Kew Gardens

Key information Area: 121 ha

Started: 1759

UNESCO World Heritage Site Inscription: 2003

How to get here: Getting to Kew is easy. It’s just 30 minutes from Central London, and a short 5 minute walk from Kew Gardens Station (London Overground and District Line Station) to Victoria Gate which is the main entrance.

Introduction

The Kew Gardens have the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in world, growing out in the landscape and within its magnificient glasshouses and nurseries. Founded in 1840, from the exotic garden at Kew Park in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, UK, its living collections include more than 30,000 different kinds of plants, while the herbarium, which is one of the largest in the world, has over seven million preserved plant specimens.

The library contains more than 750,000 volumes, and the illustrations collection contains more than 175,000 prints and drawings of plants. It is one of London’s top tourist attractions and is a World Heritage Site. Kew Gardens, together with the botanic gardens at Wakehurst Place in Sussex, are managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (brand name Kew), an internationally important botanical research and education institution that employs 750 staff and is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Kew site, which has been dated as formally starting in 1759, though it can be traced back to the exotic garden at Kew Park, formed by Lord Capel John of Tewkesbury, consists of 121 hectares (300 acres) of gardens and botanical glasshouses, four Grade I listed buildings, and 36 Grade II listed structures, all set in an internationally significant landscape.

Fun Fact: Did you know Kew Gardens has its own police force? It’s called Kew Constabulary which has been in operation since 1847.

Top attractions at Kew

The Hive The Hive is a one of its kind, multi-sensory experience created to highlight the extraordinary life of honey bees. A feat of British engineering, it stands 17 metres tall, set in a wildflower meadow. Treetop Walkway Take in the breathtaking views across the Kew Gardens and beyond while walking through the tops of trees, 18 meters above the woodland floor. Cool Broad Walk Borders Planted with more than 30,000 plants, the Borders provide striking textures and colors throughout the summer months. Palm House An iconic Victorian glasshouse with rain forest climate inside. It houses an extraordinary collection of tropical plants from some of the most threatened environments on the planet.

Tips

Use London Directory Map on this page to get directions to Kew Gardens. You should use public transport as parking is limited. When using online maps please search by gate name not postcode.

By London tube: Kew Gardens station (500m to Victoria Gate) By train: Kew Bridge station (800m to Elizabeth Gate)

By bus: 65 stops at Victoria and Lion Gate

By bike: Racks are available at all gates

Free disabled access parking is available (for blue badge holders only) at Kew’s car park on Ferry Lane, TW9 3AF.

How did you like Kew Gardens? Leave a review below.