Open House London - Kew Gardens

Open House London at Kew Gardens

Architectural Tour

• Meet at Main Gate
• Tours Sat 18 / Sun 19 September at 11am, 12 noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm.
• Pre-book ONLY on 020 8332 5604

Buildings highlighted are the Nash Conservatory, Orangery, Kew Palace, Princess of Wales Conservatory, Davies Alpine House, Palm House, Waterlily House and Museum No 1. 

Herbarium, Library, Art and Archives

• Entry: via Herbarium entrance gate
• Tours Sat 18 / Sun 19 September,  10am – 4pm. Last entry 3pm.

Originally occupying a domestic house c.1720 with purpose built wings naturally lit, with atria added 1877 – 2000 to house library and 7,000,000 plant specimens. Victorian wings have elegant spiral staircases and ornamented metal pillars.
Entrance through the recently completed new wing designed by Edward Cullinan Architects.

See behind the scenes and gain an insight into scientific work carried out. You will see botanical specimens being prepared, modern collecting equipment, material collected by David Livingstone on the Zambesi expedition (1858-64) and selected material from our Library, Art and Archive Collection.
 

Jodrell Laboratory

• Meet at Main Gate
• Entry: All laboratories on ground floor, basement of Wolfson Wing.
• Tours Sat 18 Sept 10am, 12 noon, 2pm, 4pm / Sun 19 Sept 1pm, 3pm.
• Pre-book ONLY through Open House.

Housing reference collections, office and laboratories, the laboratory fits in with the local environment – horizontal cedar-board cladding will mellow to similar colour of trunks of eucalyptus trees outside. Louvred exterior and computer- controlled windows to regulate heating/cooling.
RIBA Award Winner 2007. Wilkinson Eyre Architects 2006.
 

Open day: Tropical Nursery

• Entry: though the gate beside White Peaks
• Sun 19th September, 11am–5pm, free

Kew’s Tropical Nursery is throwing open its gates for a day to give you a look at the fascinating work carried out behind the scenes to support the scientific, display and conservation work within the Gardens. There will be information on propagation techniques, conservation work and pest control, as well as displays of the amazing tropical plants raised in the nursery, including Orchids, Carnivorous plants, Bromeliads & Cacti. Nursery staff and volunteer guides will be on hand to talk about the plants on display and to answer any questions.