I had some time off, and despite promising myself I wouldn’t adventure into London during the week, I thought I’d allow myself a technicality if I visited a green space. I went to visit Kew Gardens, one of London’s largest botanical gardens.
Kew Gardens station itself is small and quaint, I honestly found it hard to believe I was still in London. It has small-town vibes, with a little bookshop being the first thing I saw as I emerged from the underpass at the station. I arrived in the early morning, and could see how much of a scorcher it was going to be. I had the fortune to visit on one of London’s very rare summer days. It’s a common trope that we Brits like to talk about the weather, and it’s not entirely untrue. Especially when it’s sunny, it’s almost a shock to us, but it does bring us out in force.
Some links on this page are affiliate links, to learn more about how we use these, read our disclaimer.
It’s a short but beautiful walk from the station to the gardens, with some beautiful stone brick houses along the way. It’s pretty much a straight line from the station to the Victoria Gate entrance. I walked into the entrance and grabbed my ticket, which went quickly, as I had arrived on a midweek early morning, there was little to no queue, just a few American tourists.
Short on time?
Book tickets to visit Kew Gardens
Find your stay in London
Explore more of the London with me:
There was a map just as I got through the ticket booths. But I ignored it for the moment, I was instantly drawn towards a large building on my right. This would turn out to be the Palm house, the first of many glass greenhouses across the gardens themselves. I took some time outside before going in, taking some photos of the flowers in full bloom outside.
Palm House: Step Into a Living Victorian Rainforest
But soon I felt it was time for me to go in. Greenhouses come in all shapes and sizes, but the Victorian-style ones are always a firm favourite. There’s almost a sense of wonderment to them, like everything is still a mystery to the world and still being discovered. The Palm House is filled with plants from the rainforest, including many that are endangered or extinct in the wild. Inside the humidity hit me, it’s always a battle to stop my lens from steaming up in places such as this.
I love how Victorian glasshouses have these beautiful spiral staircases that take you up into the canopy. It would be so easy for Kew Gardens to restrict them to staff only, but instead, we are allowed to climb. They just make for great photos too, Id have loved to get a couple myself, but that is one of the cons of solo travel. But I was happy to get photos of the stairs themselves with the plants.
Spring at Kew Gardens: Sounds of Blossom Experience
Stepping out into the cooler air, I walked my way around to the Rose Garden behind the Palm House. Here was my first “Blossom Highlight”. To celebrate the arrival of spring, Kew Gardens has collaborated with the Royal College of Music to create “Sounds of Blossom”, bringing together musical compilations from the students with the blossoms inspired by Spring. I loved these highlights, and I would come across more during my day.
I was getting a bit hungry now, it was that awkward time where it was too late for breakfast, and not early enough for lunch. So I checked the map on where to go. The Orangery looked like my best bet, I just fancied a drink and a snack. It was a fair walk between exhibits, but it’s lovely and peaceful. I was in no rush, so I walked along, snapping the fauna with my camera as I went. When I arrived, I grabbed a drink and a chocolate bar and poured over the map.
My chosen route would take me to the Minka House and Bamboo Garden, via Kew Palace. So after a little break, I loaded up a podcast and started my walk. I know some people love silence, or the sound of nature, and I do too sometimes. But often I like exploring with a podcast. I stopped outside Kew Palace. Unfortunately, I couldn’t enter and explore. But it was beautiful from the outside. I love the bright colour, and enjoyed framing it amongst the green of the trees and the perfectly manicured gardens.
Exploring the Bamboo Garden & Minka House
Satisfied with my photos, I headed to the Bamboo Garden. Walking into the gardens felt like stepping into another world. One moment I’m surrounded by trees, the next bamboo is towering above me. I adored this area, it just felt so far away from central London. In the heart of the garden was the Minka house.
Minka house originally belonged to the Yonezu family, who lived in it after their main house was destroyed by bombs in 1945. After the last of the family died, the house was donated to Kew in 2001. It was carefully dismantled and shipped over, where it was rebuilt by a collaborative team of Japanese carpenters and British builders. Now the house is nestled in the garden. You can find bushels of sacred bamboo known as Nandina domestica ‘firepower’ at the entrance. It is believed to ward away bad dreams.
Walking amongst the Treetop Walkways
I checked the map, my next stop would be the treetop walkway. It was a straight walk, letting me go over a beautiful bridge where I stopped and watched the ducks. I continued shortly on, enjoying a stroll, which turned into a hurried walk when I got the side eye from a goose. Soon enough I found myself at the base of the treetop walkway. Deciding I had done enough walking for the moment, I went to get the lift up rather than the stairs.
As soon as I got to the top, I heard the sounds of a school trip approaching. Rather I enjoy the serenity of being alone. I decided to hurry and take my photos. I love the view of Temperate House, the second of the three glasshouses. And decided that was where I would head next. Just in time too, the rabble had arrived, and the treetops were just starting to sway with the excited stamps of the school trip.
Inside the Temperate House: Kew’s Largest Greenhouse
It was a short walk to Temperature House, but this glasshouse was a lot more open than the Palm House. The doors were open, making the temperature inside a lot cooler and less humid. A relief for me and it made it easier to get photos without my lenses fogging up.
My favourite part of this house is the waterfall. It may be little, but I love the water features in gardens. I didn’t get the best views from above, but there’s plenty of views down below. I didn’t spend a huge amount of time here though. The day was getting on and i was getting further away from lunch, so I decided it was time to grab some food.
Kew Gardens Restaurants: Where to Eat & Drink
There are plenty of options when it comes to food in Kew Gardens. I had been scanning the menus online whilst I walked around, racked with indecision. Ultimately I decided to head to The Pavillion Bar and Grill. I liked how different the options available were though. From restaurants aimed more towards families, to high-end dining, there was something for everyone.
I already knew what I wanted, so I grabbed a beer from the bar with my order. There wasn’t a huge selection of beer, so I went with an Asahi. My burger was presented beautifully, and tasted good too. I really loved the design of the Pavilion. They made the most of the view with big glass windows. The seating was stylish and cosy, it’s a bar I would be happy to return to and relax with friends, and comfortably stay for a while, especially in the sun.
Visiting the Great Pagoda
I had spied the Great Pagoda from the treetop walkway, and was determined to visit. Japan has always fascinated me, I’ve never been but it’s big on my bucket list. I love the architecture and designs, in fact one of the favourite buildings in London is the London Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park. I made my way across the grass to get closer, unfortunately it was closed so I couldn’t go inside, but I did spot a little bench free for me to relax on. One day I will visit Japan, but for now this will do.
As is my custom I grabbed a few shots before I spied the time on my watch. The day was starting to get away from me and I had to return home. So my day in the royal botanic gardens would have to come to an end. But I wouldn’t rush, I was the complete other side of the park so I enjoyed a slow walk across. I did check the gift shop before I left, and I like photographing greenery but I am no good at growing it. I did enjoy the selection of cakes and cocktails though.
It can be so easy to get wrapped up in the concrete jungle that is London. Its easy to forget that green spaces like here are so accessible on just a short tube ride. I grabbed a frappuccino from Starbucks on the way to the station as a way to beat the heat. I instantly regretted this though when I saw “the Tap on the Line” pub, and realised a beer would have been better.
Kew Gardens Frequently Asked Questions
Kew Gardens is the perfect place to relax. You can walk around and explore the gardens, visit the greenhouses, or if you have kids play in the park. You can even pack a picnic and enjoy one of the rare moments England gets the sun.
Yes you will need to buy a ticket to visit Kew Gardens. If you would like to purchase them in advance you can do so using the link below to Get Your Guide.
Although there is a lot of availability for Kew Gardens tickets, they can still sell out. It is recommended to book in advance if you want to visit.
This is entirely down to the route you take and speed you walk. You can easily see most of the park in a few hours. But to really enjoy it you will need a lot longer. This isn’t a place to be rushed. But you can spend as much or as little time here as you want.
Yes, if you choose to travel by car you can finding parking on Ferry Lane, near the Brentwood Gate entrance. Parking costs £9 per day, and you can pay using a machine onsite or the PayByPhone app.
That is an entirely personal choice, but there isn’t really a bad time. In the winter you can find winter lights, spring the flowers in bloom, summer you have the sun and autumn beautiful colours. Just always make sure you plan for the weather.
Yes, the winter is a fantastic time to visit. The gardens are still beautiful in the snow and there are greenhouses to escape from the cold. It may get darker earlier but there are beautiful light walks to explore.
Kew Gardens station can be found on the District Line. Making it really easy to access from anywhere in London.
There are plenty of places to eat nearby, both inside and outside of Kew Gardens. I have attached a list of restaurants within the gardens. You also have the Tap on the Line pub just outside Kew Gardens station, as well as a Tesco Express if you decide to pick up a few things for a picnic.