Enter a winter wonderland at Kew Gardens this Christmas - with Father Christmas, winter tree tours, vintage carousel and roasted chestnuts!

Sat 8 Dec 2012 - Sun 6 Jan 2013

Come and celebrate the festive season at Kew Gardens this year, complete with Santa’s Grotto for the kids, late night retail therapy for avid shoppers and delicious Christmas treats for all!

Lara Mistry, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s Festival Manager, says, “Christmas at Kew is all about celebrating with your family and friends. With an array of festive activities, Kew is a great stop for a festive day out.”

For you at Kew

Christmas shopping...

There is no better place to buy your Christmas tree this year than at Kew’s Victoria Plaza shop, where you can also find a variety of festive and botanically inspired presents and stocking fillers for the whole family. Exclusive products include a range of Kew-inspired St Nicholas Christmas tree decorations, as well as Jo Edwards cashmere scarves and Anna P handmade bags, available to buy from September.

Escape the bustle of the high street and take advantage of late night shopping at Kew Gardens, every Thursday in December. With a 20% discount available for night owls, you can’t afford to miss out! Alternatively spend over £100 throughout December in any of Kew’s shops and get a voucher for £20 off in January, or spend just £25 and get a free David Nash bag for life.

You can also shop online, where you will receive a 15% discount and free delivery for orders over £100.

David Nash at Kew: A Natural Gallery...

See David Nash’s magnificent sculptures, nestled amid the wonderful winter landscape at Kew this Christmas. Alternatively, escape the cold and be inspired by his works in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, the Temperate House and the Nash Conservatory. Find out more about the exhibition.

Christmas treats...

Enjoy some festive treats at Kew Gardens with roasted chestnuts and mulled wine available on weekends outside the south end of the Princess of Wales Conservatory. For something a little heartier, visit Kew’s Orangery restaurant to try our special festive menu and relax amidst the Christmas wreaths.

Recycle...

Once the Christmas festivities are over, bring your Christmas tree (minus decorations) to Brentford Gate during opening times and have it recycled for free by our arboretum team. Available from Boxing Day until mid January 2013.

For kids at Kew

Father Christmas...

Bring your little ones along to meet Father Christmas in his grotto, located in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, which will be open for free from Sat 8 to Sun 23 December 2012, midday until 3.30pm, with last entry at 3pm.

Vintage carousel...

After the kids have visited Father Christmas, take them for a ride on our stunning vintage carousel on Kew Palace lawn, from Sat 8 Dec to Sun 6 Jan, 10.30am until 4pm daily (adult £2, child £2, an adult accompanying a child under five is £1).

For very young children, why not take a spin in our mini vintage car ride, which runs from 10.30am to 4.00pm daily (adults £3, children £2).

Face painting...

Whether it’s Rudolph, an elf, or even a Christmas pudding, your children will love getting their faces painted as a festive character at Climbers and Creepers, Kew’s indoor play area. 10.30am to 3.30pm daily (£4 per face, £7 for two).

Hands on sessions...

For the curious kids, big and small, Kew’s volunteer guides will be offering free sessions in the Orangery restaurant, where families can learn about symbolic plants and trees associated with the festive season. Sessions run on Wednesdays and Sundays, between 12-2pm.

Winter trees at Kew Gardens

Winter trees tour...

Take a free guided tour of Kew's trees this winter. The walks are daily and start from the volunteer’s desk at Victoria Plaza (8 Dec - 6 Jan 2013, 11am - Introduction to Kew, 12.30pm - David Nash Tour, 1.30pm - Winter Trees Tour).

If you prefer to go at your own pace, just pick up a leaflet at the gates and try a self-guided ‘Winter Walk’.

Christmas Tree...

Come and see Kew’s beautiful Christmas tree at Victoria Gate, decorated with traditional twinkling lights, it is sure to create a truly festive atmosphere in the Gardens.

Ends

For more information please contact the RBG Kew Press Office on 020 8332 5607 or email pr@kew.org

Images are available to download from the press image library. Please contact the press office for the username and password.

Admission:

Adults £14.50, concessions £12.50, free for children under 17 (with an adult)
Visitor information: 020 8332 5655 or info@kew.org
Website: www.kew.org

Closing times:

Sat 8 Dec 2012- Sun 6 Jan 2013:

Gates close at 4.15pm
Last entry to the Gardens, the Glasshouses, Galleries and the Xstrata Treetop Walkway is 30 minutes before closing at 3.45pm

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding living collection of plants and world-class Herbarium as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world. Kew Gardens is a major international visitor attraction. Its landscaped 132 hectares and RBG Kew’s country estate, Wakehurst Place, attract nearly 2 million visitors every year. Kew was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2009. Wakehurst Place is home to Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world. RBG Kew and its partners have collected and conserved seed from 10 per cent of the world's wild flowering plant species (c.30, 000 species). The aim is to conserve 25% by 2020, and its enormous potential for future conservation can only be fulfilled with the support of the public and other funders.

Kew receives funding from the UK Government through Defra for approximately half of its income and is also reliant on support from other sources. Without the voluntary monies raised through membership, donations and grants, Kew would have to significantly scale back activities at a time when, as environmental challenges become ever more acute, its resources and expertise are needed in the world more than ever. Kew needs to raise significant funds both in the UK and overseas. Members of the public can support the work of the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership by getting involved with the ‘Adopt a Seed, Save a Species' campaign. For £25 an individual can adopt a seed or for £1000 anyone can save an entire species.www.kew.org/adoptaseed