Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — London
At a glance

A living landscape where botanical science, Victorian architecture and art meet — and where sculpture can become part of nature itself.

Visit note - time related
At least 2 hours — 2-3 hours / half day. Kew is large and spread out. If combining gardens, architecture, galleries and a major exhibition, half a day is much more realistic than a quick visit. Kew's own Art & Architecture routes alone range from 1–3 hours.
What you'll see
  • Botanical collections and landscaped gardens
  • Contemporary sculpture and temporary art projects
  • Marianne North Gallery
  • Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art
  • Palm House and Temperate House
  • Historic architecture and follies
  • Great Pagoda
  • Site-specific and outdoor art
Artlovers Tip

Check the art programme before visiting. Kew can shift from being primarily a botanical destination to a major contemporary-art experience depending on what is showing.

Don’t miss - The Marianne North Gallery — more than 800 paintings displayed almost floor-to-ceiling in a gallery she commissioned specifically for Kew.

Nearby route ideas

Kew Art & Nature

Kew Gardens → Marianne North Gallery → Shirley Sherwood Gallery → Temperate House → outdoor sculpture

The essential Artlovers route inside Kew.

West London Art Escape

Kew Gardens → Chiswick House & Gardens → contemporary galleries / cultural stops in West London

A slower alternative to central London's museum circuit, combining landscape, architecture and art.

Art + Architecture

Kew Gardens → Temperate House → Palm House → Great Pagoda → galleries

Particularly good for travellers interested in how architecture changes the experience of nature.

Sculpture Day

When a major outdoor exhibition is running:

Kew Gardens → sculpture trail → galleries → long walk through the landscape

This is probably the strongest Artlovers way to experience Kew.

About

Kew Gardens is the London site of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, combining historic landscapes, major glasshouses, botanical collections, galleries, architecture and changing art exhibitions.

Worth the trip

Because Kew isn't just about plants. Its combination of landscape, Victorian glasshouses, botanical art, architecture and outdoor sculpture makes it one of London's best places to experience art through nature rather than inside a conventional museum.

Henry Moore's Three Piece Sculpture Vertebrae (1968 – 69) at Kew Gardens. © RBG Kew/Ines Stuart-Davidson

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — London

London, United Kingdom
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