Kew Gardens Tours and Tickets

Yes, 1-hour Kew Gardens tours occur daily from the site’s Victoria Plaza, usually twice daily, in the morning and the afternoon. These introductory tours are capped at 15 people and cover the gardens’ conservation work and the site's history, which dates back to the 18th century.

Standard admission tickets to Kew Gardens include most talks, tours, and exhibitions. Events that need extra payment include the popular Kew Explorer Land Train, performances, after-hours events, and courses such as the moss art workshops or botanical candle painting sessions. Check with Kew Gardens if you’re in doubt.

Weekday mornings are quietest at Kew Gardens, but crowds aren’t too much of a problem at any time as the site covers a whopping 300-acre (120-hectare) space. As expected, warm and sunny days attract more people, with higher visitor numbers on weekends and public holidays.

Estimate at least three hours to explore Kew Gardens. The site is enormous, and a common complaint from leaving visitors is that they wish they’d seen more. If you’re a big gardening fan, dedicate a day to the site to cover lunch, coffee, and a browse of the shop.

Yes. Kew Gardens is one of the finest London places for a picnic. Just a few things to note: Bin all your waste (or better, take it home), picnic furniture and barbecues are not allowed, and seating areas by the eateries are only for those who buy their food on-site.

Kew Gardens has worked hard to make the site accessible to all. The gardens are primarily flat, with tarmac paths all around. The eateries have ramps and accessible restrooms, and reduced-mobility tours are offered. Disabled parking is also available, although visitors need a UK-issued Blue Badge parking permit.