Kew has four entrances spread around a very large site, and they are nowhere near each other. Turning up at the wrong one is the classic error, and it costs you a twenty minute walk around the perimeter wall before you have seen a single plant.
The short version: Kew Gardens station on the District line and Overground, then Victoria Gate, seven minutes on foot. Everything else is a variation on that.
Location and Address
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, UK · Google Maps
Kew has four gates, each with its own postcode, and satnavs do not know which one you meant, so set the one you actually want before you leave.
- Victoria Gate, TW9 3JR. The main visitor entrance and the one nearest the Tube.
- Elizabeth Gate, TW9 3AE. At the Kew Green end, handy for the buses and the pubs.
- Brentford Gate, TW9 3AF. The one with the car park.
- Lion Gate, TW9 2DF. Pedestrian only, and the closest to Richmond.
Getting There by Public Transport
By Tube and Overground
Kew Gardens station is on the District line and the London Overground, and it is the obvious choice for almost everyone. It is a seven minute walk to Victoria Gate and about fifteen to Elizabeth Gate, so head for Victoria unless you have a reason not to.
Coming from central London on the District line, check the front of the train. Not every service runs to Richmond, and the Kew branch is easy to miss on the platform indicator.
By National Rail
Kew Bridge is the nearest mainline station, useful if you are coming from the south west or changing at Clapham Junction rather than crossing London on the Tube.
Richmond is the other option, about a kilometre from Lion Gate. It is a pleasant walk and Richmond is worth an hour on the way back, but Lion Gate puts you at the far end of the site from most of the glasshouses.
By bus
Route 65 is the useful one. It stops close to Elizabeth Gate, Victoria Gate and Lion Gate, and connects Ealing Broadway with Richmond, so it links two rail options at once. Route 110 stops near Kew Gardens station and Elizabeth Gate.
Buses are the sensible fallback when the District line is having one of its afternoons.
Getting There by Car
There is a car park at Brentford Gate, and it is small. Spaces go first come, first served, there is a daily charge, and on a sunny weekend it fills early. A separate overflow car park operates on selected peak weekends, which tells you what demand is like the rest of the time.
Blue badge holders park free, and there are accessible spaces in the main car park.
For everyone else, the honest advice is to take the train. Kew is one of the few London attractions where the station genuinely is easier than driving, and you will not spend the first half hour of your day circling a full car park.
Best Way to Get There
Fastest
District line or Overground to Kew Gardens, then seven minutes on foot to Victoria Gate.
Best for the glasshouses
Same route. Victoria Gate puts you closest to the Palm House end, which is where you want to start.
Most scenic
Train to Richmond, walk along the river and in through Lion Gate. Longer, and lovely on a clear day.
Best for accessibility
Drive to Brentford Gate if you hold a blue badge, since parking is free and the accessible spaces are there.
Choosing Your Gate
Victoria Gate, for most visits
Nearest to the station, nearest to the Palm House and the Waterlily House, and the entrance with the main visitor facilities. If you have not thought about it, this is the right answer.
Elizabeth Gate, for the Kew Green end
Fifteen minutes from the station but right by the buses, and it opens onto Kew Green with its pubs and its cricket pitch. A good choice if lunch afterwards matters as much as the gardens.
Brentford Gate, for drivers
Only worth using if you are parking. It puts you on the river side of the site, some distance from the main glasshouses.
Lion Gate, for Richmond
Pedestrian only and the furthest from everything, but the natural entrance if you have walked from Richmond. Be aware you are starting at the quiet end and the famous buildings are a walk away.
Nearby
- Kew Palace is inside the Gardens, run separately by Historic Royal Palaces, and is the smallest of the royal palaces, with its own hours
- Kew Green, immediately outside Elizabeth Gate, for a pub and a sit down
- Richmond, ten minutes further on the District line, for the river and the park
- Syon Park, across the river from the Brentford side
Getting Around Once You Are In
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nearest station to Kew Gardens?
Kew Gardens station, on the District line and the London Overground. It is roughly seven minutes on foot to Victoria Gate.
Which gate should I use at Kew Gardens?
Victoria Gate for most visits. It is closest to the station and to the main glasshouses. Use Brentford Gate if you are driving and Lion Gate if you are walking from Richmond.
Is there parking at Kew Gardens?
Yes, at Brentford Gate, but it is limited and first come, first served with a daily charge. It fills early at weekends. Blue badge holders park free.
How do I get to Kew Gardens from central London?
Take the District line towards Richmond and get off at Kew Gardens. Check the destination on the front of the train, as not all District line services run on that branch.
Can you walk to Kew Gardens from Richmond?
Yes, it is about a kilometre to Lion Gate and a nice walk. Bear in mind Lion Gate is at the far end of the site from the main glasshouses.
Which bus goes to Kew Gardens?
Route 65 stops near Elizabeth, Victoria and Lion Gates and links Ealing Broadway with Richmond. Route 110 stops near Kew Gardens station and Elizabeth Gate.