Kew is open 363 days of the year (closed for Christmas) so you can visit all year round. The plants vary throughout the seasons but that is what makes more than one visit so interesting.
Before you visit you can get lots of useful information from the Kew Gardens website, such as the Parent's Survival Guide.
Clothing
Top Tip: Wear a jacket that is easy to remove when inside the glasshouses as these buildings are hot and humid.
Top Tip: Wear flat shoes as narrow heels will go through the holes in the grated floor in the Palm House.
You will be given a free Visitor's Guide when you arrive. This includes a map and information on facilities. The Visitor's Guide is updated regularly due to the seasonal changes at Kew Gardens and is usually only valid for three months as the botanical world changes so fast.
Toilets Upon Arrival at Victoria Gate
Toilets are the other side of Victoria Plaza (go through and come out the other side).
Top Tip: There are more toilets and another baby changing station around the corner along the side of the lake (less than a minute away).
Kew Explorer Bus Tours
If you really are short of time you can see Kew in under an hour on the Kew Explorer. There is an additional charge for this hop on-hop off tour of Kew with 8 stops. Tours start at 11am daily and run every hour hour from Victoria Plaza. I haven't tried this tour but it looks like fun. It includes a running commentary of the sights.
Walking Tours
There are daily walking tours, usually at 11am and 2pm, lasting 60 minutes.
You need to register at the Guide Desk just inside Victoria Plaza at least 15 minutes before the start of the tour. There are also often other seasonal tours available so check at the Guide Desk for information.
- no climbing trees
- no ball games
- no bikes and scooters
- guide dogs only
