Press Release

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to increase adult admission price from February 2005

Children will continue to have free admission

8th November 2004
For immediate release

Following its annual review of admission charges, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has announced that from 5 February 2005, the price of an adult admission to the Gardens will rise from £8.50 to £10. All children up to the age of sixteen are admitted free of charge, and that policy will continue.

Season tickets and membership of the Friends organisation provide good-value access to Kew Gardens for people who live locally, or other frequent visitors. Concessionary rates are available to people over sixty, students, people receiving benefits and who are registered disabled.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a World Heritage Site charged with responsibility for maintaining over 40 listed buildings and other structures on its 300 acres in Kew and 500 acres at Wakehurst Place in Sussex. Approximately 60% of Kew's funding is provided by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and supports the scientific research and international conservation work of Kew. In order to operate each year, and to maintain the Gardens in good order, Kew has to bridge a funding gap of several millions of pounds. Admission fees, shops, events, and venue hire among other activities, are instrumental in filling that funding gap. The price of admission is reviewed each year, and compared with other visitor attractions to ensure value for money.

The Gardens are open every day of the year except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Visitors who come to enjoy a host of attractions over the Christmas period - skating on the ice rink, rides on the Ferris wheel, music, free carol concert, decorated trees and illuminations and great shopping and food - will be able to enter the Gardens at the old admission rate throughout the season.

Notes for Editors

Frequent Visitors
Season tickets for Kew, and a variety of different types of membership represent great value, giving unlimited entry to the gardens and all sorts of additional benefits.

Comparisons

Hampton Court

Adult 2004 £11.80

Child 2004 £7.70

Windsor Castle

Adult 2004 £12.00

Child 2004 £6.00

Eden Project

Adult 2004 £12.00

Child 2004 £5.00

Kew Gardens

Adult 2005 £10.00

Child 2005 Free


For more information please contact Sue Runyard, Head of Corporate Communications, on 020 8332 5681


For further Press information please contact:

Kew:

Public Relations
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond
Surrey TW9 3AB
UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5607/5619
Email:pr@kew.org

 

Wakehurst Place:

Public Relations
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Wakehurst Place
Ardingly
West Sussex RH17 6TN
UK

Tel: +44 (0)1444 894018
Email: msb@kew.org