Climbers and Creepers

Activities

In the summer of 2004, Kew's determination to make serious botany great fun for children was demonstrated with the opening of 'Climbers and Creepers'. Bringing a new use to an old cycad house by White Peaks, Climbers and Creepers engages children from around 3-9 years in the pleasures of learning more about plants and their relationships with animals and people.

As 'insects', children climb inside a plant to learn about pollination. Thrills come when they learn about the dangers insects face from carnivorous plants when they trap model flies with Venus fly traps or are themselves 'eaten' by a giant pitcher plant.

Climbers and creepers' is the ideal spot for families with young children. To keep the fun going at home there are games, stories and more things to learn with Climbers and Creepers online.

Kids' Mission

Crawl through Climbers and Creepers and visit the glass-walled apiary:

• how do bees make honey?
• what is it like for small mammals in woodland?

Visitor information

Climbers and Creepers is open all year round for families to drop in casually and school parties to visit on a more organised basis. 

• for more ideas for things to do for families, read our parents' survival guide
• arrange a school visit by booking online 
• emergency assistance is available at the Help Point telephone located inside Climbers and Creepers to the right of the entrance. If using your own telephone please dial 0208 332 5121.

Treehouse Towers

Opened in April 2010

Our previous outdoor play area had to be removed as it was getting old and uneconomical to repair.

Located outside Climbers and Creepers, the new play area, Treehouse Towers, allows up to 300 kids to climb up ladders, clamber across rope bridges and slide their way down from the three towers. Each tower varies in height, and as children scale between them they’ll find each one more of a challenge.

The area features giant swings, zip wires, scramble nets, slides and a mountaineering ramp for families to enjoy, whilst also offering educational opportunities for children to learn about and appreciate trees.

Imaginatively constructed largely in FSC-certified wood, Treehouse Towers is supported by Velvet family toilet tissue. Velvet’s ‘three trees’ initiative ensures that three trees are planted for every tree used.