From city to countryside – endless summer family fun at Kew

Pollinator Day, July 20th

for the second year in a row, an interactive, playful and jam-packed day will reveal to visitors the vital role that pollinators play across the globe. Get a close-up view of foraging bees in a bumble-arium, discover what makes honey taste so different, and join bee walks, short talks and myth-busting sessions to discover what we can do to safeguard their future hosted by Kew Scientists and leading experts from the University of Reading and the authors of the acclaimed United Nations’ IPBES report on plants and pollinators. (20 July, 10:30am – 4:00pm. Nash Conservatory). 

Insect Adventure Camp

Capturing the outdoor summer spirit, the Insect Adventure Camp combines bell tents, woodland houses’, picnic tables and trails in the great outdoors with lots of family friendly activities. Celebrating the crucial role our bees, butterflies and wild pollinators play, the Insect Adventure Camp will be packed with fun hands-on activities, adventures, animation and performances for all the family including: 

• Animation Workshops: The Perfect Match: Make a stop motion animation at Kew with professional film makers, Chocolate Films. Create and animate paper flowers, insects and other pollinators as you follow a beetle on its journey to find the perfect plant to pollinate. Budding directors can  become part of an unofficial World Record attempt for the most contributors to a stop-motion animation film ever- before it is shown at Kew later in the year.  (Tues–Sun, 22 July–3 September, 10.30am – 4.30pm. In the Green Oak Shelter near the Badger Sett and the entrance to the Woodland Walk, free) 
• Takeaway Insect Hotels: Discover how to make an underground house for bumblebees and find the perfect pad for pest controllers, before you make a home for solitary bees, butterflies or moths to takeaway. (Every day, 22 July – 3 September, 10.30am – 4.30pm. Ages 4+ in one of the Bell tents near the Woodland House) 
• Insect Safaris: Join expert entomologists as they take you on a trip around Kew woodlands with fantastic facts about different insects in their natural habitat. (Every Saturday and Sunday, 22 July – 3 September, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3pm an 4pm. Ages 7+ in one of the Bell tents near the Woodland House) 
• Make a mini-beast: Camouflaged or coloured? Pollinator or pest? The decision is yours! Assemble your own mini-beast or make your favourite pollinator from a selection of beetles, wasps, bees, moths and flies. (Every day, 22 July – 3 September, 10.30am – 4.30pm. In the Natural Area) 
• Insect Explorers: Study different specimens under the microscope. Then make a pooter, a special insect collection jar, to take home – so you can see live insects up close like a real bug boffin. (Every day, 22 July – 3 September, 10.30am – 4.30pm. In the Natural Area) 
• Grass, by Second-Hand Dance: Rediscover the world beneath your feet – and all its inhabitants – in this quirky dance show for young children and their families. With a special stay and play after the performance. (Wednesdays- Sundays, 1pm & 3.30pm, Wed 2 – Sun 13 August. In the Natural Area)

Virtual Reality – view from a Giant Redwood

A virtual climbing experience with one of our experts. Visitors can join head arborist Tony Kirkham as he scales a 150 year old Giant Redwood and soak up the spectacular views from the top, as he explains how Kew care for their 14,000 strong tree collection in this virtual reality experience. (Every day, 22 July – 3 September, 10.30am – 4.30pm. Ages 13+) 

Kitchen Gardens

Visit Kew’s vegetable garden for a Foodie experience: In 2016 the Kew Kitchen Garden was voted 'most inspirational vegetable garden' at the Great British Growing Awards. Visitors will have the opportunity to indulge in a foodie treat, learning how to grow vegetables from the experts and pick up tips and tricks while watching cooking demonstrations. Make the most of your veggie garden experience and take home a sample from the Great Big Harvest.

(Every Friday from 7th July to 29th September.)

Kew Science Festival 2017

This year’s scientific extravaganza will not only focus on the vital importance of conserving the world’s plant biodiversity, but will bring to life, for all ages, the crucial value of plant and fungal science.  Housed within a huge marquee in front of the majestic Kew Palace, families can expect a vast array of different activity stations run by Kew scientists and can try out a number of hands-on experiments including extracting DNA from vegetables, analysing plant genomes and dissecting plants to find out how they work. 

(4th – 6th August, all day, entrance included in Gate ticket price)

Hive Explainers

Make a beeline for the amazing interactive Hive to learn about the extraordinary life of bees first hand from our trained Hive Explainers, people who are on hand to help you make the most of this unique, multi-sensory experience.

(Every day, in The Hive until 29 October)

Fortnightly findings

Every fortnight we welcome special guests to the Hive to talk about bees and wild pollinators. Discover insights into city beekeeping from Bee Urban’s Barnaby Shaw and find out why flies and wasps might not be the irritating pests we all imagine. This year our fortnightly findings bring together different community groups, national organisations and innovators to inspire you. (Free Event).

(Sundays 25 June – 29 October 2017 at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm. Under the Hive)

Meet Kew’s Bee experts

A chance to meet Kew’s bee experts and hear about Kew’s work with bees, plants and pollination. Learn about the benefits of caffeine for bee memory, as well as how the thymol in thyme might help bumblebees self-medicate.

(Every Friday until 28 October at 11.30am. The Beehives in the Family Plant Beds). 

Pollination films

An inspiring range of films offering an insight into the lives of bees and an exploration of plants and pollination. (Now until Sunday 3 September, from 10am – 5.30pm. The Princess of Wales Conservatory film room). A series of especially child-friendly films will also run from 22 July – 3 September, during the summer holidays.

Theatre in the Gardens

The Wind in the Willows 
Pack up the family and join Ratty, Mole, Mr Toad and all of their River Bank friends this summer! Sing, laugh and help save the day in this exciting family adventure. 
(22nd July – 28th August 2017. All ages.) 

The Dream Fairies 
The Dream Fairies are on an adventure in Kew Gardens this summer! Sing and dance along with Peasblossom, Cobweb, Moth and Mustardseed. Join in the fun and travel to Bubble Land to help the Fairies as they search for their lost fairy wings. 
(29th July – 28th August 2017. Recommended Ages: 3 – 8 years old.) 

These are separate ticketed events, find out more. 

Kew the Music and Kew the Movies 

Kew the Music: 11-16 July 2017. More information on the line up and ticket details. 

Kew the Movies: 30 August, 6 & 7 September 2017.  More information on the films and ticket details. 

Tanabata 2017  

This traditional Japanese Festival, also known as the Star Festival, will be celebrated at Kew on 2nd and 3rd August with a host of activities from wish writing and origami, to tea ceremonies, storytelling and a bamboo tour.  

(The festival is located in the Bamboo Garden and Minka House. Activity runs from 10.30 – 4.30 pm on both days and is free to all visitors)