The Hive
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Watch the video: Experience The Hive
About The Hive
The Hive is an immersive sound and visual experience. The lights you see and the sounds you hear inside The Hive are triggered by bee activity in a real beehive at Kew.
The intensity of the sounds and light change constantly, echoing that of the real beehive. The multi award-winning Hive was inspired by scientific research into the health of honeybees. It is a visual symbol of the pollinators’ role in feeding the planet and the challenges facing bees today.
How was it made?
It is the design of UK based artist Wolfgang Buttress. Originally created for the UK Pavilion at the 2015 Milan Expo.
It’s 17 metres tall, constructed from 170,000 aluminium parts, 1,000 LED lights and took four months to reconstruct here at Kew.
Talk to an explainer in The Hive
Explainers are on hand daily to help you make the most of this unique, multi-sensory experience and learn about the extraordinary life of bees.
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For the latest events, exhibitions, seasonal highlights and developments at Kew Gardens
Events in and around The Hive
Kew After Hours: The Hive
The Hive: Fortnightly findings
Read more about the importance of bees as pollinators
Real bees drive The Hive experience
The importance of bees as pollinators
How can you help keep UK bees happy?
Why meadows matter
Things to know about visiting The Hive
- Entry to The Hive is included in a day ticket to Kew
- Since The Hive is an open-air attraction, we may need to close it for maintenance or visitor safety: check for visitor notices and closures
- We are unable to accommodate mobility scooters due to the restricted width of the paths and interior space within The Hive
- The path to The Hive is designed to be fully accessible but the gradient may feel steep to self-propelled wheelchair users
Books and products inspired by The Hive
Books and music
Gifts
