Zog and sell-out Halloween light trail promise a spectacular spooky season at Kew

Halloween-themed light trail returns to Kew Gardens, from Friday 17 October to Sunday 2 November
Features bewitching illuminated trees, an abandoned fairground, ‘living’ corpses and headless horsemen
1.5km trail, ideal for families
Zog family trail will bring October half-term family fun

This October, Kew Gardens invites visitors of all ages to enjoy two enchanting autumn experiences. Following the hugely popular launch of Halloween at Kew in 2024, the spine-tingling light trail is back with even more eerie surprises (17 Oct – 2 Nov). By day, families can step into the world of Zog (18 Oct – 2 Nov), Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved dragon, brought to life through an interactive outdoor trail designed to spark curiosity, adventure and discovery. These seasonal highlights promise plenty of thrills, fun, and unforgettable memories in the gardens’ beautiful autumnal landscape.

Zog

This October half-term at Kew, families are invited to set off on an outdoor adventure inspired by Zog, the bestselling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Set against the stunning autumnal backdrop of Kew Gardens in London, the interactive trail brings the much-loved story to life through themes of perseverance, friendship, and teamwork. Children will embark on a series of five activities hidden among the trees, echoing key lessons from dragon school—learning to fly, roar, breathe fire, and more. Each challenge combines playful interaction with sensory elements and games, encouraging curiosity, discovery, and plenty of muddy memories.

Zog runs from Saturday 18 October to Sunday 2 November during daytime opening hours (10am-3.30pm) and is free with day Gardens admission. The trail is developed in partnership with Magic Light Pictures.

Halloween at Kew

Following a hugely popular debut in 2024, Halloween at Kew is back for a second year, promising more eerie enchantment than ever before. From Friday 17 October – Sunday 2 November, Kew Gardens in London will once again be transformed after dark with an immersive Halloween light trail featuring bewitched trees, ghostly installations, and spellbinding live performers.

The trail returns with spine-tingling favourites and new surprises, from giant spiders to a mycelium-inspired laser display. Visitors will journey through an abandoned fairground, a mausoleum and even the underworld during the 1.5km trail. Keep your eyes peeled — a ringmaster, Dr Frankenstein and his monster, and even a headless horseman may be lurking just out of sight. From freaky fries to toasted monster marshmallows and hot toddies, there are also wickedly delicious treats available along the route to fuel your Halloween stroll.

There are three sessions to choose from - Daylight, Moonlight and Twilight. Each session will have a slightly different feel, with the ghostly goings on gradually increasing as the evening progresses. The darker it gets, the spookier it gets!

Adam Thow, Director of Commercial & Visitor Operations at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, says: "We were thrilled with the incredible response to the launch of Halloween at Kew last year, and we’re excited to introduce new spooky installations for 2025. It’s a fantastic way for families and friends to enjoy the Gardens in a new light and make magical Halloween memories together."

The Halloween at Kew trail is produced in partnership with RG Live and Sony Music, and created by Culture Creative who design the ever-popular Christmas at Kew.

Tickets can be purchased at Halloween at Kew | Kew and prices are:

Adults £22 peak, £18.50 off peak
Children £16 peak, £13 off peak
Family £72 peak, £59 off peak

ENDS

For more information or images, please contact the Press Office at pr@kew.org.

Notes to Editors

About the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding collections and scientific expertise in plant and fungal diversity, conservation, and sustainable development in the UK and around the globe. Kew’s scientists and partners lead the way in the fight against biodiversity loss and finding nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, aided by five key scientific priorities outlined in Kew’s Science Strategy 2021-2025. Kew Gardens is also a major international and top London visitor attraction. Kew’s 132 hectares of historic, landscaped gardens, and Wakehurst, Kew’s Wild Botanic Garden and ‘living laboratory’, attract over 2.5 million visits every year. Kew Gardens was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and celebrated its 260th anniversary in 2019. Wakehurst is home to the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world and a safeguard against the disastrous effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. RBG Kew received approximately one third of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needs to support RBG Kew’s vital scientific and educational work comes from donors, memberships and commercial activity including ticket sales. For tickets, please visit www.kew.org/kew-gardens/visit-kew-gardens/tickets. In the first six months since implementing a new accessibility scheme for those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Legacy Benefits, Kew has welcomed over 100,000 visitors with £1 tickets.

About RGLive, a division of Sony Music

As an inaugural partner for the very first Christmas at Kew in 2013, RGLive, a division of Sony Music, has now been leading the industry in the delivery and creation of light trails for over twelve years. They now have well-established illuminated Christmas and Halloween trails across the UK plus a portfolio of Christmas, Dark Spectrum and Lightscape trails around the world. Their chosen partners are national and international heritage venues and each trail is carefully designed to showcase the natural and unique environment of that individual setting. RGLive also presents concerts throughout the UK and worldwide.

rg.live | mychristmastrails.co.uk | FB @mychristmastrails | Twitter @mychristmastrails

About Culture Creative

Culture Creative is a creative project and production management company based in Scotland and the North East of England. The Company works across a wide range of cultural fields including art, sport, heritage, tourism, festivals and events, developing projects from concept to delivery. Since 2013, Culture Creative has worked closely with leading entertainment promoter Raymond Gubbay Ltd. a division of Sony Music, to create Lightscape and Christmas themed trails in various venues across the UK and overseas.

www.culturecreative.co.uk | FB@culturecreativeltd | Twitter @CCLCreative | Instagram @culturecreativeltd

Magic Light Pictures, Zog licensor

Magic Light Pictures is a multi-Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning company creating high-quality family entertainment and products. Founded by Martin Pope and Michael Rose in 2003, it is best known for its animated adaptations of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s books, including The Gruffalo, Zog, and Tiddler. The films are regularly a centrepiece of BBC One’s Christmas family schedule, a mainstay on iPlayer, and have sold to more than 170 countries. Magic Light’s growing slate of work also includes the preschool series Pip and Posy, the Oscar-nominated Revolting Rhymes, and the Emmy-winning The Velveteen Rabbit. In addition, the company runs an extensive licensing programme, with over 90 global partners and 2,000 product lines in the UK alone. Upcoming releases include The Scarecrows’ Wedding, airing this Christmas on BBC One, and a Zog preschool series set to debut on CBeebies in 2026.

www.magiclightpictures.com | FB and Instagram @MagicLightPics