Everything you need to know for Christmas at Kew
For entry times, ticket information including how to book, pricing, parking, access and contact information.
Dates
Christmas at Kew runs from Wednesday 15 November 2023 to Sunday 7 January 2024 and is open on the following dates:
- Wednesday 15 November – Sunday 19 November 2023
- Wednesday 22 November – Sunday 26 November 2023
- Tuesday 28 November – Sunday 3 December 2023
- Tuesday 5 December – Sunday 24 December 2023
- Tuesday 26 December 2023 – Sunday 7 January 2024
Entry times
Christmas at Kew is open 4.20pm to 10pm and you choose a time slot for entry (last entry 8pm*).
Entrance will be via Victoria Gate, Elizabeth Gate and Brentford Gate, depending on your ticket selection.
*24 December 2023: last entry 7pm
Ticket information
Prices
Non-member adult: Off peak £22.50/ Peak £29.00
Member adult: Off peak £19.50/ Peak £24.00
Family and child tickets available
Important information
Christmas at Kew does not accept 3rd party vouchers, such as Virgin Experience Days or Red Letter Days, as an example. These are valid for day visits to Kew Gardens only.
If you opt for standard delivery and your tickets have not arrived 24 hours before you are booked on the trail please contact See Tickets customer service.
Contactless ticket scanning will be taking place. On arrival, please ensure you have your tickets ready to scan – either your printed paper ticket, or from your mobile device. Please only arrive at your allocated session time to ensure there is no unnecessary build-up of queues.
Please be aware that we don’t authorise or have any control over the sale of tickets via third-party websites.
At Christmas at Kew
Access
The trail is approximately 3km long and can take up to 2 hours + to walk around, whilst stopping for refreshments and seeing all the attractions like Father Christmas, visiting the fairground, toasting marshmallows and taking photos.
The route is on pathways although terrain can vary in different areas of the Gardens. If you or any members of your group are encountering any difficulties, please alert one of our friendly stewards who will do their best to help you, and who can offer possible shortcuts to the exit.
If you have specific access needs please call 020 8332 5655 and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and buggies
Christmas at Kew is presented in the natural landscape. Whilst every effort is made to make the trail fully accessible, by its very nature it will cover some difficult terrain with a number of varying gradients. These areas may be challenging during wet weather.
Children's scooters and balance bikes are not permitted on trail.
Wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first come first served basis, these cannot be reserved.
Please note, we do not currently offer advance booking of mobility scooters for Christmas at Kew.
Dogs
Registered disability assistance dogs are allowed, other dogs are not allowed.
Food and drink
Take a seat at our Botanical Brasserie overlooking the stunning Palm House Pond. There are four sittings available, before or after your visit to the trail.
There will be a variety of independent street food traders along the trail, where you can choose from a range of flavourful food and winter warmers.
Please note, we are operating cashlessly across our catering units at Christmas at Kew.
Christmas Dinner at The Botanical — Menu
Adults
Arrival drink
Mulled wine
Starters
Celeriac and truffle soup, kitchen garden herb oil (PP)
Ham hock terrine, toasted sourdough, red onion chutney
Mackerel pate, dill pickled cucumber, toasted sourdough
Mains
Caramelized shallot, beetroot and mushroom wellington, honey glazed carrots, parsnips, chestnut buttered sprouts, wild mushroom Jus (PP)
Turkey ballotine stuffed with sausage meat and cranberries, honey glazed carrots, parsnips, chestnut buttered sprouts, Yorkshire pudding, pigs in blanket.
Red mullet, spiced orange, lemon and garlic butter, potato gratin, baby leeks
Desserts
Christmas pudding with brandy cream (PP)
Vanilla and five spice apple tart, plant-based ice cream (PP)
Chocolate orange cream choux bun, warm chocolate sauce
Children
Starter
Tomato soup
Mains
Turkey
Pigs in blankets macaroni cheese
Cherry tomato macaroni cheese
Dessert
Chocolate brownie (gluten free)
What to bring and wear
There are no covered areas during the trail and the paths can get wet so please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the weather.
The trail is lit, but lighting will be low level in some areas so you may wish to bring a torch. No naked flames (e.g. candles, night lights, flares or lanterns) are allowed.
Photography
Please feel free to take photos along the trail but do be aware of others.
We occasionally use photographs taken at Christmas at Kew for promotional purposes, please talk to a member of staff if you would not like photographs to be used in this way.
Toilets
There are accessible toilets at Victoria Plaza and Brentford Gate.
Fairground tokens
Enjoy our family fairground rides, suitable for adults and children of all ages.
Tokens are available for £3.50 each on the night or pre-book to collect on the night and get 6 tokens for £18.
These tokens do not include entry to the Christmas at Kew event — a separate ticket is required. Fairground tokens are only available for guests who already have Christmas at Kew tickets.
Please present your fairground voucher to the token booth at the fairground to redeem your pre-paid tokens. Each token allows one ride.
Visiting the Gardens in the day
This ticket does not include entry to Kew Gardens during the daytime.
If you have a Christmas at Kew ticket, you can add on a reduced-entry price ticket to visit Kew Gardens.
Please note: If you are including a visit to Kew Gardens in the daytime, you will need to exit the gardens at 3pm (last entry 2pm) and then re-enter the trail at your designated entry gate and time.
Parking
Parking is now strictly prohibited along Kew Road, due to the implementation of cycle lanes on both directions along the length of this road. You can find out more about parking in the area by visiting the Richmond upon Thames council website.
Brentford Gate car park
Parking at Kew’s Ferry Lane car park (TW9 3AF) is for advance booking only.
You need to buy tickets with reserved parking (additional £10) to guarantee your space. Your entrance to Christmas at Kew will be via Brentford Gate which is next to the car park.
Tickets for daytime parking are valid until 3pm so you will need an additional parking ticket for the evening.
The car park closes promptly at 10pm.
National Archives car park
Car parking spaces are available to pre book at the National Archives parking facility (TW9 4DU).
Access to the car park is available 40 minutes ahead of your time slot.
Please note, this car park is pre book only.
Disabled access parking
Parking in Kew’s car park (TW9 3AF) is free to drivers with a disability and displaying the Blue Badge.
You need to buy tickets with reserved parking and select the option for disabled access parking.
Cancellation, exchanges and refunds
Please be sure that you have chosen the right entry gate, date and time slot at the time of making your booking, as Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and See Tickets are not able to offer exchanges or refunds once tickets have been purchased. We are also not able to offer refunds/duplicates on unwanted/lost tickets.
Inevitably bad weather can affect any open-air experience. If we have to cancel due to safety concerns, visitors will be offered an alternative date. No refunds will be offered simply if the weather is inclement. Any decision to cancel that evening's trail will be taken by 2pm.
If we have to cancel due to weather and patrons are not able to attend an alternative night offered, then a refund will be considered on a case by case basis. Where a refund is due, the ticket must be returned within 28 days of the booked trail.
Safety and security
For the safety and security of everyone at Christmas at Kew we will carry out full security checks at all entrance gates as normal.
If you see anything suspicious or any persons acting suspiciously, please tell the nearest member of staff immediately.
Please do not leave any belongings unattended at any time.
Keep your children with you at all times. Ensure they don’t wander into the unlit areas of the Gardens.
Contact
If you have ticket related queries please contact See Tickets customer service.
For any other queries email us at info@kew.org