After some rather grey, cold and windy weather over Easter, the last couple of days the sun has put in a welcome appearance and I’ve had to change into summer clothes and even locate the sun cream! Typical British weather than can change dramatically literally overnight. When I woke to a clear blue sky this morning and saw the temperature in London was due to hit 24C, I decided it was a good day to visit Kew Gardens.
The world famous Kew Gardens is just over 3 miles from my house. I feel fortunate to live so close and consider the gardens to be ‘local gardens’ and thus have had a Friends’ membership for many years so I can pop in anytime. With adult tickets at peak times costing £28 (£25 online), my annual membership at £78 is good value and I can also take in a guest with me; it gives me 10% discount in the shop and early entry in summer months (8.00am before public entry at 10.00). I feel I can pop in for just an hour or so, or sometimes just to buy something from the shop, whereas if you pay the full rate you want to stay all day.
I arrived just as the gardens were opening at 10.00am and found quite a long line of Friends and their families queuing to get in; showing their membership card to be scanned on the way through. It is, of course, still Easter week and kids are on school holidays, so it’s an ideal place to head to. My grandsons love running round the gardens and it is safe to let them loose as cars, and even bikes, are not allowed (other than the gardeners’ ones!). There’s also the wonderful Children’s Garden. When it first opened you had to pre-book entry but that’s not necessary now. You do, however, need to book separate tickets to go into the Great Pagoda.
Built in 1762, for most of my life it’s not been possible to go inside and climb to the top. However, following a major restoration recently, you can now go in. I’m slightly ashamed to confess that I haven’t done that yet, despite it being such an important London landmark. Visits to the gardens tend to be spontaneous – like this morning – and I forget I need a ticket for the pagoda as I wave my membership card at the entrance, until I reach it on my walk.
This morning, to be honest, wasn’t the best time to appreciate Kew at its best. Spring is on its way out and summer not yet in, so all the spring bulbs that a couple of weeks ago were probably at their best, were drooping and dying. I saw gardeners working and I’m sure if I return in a week or two’s time I’ll find they’ve removed the dying bulbs and replanted the areas and all will be looking perfect again. However, there’s never a bad time to go to Kew. The gardens always have something lovely to offer and on a sunny spring morning in London, where better to go for a walk? Back in 2015, I recorded a whole year of life in Kew Gardens (click here) and it was a fascinating project to give myself for I gave so much more attention to what was actually going on than I normally would, and really noticed what plants and trees were coming to life, blossoming, dying down, etc. at different times of the year.
There is a land train – the Kew Explorer – which will take you on a guided 30-minute tour of the gardens. I’ve never done it but if you’ve never been before and want an overall view before walking, or have mobility problems or very small kids, I can see the attraction. It costs £6.50 for adults and £2.50 for kids.
The following is a series of photos I took on my walk this morning. My favourite places are the Lake Crossing …
… and the Japanese Landscape.
And other sights from my walk.
There are many more attractions though, and the gardens are so large I never see them all at one time and have to sometimes remind myself of parts I rarely venture into but are worth seeing.
With summer coming I’m likely to be going for walk in the gardens more often again (I go in the winter but not so much). A big attraction this year is the Henry Moore exhibition, which opens on 9 May and is on until 31 January 2027. I remember the one they had about 10 years ago. The sculptures are laid out in the gardens and it’s just the most wonderful thing to go up close and see them exhibited in nature rather than a gallery. I’m sure I’ll be going a few times!
For more information about Kew Gardens, click here.
