Pre-booked Walking Tours at Kew Gardens

Pre-book a guided walking tour for groups and individuals with our volunteer guides.

A Kew guide leads a tour through the Gardens

Guided walking tours at Kew Gardens

Pre-Booked Tours for groups

If you are a group of adults you may wish to pre-book a guided walking tour with one or more of our Volunteer Guides.

The cost is £50 per guide (this does not include your entry to the Gardens). Each guide can take up to 15 people. Groups of more than 15 must book more than one guide. Groups of less than 10 are also accepted but the cost remains £50. Tours take approximately 1 hour and may be booked from 10am every day throughout the year except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (24 & 25 December) when the Gardens are closed. As no refunds can be given, please ensure that your group can come before booking a tour.

Booking a Guided Tour

You will need to download, complete and return the Guided tour booking form by the 10th day of the month prior to your visit. For example, if you wish to book a tour in July, you will need to return the form by 10th June. Tours booked after this time depend upon guide availability. If you are uncertain of the final numbers in your party, estimate the number of people requiring a tour as well as the number of guides required and either email your form to tours@kew.org or send the form to:

Guided Tours
Museum No. 1
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB
Direct Line: +44 (0)20 8332 5604
Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5640
E-mail: tours@kew.org

Admission to the Gardens

Admission to the Gardens is not included in the cost of the guided tour and will need to be paid separately as follows:
Groups of 10 or more can apply for discounted group entry through Group bookings.
Groups of less than 10 will need to pay at the gate on arrival.
Groups of students in full-time education may be eligible for reduced admission but will need to apply to School visits. See Education visits for more details. Volunteer Guides are happy to give tours to groups of students aged 18+.
Disabled Groups need to apply in writing to the Travel Trade office for free admission. For tours please apply to Discovery Walking Tours.
Major Travel Trade clients are invoiced by Kew after the visit.

Tour Content

You may choose a general tour which takes in the highlights of the season, explores the exotic plants in the glasshouses and explains the history and work of Kew, or you may prefer Festival tours or Themed tours on a specialist topic. Tours are normally given in English although we can offer general tours in the following languages:

French, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, British Sign Language (at a basic level)

Providing tours in foreign languages and specific topics depends upon the availability of guides who either speak that language or specialise in the particular theme requested. If we are unable to provide a guide who speaks your language you will need to bring an interpreter (or a number of interpreters, depending upon the size of your group).

Start & End Points

Booked tours for groups normally start from the Guides Desk at Victoria Plaza. Other meeting points can be arranged, for example pick-up from one of our restaurants or another gate. Please indicate on the form if you have a particular location where you would like the tour to finish (for example, somewhere for lunch/tea). If not, please leave the box blank and we will leave this to the discretion of the guide. Please consult the Visitor Information Map of Kew Gardens. Parking is permitted free of charge on Kew Road after 10am. Please note that traffic in West London can be congested; allow ample time for your journey to ensure that your group arrives promptly at the designated starting point.

Tour Confirmation

You will be sent a formal confirmation with the name(s) of the Guide(s) towards the end of the month prior to your tour. You will need to bring this with you to present to the Guide(s).

Late Arrival & Cancellation

Important: Guides are requested to wait up to 30 minutes for their groups, although they are not obliged to do so. If your group is running late, please ring Kew Information Desk on 020 8332 5697 and ask them to inform the guide(s). If your group arrives late and the guide has gone, we cannot refund the cost of the tour(s). Nor can we offer refunds for tour cancellations once the booking has been processed.

Pre-booked tours for individuals

From time to time we offer themed tours for individuals. Please phone our Tour Booking Line on 020 8332 5604 or email tours@kew.org when you see them advertised.

We also offer walking tours for individuals with sensory or mobility difficulties. Guides are happy to lead tours for those with visual impairment or accompany a visitor in a wheelchair. Please apply to Discovery Walking Tours