Kew Gardens and Kew Palace

Kew Gardensis London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous gardens in the World!

With lots to see and do for visitors of all ages, it’s a perfect day out for the whole family.

Wander along the Gardens’ towering tree-top walkway or stroll through the 326-acres of land, where you’ll find plenty of peaceful spots to enjoy a picnic or just relax!

Even if the weather is less than perfect there’s still plenty to explore, with 3 stunning galleries dedicated to botanical art, plus a variety of glasshouses and other indoor attractions.

Delve into a tropical rainforest in the Palm house, be amazed by the giant lily pads in the waterlily house and travel through 10 climate zones in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. Don’t miss the Bonsai House and secluded Garden Glasshouse.

Kew gardens is also home to Queen Charlotte’s Cottage - the royal family’s beloved rustic retreat and the place where many intimate family picnics took place.

The Hive

Did you know 70 out of 100 crops that provide 90% of the world’s food are pollinated by bees?

Soaring 17 metres in the air and adorned with hundreds of glowing LED lights, the award-winning installationThe Hiveis now open atKew Gardens.

The sound and light intensity within The Hive is triggered through vibration sensors inside a real beehive, and you can hear the live activity of worker bees going about their business, so every visit to The Hive is different!

This 40-tonne lattice structure creates an incredible multi-sensory experience of what it’s like to be inside a real bee hive, and explores the vital role of bees in feeding our planet.

Entry to The Hive is included with your admission ticket.

Kew Palace

Kew Palace is currently closed for the winter season and will re-open 29 March - 30 September 2018

Our Kew Gardens tickets also include FREE entry to Kew Palace.

This intimate and beautiful 400-year-old royal retreat is perhaps best known as the place where King George III was shut away during his well-documented periods of ‘madness’.

The Hive is a unique, multi-sensory experience designed to highlight the extraordinary life of bees. A feat of British engineering, it stands 17 metres tall, set in a wildflower meadow.

The Hive is an immersive sound and visual experience. The lights you see and the sounds you hear inside The Hive are triggered by bee activity in a real beehive at Kew.

The intensity of the sounds and light change constantly, echoing that of the real beehive. The multi award-winning Hive was inspired by scientific research into the health of honeybees. It is a visual symbol of the pollinators’ role in feeding the planet and the challenges facing bees today.

It is the design of UK based artist Wolfgang Buttress. Originally created for the UK Pavilion at the 2015 Milan Expo.

It’s 17 metres tall, constructed from 170,000 aluminium parts, 1,000 LED lights and took four months to reconstruct here at Kew.

Explainers are on hand daily to help you make the most of this unique, multi-sensory experience and learn about the extraordinary life of bees.

Things to know about visiting The Hive:

• Entry to The Hive is included in a day ticket to Kew
• Since The Hive is an open-air attraction, we may need to close it for maintenance or visitor safety: check for visitor notices and closures
• We are unable to accommodate mobility scooters due to the restricted width of the paths and interior space within The Hive
• The path to The Hive is designed to be fully accessible but the gradient may feel steep to self-propelled wheelchair users

Important: 12 to 23 March 2018: The Hive will be temporarily closed for essential maintenance work.

Ticket Information

Your ticket may be used within 7 days of the date printed above.

Opening Days:Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is open daily year round excluding 24 and 25 December.

Opening Times:10AM. We recommend arriving between 10am and 11am to allow enough time to see the Gardens and avoid busiest entry times. The Hive opens daily at the same time as the Gardens.

Closing Times:Gardens close at 4.15pm (last entry 3.45pm) until 9 February 2018, between 10 February – 24 March 2018 at 5.45pm (last entry 5.15pm) and remainder of 2018 is TBC. Glasshouses, Galleries, Climbers & Creepers and Treetop Walkway close will close earlier than the Gardens please check the attraction’s website for latest closures.

Kew Palace:The Palace is closed during Winter but will open daily29 March - 30 September 2018and is included in admission. Closing times vary so please check locally.

Address:Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB.

Additional Information:CONCESSION Tickets are valid for seniors aged 60 or over and full-time students with valid ID which must be presented upon arrival at the attraction. THIS TICKET DOES NOT ALLOW ACCESS TO THE CHRISTMAS AT KEW EVENT OR OTHER SPECIAL TICKETED EVENTS DURING THE YEAR. FOR SPECIALLY TICKETED EVENTS TICKETS CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED DIRECT FROM KEW GARDEN’S WEBSITE IN ADVANCE OF ARRIVAL UNLESS ALREADY LISTED ON OUR SITE. This is an outdoor attraction, please dress according to weather.