1 December 2023
Best things to do at Kew this winter
Breathe in the crisp air and enjoy seasonal highlights at Kew Gardens this winter.
Wander outdoors for some fresh air and winter fun at Kew.
Enter a botanical world filled with seasonal cheer, get creative at one of our bespoke workshops, and spot the seasonal delights in our Gardens.
Enjoy festive fun for the whole family
Plan your perfect winter evening at our magical after-dark trail, Christmas at Kew.
This year, you'll find a host of festive favourites alongside brand-new light installations, illuminating the Gardens with vibrant bursts of colour.
Treat yourself to delicious street food along the trail from independent traders, and indulge in sweet treats, mulled wine and savoury snacks.
Missed out on tickets to Christmas at Kew?
Don't worry, you can still head to our wild botanic garden in Sussex and experience the magic of Glow Wild.
This enchanting lantern trail is a highlight of our festive calendar, packed full of glowing lanterns, mesmerising projections, immersive soundscapes and torches of fire.
Explore art
Mat Collishaw: Petrichor is an exciting exploration of the relationship between art and nature.
Featuring several debut pieces alongside existing works from one of the UK's leading contemporary artists, this brand new exhibition uses pioneering techniques including laser scanning, genetic algorithms and carefully deployed AI – combined with 17th century still-lifes and 800-year-old oak trees.
Petrichor runs from 20 October 2023 to 7 April 2024 at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical art. Entry is included with your ticket to Kew Gardens.
Get creative
Keep an eye on our what's on page for our carefully curated short courses to kick-start your creativity this new year.
There are a variety of courses available in person and online.
Journey through Madagascar
Celebrate the beauty of Madagascar at our annual orchid festival in February.
For this carnival of colour, our Princess of Wales Conservatory will be adorned with vibrant horticultural displays and animated soundscapes.
You'll be transported to a land of striking contrast, from spiny forests to succulent woodlands; and a menagerie of the most unique wildlife on Earth.
Join Kew scientists, horticulturalists and local experts on our mission to understand and protect Madagascar's bountiful plant life.
Go wildlife watching
Our Gardens are full of wildlife, from herons and woodpeckers to badgers and hedgehogs. Our woodland areas provide great cover for our furry friends.
Head to the Natural Area to spot signs of badgers. They are nocturnal and shy but if you look closely you can spot tell-tale signs, like claw marks and paw prints.
Look around our lakes and ponds to spot bird life. From stealthy grey herons (Ardea Cinerea) to noisy Canada geese (Branta canadensis), bird life can be seen on the water and by the water's edge.
Keep your eyes peeled for woodland birds like jays (Garrulus glandarius) and great spotted woodpeckers (Dendrocopos major) in the Natural Area.
Spot seasonal heroes
It may be cold but the Gardens are still thriving with winter greenery.
Take a stroll down Holly Walk near the Temperate House to see one of Europe's most comprehensive holly collections, planted in 1874.
Head to the Pinetum to immerse yourself in a leafy wonderland. One of our Gardens’ hidden gems, it's tucked away within the Arboretum to the south of the Gardens.
Spanning 40 acres, it's home to a diverse collection of trees including towering redwoods and rare treasures such as our Japanese Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga japonica).
This is the perfect time of year to admire them, particularly when dusted with winter frost on a chilly day.
Look out for signs of spring
From green shoots to suede-like buds on tree branches, there are a lot of small indications that more colourful days are ahead. Bright camellia blossoms offer some vibrancy in winter, but nothing speaks of this season as much as the first sight of snowdrops.
Head to the Rock Gardens to see some of our snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis). Although they don't rely on pollinators to reproduce, you may spot bees and other insects visiting them on warmer days.
