4 February 2023
In pictures: Best spots to photograph at Kew Gardens
From stunning vistas to tropical glasshouses, these are the most striking spots to take photos at Kew Gardens.
Kew Gardens is a photography paradise.
With an array of vibrant plants and serene landscapes, there's a photo opportunity around every corner.
Here are the top seven places to visit with your camera in tow.
The Palm House
Lush with dense vegetation, the Palm House was built between 1844 and 1848 and is still at the heart of the Gardens.
It's home to some of our most treasured plants, many of which are endangered in the wild and some even extinct.
It offers a hot and humid environment for tropical plants to flourish, and is the perfect place to photograph an array of green tones and textures.
It looks best on a sunny day when shafts of light shine through the humid air, adding an air of mystery to your snaps.
Be warned, your lens may fog up with the temperature change so give your camera time to adjust.
The lake
A favourite chill out spot for our resident ducks, geese, and moorhens, our serene lake is best for photos of birds and flowers on the water's edge.
Look out for the beautiful yellow star-shaped flowers of the cornelian cherry (Cornus mas). The tree puts on a colourful display throughout the year, as it bears bright, glossy red berries during the summer too.
Princess of Wales Conservatory
Travel through a series of fascinating ecosystems in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. From formidable carnivorous plants to towering cacti, this glasshouse offers a variety of textures and shapes for your photos.
Keep an eye out for the prickles and spikes of cacti in the dry zone, soft floaty ferns in the fern zone, and striking leaf patterns in the tropical areas.
Between 4 February and 5 March 2023, capture a rainbow of colours at our annual orchid festival.
Back with vibrant displays to celebrate the beauty and biodiversity of Cameroon, see towering giraffes, wallowing hippos, a troop of gorillas, and a magnificent roaring lion.
Vistas
Our magnificent vistas are ideal for iconic, sweeping panoramic shots of the landscape and give a real sense of place.
We have three vistas at Kew, which were created by landscape designer William Andrews Nesfield during 1845 and 1846. The avenues of trees frame iconic buildings like the Temperate House and Pagoda beautifully.
Use our map to help you find the best locations for your shot.
The Woodland Garden
Wander beneath a deciduous canopy of mature oaks, limes and birches, just a short stroll from the Palm House pond.
Springtime is the perfect time to enjoy this area as hellebores, snowdrops and daffodils burst from the ground.
Head to this area for atmospheric compositions of swaying ferns and flowers bathed in soft, dappled light.
The Rock Garden
This hidden gem is tucked between the Princess of Wales Conservatory and the Davies Alpine House.
Carved into the landscape, it's home to wild-collected plants from six mountainous regions in the world.
Tiny succulents nestled in the rocks make the perfect muse. Or capture vibrant flora growing next to the waterfall at the centre of the garden.
Some of these plants are so mini that you'll need a macro lens to pick out the intricate, remarkable patterns.
For more photography inspiration visit the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition at Kew's Arboretum, opposite the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art.
Don't miss entries to the 'Captured at Kew' award, won by Kam Hong Leung with 'Ballerinas'.
