Kew Gardens Access Guide

We aim to provide an accessible environment for all our visitors, with the best possible access within the Gardens and in our buildings and exhibitions. If you’re visiting with children, you can find everything you need to know for your visit in our Parents' Survival Guide.

If you have a question or comment about access, please call our visitor information team
on +44 (0)20 8332 5655 or email us.

Sacker Crossing on Lake
Sackler Crossing and the Lake, Kew Gardens

Accessible Travel

Parking

There is limited Parking available at Kew. However there are three dedicated parking bays available for disabled drivers near the Main Gate.

There are also several spaces in our car park, right next to the Brentford Gate, which are free for disabled drivers. If these are full, disabled drivers are also welcome to park elsewhere in the Car Park.

Onstreet parking is also usually available on Kew Road (A307) providing easy access to Victoria Gate (restricted before 10am). Note that on busy days the spaces available on the Kew Road can fill up quickly so parking here is not guaranteed.

Public Transport

Please note if taking the District line to Kew Gardens station from central London, there is no wheelchair-accessible exit to Kew Gardens from the westbound platform. Instead you will need to travel one stop further to Richmond station where the train terminates and wait until it travels back to Kew Gardens station, when it will stop at the eastbound platform. The eastbound platform has a level exit leading to the Kew village area which is a short distance (400 metres) from Gardens. If you require assistance to dismount from the tube train, please contact TFL in advance on 0845 330 9880.

For further information on public transport options, please see our How to Find Us page.
 

Autumn tree orangery
The Orangery during Autumn

Entrances to the Gardens

Kew Gardens covers over 300 acres and there are four entrance gates. The following points should help to explain which gate is most suitable for your visit.

Victoria Gate:

  • closest entrance to the Kew Gardens underground station (5-10 minutes walk, 400 metres)
  • adjacent to the Victoria Gate is the Victoria Plaza which has a shop, cafe and toilet facilities
  • the most convenient entrance for popular attractions such as the Palm House (100 metres from the entrance) and the Princess of Wales Conservatory (about 200 metres)
  • you can pick up the Kew Explorer service at Victoria gate, free daily guided Tours also start here
  • parking is sometimes available on the Kew Road outside the gate (see parking information above), however there are no drop-off areas or dedicated disabled parking spaces outside this gate

Main Gate:

  • closest entrance to the Kew Bridge mainline rail station (about 10-15 minutes walk, 800 metres)
  • drop-off area right outside the gate, disabled spaces only a short distance from the gate (see parking information above).
  • Main Gate is closest to the Orangery Restaurant and Kew Palace (both 200 metres). Approx 300 metres to the Princess of Wales Conservatory, and 0.5km to the Palm House

Brentford Gate:

  • Brentford Gate is adjacent to Kew's Ferry Lane car park. Disabled spaces are available (see parking information above).
  • Brentford Gate is about 5 minutes walk (300 metres) from the White Peaks Cafe and Climbers and Creepers children's play area (300 metres)
  • Brentford Gate is about 800 metres from the Palm House and 700 metres from the Princess of Wales Conservatory

Lion Gate:

  • Lion Gate is the only gate in the southern part of the Gardens, and is therefore much further from the popular attractions such as the Palm House, Princess of Wales Conservatory and the Climbers and Creepers children's play area, it is however closest to Kew's Pagoda (200 metres from the gate) and the Pavilion Restaurant (400 metres)
  • this area of the Gardens is consequently much quieter with fewer visitors
  • the nearest toilets are about 300 metres from the Gate, at the Pavilion Restaurant

 

See more with the Kew Explorer

Explore Kew's 300 acres from the comfort of the Kew Explorer, and learn fascinating facts about the Kew's history along the way.

Kew Explorer
The Kew Explorer

Kew's land train, the Kew Explorer is a great introduction to the Gardens and an easy way to explore the vast area of the Gardens and all the main attractions. The route lasts approximately 40 minutes and stops at eight points including the Temperate House, the Palm House and the Pagoda.

Explorer ticket holders are able to get on and off at any of the stops throughout the day, and the tour includes a fascinating commentary so you are sure to learn something new about Kew.

There is space for one wheelchair in the last carriage of the vehicle, and also ample room for storage of folded-up wheelchairs.

Tickets prices: Adults £4, children (under 17) £1

Tickets may be purchased at any entrance gates or from the vehicle drivers at any of the eight stops. The main boarding point is STOP 1 close to the Victoria Plaza, and the first Kew Explorer leaves here daily at 11am. Services then normally run on the hour throughout the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 
 

Getting Around

Access

 

Palm House visitors
Kew's Palm House near Victoria Gate

The footpaths and the majority of buildings in the Gardens are suitable for wheelchairs. The terrain across the whole of the Gardens is generally flat, with tarmac paths in most places.

There is, however, no wheelchair access to the following areas:

  • Marine Display in the Palm House basement
  • the galleries levels in the top of the Palm House and Temperate House
  • the upper levels inside the Princess of Wales Conservatory (accessed by gentle slope which includes some small steps)

Access to Xstrata Treetop Walkway

For information about access to the Xstrata Treetop Walkway, please see out special Xstrata Treetop Walkway Access Page.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge at any of the entrance gates. However attendants to push wheelchairs around the gardens are not available.

Mobility Scooter
Kew's mobility scooters are FREE and can be pre-booked

Electric Mobility Scooters

We have eight mobility scooters available at Kew which can be borrowed free of charge. Due to the limited number available the scooters do need to be booked in advance, telephone 020 8332 5121 to book. Scooters can be made available at either Brentford Gate, Victoria Gate or Main Gate. Please advise at which gate you will arrive when booking. The scooters are provided to assist visitors with limited mobility and therefore find it difficult to walk long distances, but who are otherwise able.

You will need to show some form of ID with photograph, or with home address (eg. current driver's licence, recent gas bill) when collecting the scooter.

Note if you would like to bring your own mobility scooter, we do allow pavement-use type mobility scooters limited to 4mph into the Gardens. These can only be used on the footpaths, not on the grassed areas.

Large-print map

A large-print map, produced with the advice of the RNIB, is available at Ticket Offices and at the Victoria Plaza Information Desk.

Guide Dogs

Guide Dogs or Assistance dogs are allowed within the Gardens. Water is available upon request at any of our catering facilities.

 

Accessible facilities
 

Toilet facilities

There are a number of disabled toilets within easy reach of all the main attractions and gates: these are marked on the "Welcome to Kew Map" (provided on arrival).

Eating and Shopping

All restaurants, cafés and shops are wheelchair-accessible. There are also disabled toilets adjacent to all our cafes and restaurants.
Further information about our Cafes and Restaurants and Shops.


 

 

Visit Information