Wackadoo! Beloved animated TV series Bluey arrives at Kew this Easter

Kew Gardens: 29 March to 14 April 2024
Wakehurst: 27 March to 14 April 2024

Bluey arrives for real life this Easter at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst
Interactive activity trail inspired by the hit animated TV show launches in Kew’s picturesque spring landscape
Free entry to Kew Gardens for children under the age of 4
£1 entry to Kew Gardens and Wakehurst for recipients of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other legacy benefits

The hugely popular animated television series Bluey is coming to Kew Gardens and Wakehurst this Easter for real life.

Inspired by the onscreen adventures of a lovable six-year-old Blue Heeler puppy Bluey and her family, which have captured the hearts and imaginations of children and adults alike across the globe, Bluey at Kew and Wakehurst is a must-do for families during the holidays.

Set within the unique setting of Kew's 320-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape, families are invited to take in the sights and aromas of the spring blossom, then head off towards the Bluey play zone to interact with 3D installations and family-friendly activities inspired by fan-favourite episodes of the show as seen on Disney+ and CBeebies. As you embark on your journey, be on the lookout for educational panels about the rich variety plants and wildlife native to Australia, as well as some of the rarities and oddities in Kew’s collections.

And don't forget to bring your camera to capture your Bluey experience at Kew, which also includes appearances of a Bluey costume character over the two-week run.

Paul Denton, Head of Visitor Programmes and Exhibitions at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew says: 'Bluey at Kew is a highlight of this year's springtime family offer and we're delighted to bring the hit sensation to life. Visitors can look forward to a unique experience set within Kew’s spring landscape and some of the most picturesque parts of the Gardens. Bluey promises to be an exciting adventure that will leave families with cherished memories for a very long time.'

Families are welcome to take part in the activity, which is included in the price of admission to Kew Gardens. Concessions such as the £1 ticket offer for recipients of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other legacy benefits ensure everyone will have a chance to enjoy Bluey, and all children under the age of four can enter Kew Gardens for free. Be sure to visit kew.org to find the best value ticket for your perfect day out.

Katie Hibbs, Senior Marketing Manager at BBC Studios Kids & Family (UK & EMEA), says: “We are absolutely thrilled to see Bluey at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst this year. Combining nature, fun and play with some of the most memorable moments from Bluey's adventures on the show, Bluey at Kew is guaranteed to be the perfect day out over the Easter period.”

Food & Drink

If you're feeling a bit peckish or your children need a pit stop from all the excitement, head down to one of Kew's many restaurants and cafes for a quick bite. Kew's catering offer includes hot meals and delicious pizzas at the Family Kitchen & Shop, refreshing drinks and sandwiches at the recently renovated.

Sounds of Blossom

Springtime at Kew is packed with a wide variety of visitor programming this year, including a brand-new festival celebrating the beauty of spring flowers through music. Immerse yourself in Sounds of Blossom between Friday 23 March and Sunday 14 April, created in partnership with the Royal College of Music. Sounds of Blossom will feature six bespoke musical compositions embedded into the landscape, offering a unique sensory experience around Kew’s cherry blossom and magnolias.

Elsewhere in the Gardens and on select dates and subject to availability, visitors can take part in guided sensory tours, participate in a Botanical amigurumi crocheting workshop or you can always hop on the Kew Explorer land train and take a scenic tour of the Gardens to learn more about their incredible history.

Last chance to see Petrichor

This will also be your last chance to visit the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art to witness Petrichor, an exhibition by contemporary artist Mat Collishaw. Combining the power of video, photography and illusion, Petrichor has attracted widespread acclaim and rave reviews, but hurry up as the exhibition ends on April 7. Entry to Petrichor comes with the price of admission.

Bluey at Wakehurst

The hit animated television series Bluey is also coming to Wakehurst, in West Sussex from 27 March to 14 April. With fun-packed activity zones spread across the landscape, Bluey at Wakehurst is a must-do for the holidays.

If plant life stops, all life stops

At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew we are dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to halt the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. With Kew’s world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – we are using our trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity, we reply on the critical support of our visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of humanity and all life on Earth.

For tickets, please visit: https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/visit-kew-gardens/tickets

£1 ticket offer available to recipients of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other legacy benefits
£9 ticket available to young person or student (16 to 29)
Family tickets starting from £26 available during peak season (1 February to 31 October)
Kids under 4 go FREE to Kew
Children 16 and under go FREE at Wakehurst
Visit the website to find the best value offer

ENDS

For high-res images, please download from the following link and credit as named: https://we.tl/t-NRyFRSvtyY

For more information, images and interview requests, please contacts Sebastian Kettley, Media Officer (s.kettley@kew.org) or the Press Office (pr@kew.org)

For more information about Bluey at Wakehurst, please contact Jessica Hayne, Communications & Content Executive (j.hayne@kew.org) or the Wakehurst PR Team (WakehurstPR@kew.org)

Notes to Editors

About Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding collections as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world. Kew Gardens is a major international and a top London visitor attraction. Kew Gardens’ 132 hectares of landscaped gardens, and Wakehurst, Kew’s Wild Botanic Garden, attract over 2.5 million visits every year. Kew Gardens was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and celebrated its 260th anniversary in 2019. Wakehurst is home to Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world. RBG Kew receives approximately one third of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needed to support RBG Kew’s vital work comes from donors, membership and commercial activity including ticket sales. In the first six months since implementing a new accessibility scheme for those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Legacy Benefits, Kew has welcomed over 45,000 visitors with £1 tickets.

About Bluey

Bluey is created and written by Joe Brumm and produced by the multiple Emmy® Award-winning Ludo Studio for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and BBC Studios Kids & Family.

The series follows Bluey, a loveable, inexhaustible, Blue Heeler dog, who lives with her Mum, Dad and her little sister, Bingo. Bluey uses her limitless energy to play games that unfold in unpredictable and hilarious ways, bringing her family and the whole neighbourhood into her world of fun.

Bluey is produced by Emmy® Award-winning Ludo Studio for ABC KIDS (Australia) and co-commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios Kids & Family. Financed in association with Screen Australia, Bluey is proudly 100% created, written, animated, and post produced in Brisbane Queensland, Australia, with funding from the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland and the Australian Government.

About Ludo Studio

Ludo Studio is a BAFTA, multi-Emmy® and Logie award-winning Australian studio that creates and produces original scripted drama, animation and digital stories that are authored by incredible local talent, distributed globally and loved by audiences everywhere.

ludostudio.com.au

BBC Studios Kids & Family

 BBC Studios Kids & Family is an integral part of the BBC Studios content powerhouse – a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group which produces, invests and distributes content globally. 

With specialist knowledge of what makes young audiences tick, BBC Studios Kids & Family identifies and nurtures great projects and turns them into global hits, seamlessly taking content from conception, development and production to investment, franchise management and distribution.

The division’s multi-genre portfolio includes some of the most exciting and successful franchises in the world with BAFTA and International Emmy winning craft and storytelling, including Bluey, Hey Duggee, Hey Duggee Squirrel Club, Deadly Mission Shark,  Andy’s Amazing Adventures, Supertato, and Popularity Papers.  The division’s ever-growing slate also includes Rafi the Wishing Wizard, Stan Can, Peter and the Wolf, and Pickle storm, as well as established UK hits and iconic shows such as Blue Peter, The Dumping Ground, JoJo & Gran Gran, The Beaker Girls, Lagging and CBeebies: Shakespeare at the Globe.

Its productions air on channels and leading content platforms around the world including CBeebies, CBBC, Disney, ABC Australia, Tencent China and Nickelodeon. 

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with sales of £2.1 billion (2021/22: £1,630 million). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the global Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes content globally and Channels & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. Around 2,500 hours of award-winning British programmes are made by the business every year, with over 80% of total BBC Studios revenues coming from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com is BBC Studios’ global digital news platform, offering up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features.