts to humid tropics.

The Princess of Wales Conservatory allows visitors to experience ten of the world’s climatic zones under one roof. - © RBG Kew

A soaring Treetop Walkway offers expansive views from the treetops to the royal residences that are open to the public. The walls of the Marianne North Gallery founded by the intrepid artist herself, are lined entirely by her paintings. It is one of two galleries dedicated to botanical art and examines the beauty and intricacy of flora from around the world.

Botanic Royalty

Kew Palace was the summer residence for King George III and is also Britain's most intimate royal building with a stunning garden. Queen Charlotte’s cottage sits at the opposite end of the Gardens, tucked away in a 300-year-old bluebell wood waiting to be explored by the more intrepid visitor.

The Georgian Palace in Kew Gardens is less than 30 minutes from London - © 0. Afflamen / Shutterstock

The Great Pagoda, completed in 1762 as a gift for Princess Augusta and designed by William Chambers, once offered one of the finest views of London. After a major restoration project, it was re-opened to the public in 2018 for visitors to climb and bask in that same view. 80 dragons carved from gilded wood adorn each level, making it a spectacular building in Kew Gardens.

Seasonal feasts

Kew Gardens stunning plant collection bursts into colour throughout the seasons.

The Great Broad Walk Borders is a vibrant 320m walkway, with plants arranging in themes across eight large beds. As the world’s largest double herbaceous borders, is a spectacular summer attraction, leading to the Lake and the heady Rose Garden.

The longest double herbaceous border in the UK, the Great Broad Walk Borders feature 60,000 flowering plants. – © Jeff Eden

As autumn falls, the Arboretum comes alive with hues of seasonal colour. 14,000 trees sweep across two thirds of the Garden. Representing over 2,000 specimens from around the world, it is a scientific treasure trove for understanding more about conservation and biodiversity.

Step inside the tropics in the winter months through Kew’s three glasshouses, or explore the cherry blossoms blooming throughout springtime.

How to Get There

Kew Gardens is in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, in the southwest of the capital. The easiest way to reach the attraction is by the London underground. Kew Gardens station—Zone 3 on the District (dark green) line—is 30 minutes from central London and then a five-minute walk to Kew Gardens itself.

By train, Kew Bridge station is 30 minutes from Waterloo station and a ten-minute walk to the Gardens. There are also excellent road links and, during the summer months, a boat service operates between Westminster and Kew.

When to Visit

Kew Gardens is open every day except December 24 and 25.

Due to the extent of its collection of living plants, there is something to see every season.

Spring and autumn offer ever-changing colours—from burgeoning bulbs or the autumnal hues of red, orange, and yellow.

Summer months provide heady scents and flowers in full bloom, while the winter allows you to appreciate the glasshouses and stunning winter berries.

Open from Easter to late September, admission to the Palace and the adjacent Royal Kitchens is included in the cost of entry to the Gardens.

How to Visit

The Gardens occupy 330 acres of reasonably flat terrain so the best advice is to dress appropriately for the weather and be prepared to spend time walking.

British weather is notoriously fickle, but Kew has plenty of indoor opportunities, including two art galleries dedicated to botanical art, Kew Palace, and the glasshouses and restaurants.

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