Kew has more ticket types than almost any London attraction, and the differences between them are worth about as much as a decent lunch. What you pay depends on the season, whether you book online or turn up, your age, where you live and what benefits you receive. Nobody explains this on the day, so here it is in advance.
Kew Gardens Tickets
One ticket covers everything inside the walls. No upgrade tier, no separate charge for the glasshouses, nothing held back for a premium option, which is unusual enough in London to be worth saying out loud.
Standard admission for the day, covering the glasshouses, both galleries, the Treetop Walkway and the grounds. This is the one to buy unless you have a specific reason not to.
🏛️ Kew Gardens and Kensington Palace Entry
Both sites on one booking. They sit on opposite sides of London, so this only makes sense across two days.
ℹ️ Good to know
- Online is cheaper than the gate on every ticket type, including children and concessions
- General admission is not timed, so you are choosing a day rather than a slot
- The glasshouses close at 5pm however late the Gardens stay open
- Guided tours are free and included with admission
- Under 4s go free, and anyone 16 or under needs an adult with them
- Christmas at Kew is a separate evening event and daytime tickets do not cover it
Tickets and Prices
Standard Garden Entry
Full access to the site for the day: all three glasshouses, both galleries, the Treetop Walkway, the Children’s Garden and the grounds. Nothing inside the walls costs extra once you are through the gate.
Booked online it is cheaper than the same ticket bought at the gate, in every season. Best for anyone visiting for the first time, or anyone planning to be there more than a couple of hours.
After 4pm Entry
A heavily reduced late ticket, available in the longer months. It gets you the grounds in evening light and very few other people.
It does not get you the glasshouses, which shut at 5pm regardless. Best for a summer evening walk if you already know Kew. A poor choice for a first visit.
Kew Gardens and Kensington Palace
One booking covering both. The two sites are a long way apart and each deserves half a day, so treat it as a two-day ticket rather than an itinerary.
Best for a longer London trip where both were on the list anyway.
Concession, benefit and resident rates
Kew runs an unusually wide set of reduced rates, and they are bought at the gate or through the official site rather than through the ticket links above.
Over-65s and disabled visitors get a concession rate for daytime visits. Anyone receiving Universal Credit or Pension Credit pays a nominal amount and can bring up to four guests on the same basis. There is a local resident rate, and a young person and student rate covering ages 16 to 29. All of them need proof on arrival.
What Is Included at No Extra Cost
Why Book Online
Because it is cheaper. The online price is lower than the gate price on every ticket type, so booking before you travel is simply the better deal. Kew does not use timed slots for general admission, so you are picking a day rather than competing for a time.
You book online because it is cheaper, on every ticket type without exception, including children and concessions. That is the entire argument, and it is a good enough one.
Christmas at Kew is the exception. It is a separate evening event with limited capacity and timed entry, and it does sell out, so book that one well ahead.
How Kew’s Pricing Works
| What changes it | How |
|---|---|
| Season | A peak period through early autumn and a cheaper off-peak window from November into January. Same garden, noticeably different price. |
| Online or gate | Online is cheaper on every ticket type without exception. |
| Time of day | A reduced after-4pm ticket in the longer months, with the glasshouse caveat above. |
| Who you are | Separate rates for children, 16 to 29 year olds and students, concessions, local residents, and anyone on Universal Credit or Pension Credit. |
Where to Buy Kew Gardens Tickets
Online, in advance (recommended)
Cheaper on every ticket type, and you can book the same morning. Worth being clear about what this does and does not buy you. It saves money. That is the whole of it.
Book through any of the ticket links above and you get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket to show at the gate.
At the gate, on the day
Every ticket type is available at the gates, including concessions and the benefit rate. You will pay more than the online price on all of them.
This is a perfectly reasonable way to visit Kew if you are deciding on the morning based on the weather, which is how a lot of Londoners actually do it. It just costs a few pounds more per person for the privilege.
How to Book
1. Pick your date
No time slot to choose for general admission, just the day.
2. Choose your ticket type
Standard entry unless you have a specific reason to want a combination or a late ticket.
3. Add your party
Under 4s go free but everyone 16 and under needs an adult on the booking.
4. Pay
Add the voluntary donation here if you want Gift Aid applied.
5. Get your ticket
It arrives by email as a mobile ticket. Show it at whichever gate you are heading for.
Things to Know Before You Go
Which gate to use
Kew has four entrances and they are a long walk apart. Victoria Gate is nearest the station and nearest the main glasshouses, and is the right answer unless you are driving or walking from Richmond.
What time to arrive
The glasshouses close at 5pm however late the Gardens stay open. If they are the reason you are coming, be through the gate by three at the very latest.
Proof for reduced rates
Concession, benefit, student and resident rates are all checked on arrival. Bring the relevant card, letter or something with your address on it. Under-30s claiming the young person rate do not need a student card.
Food and facilities
There are cafes and restaurants across the site, but hot food stops around half three even where the cafe stays open later. A picnic is a sensible move, and there is plenty of room for one.
Accessibility
Kew publishes a separate accessibility map alongside the standard one, which is worth downloading given the distances. Blue badge holders park free at Brentford Gate.
Tips for Buying Tickets
A few ways to spend less on exactly the same day out.
- Check the season before you assume a price. The off-peak window from November is materially cheaper than early autumn for exactly the same visit.
- Do not buy the late ticket for a first visit. It is the most common false economy here.
- If you are on Universal Credit or Pension Credit, use that rate. It is the largest saving Kew offers and it is barely advertised.
- Do not buy a separate tour ticket. There is no such thing. The tours are free with entry.
- Christmas at Kew is a different transaction entirely. Daytime tickets do not cover it and concession rates do not apply to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to buy Kew Gardens tickets online?
Yes, on every ticket type without exception. The online price is lower than the gate price for adults, children, concessions and everything else.
Do Kew Gardens tickets sell out?
General admission does not. There are no timed slots and you can buy at the gate on the day. The winter light trail is the exception and does have limited capacity.
Is Kew Gardens free for children?
Under 4s go free. Children from 4 to 15 pay a small child rate, and anyone 16 or under needs to be with an adult.
Can I get into Kew Gardens on Universal Credit?
Yes. There is a nominal entry rate for anyone receiving Universal Credit or Pension Credit, and you can bring up to four guests on the same rate. Bring proof of your benefit on the day.
Is the after-4pm ticket worth it?
Only if you want the grounds rather than the buildings. The glasshouses close at 5pm regardless of when the Gardens close, so a late ticket gives you a walk and a sunset, not the Palm House.
Is there a student discount at Kew Gardens?
Yes, and it covers anyone aged 16 to 29 whether they are studying or not. If you are under 30 you do not need a student card at all.
Do I need a separate ticket for Christmas at Kew?
Yes. The winter light trail is a separate ticketed event held after dark, and daytime admission does not cover it. Concession rates do not apply to it either.