Sat 20 July – Sun 1 Sept 2024
- New summer programme at Kew Gardens between 20 July - 1 September
- Based on the best-selling books by Nick Arnold and illustrated by Tony De Saulles
- Dig into the weird and wonderful world of plants and fungi
- Horrible Science trail is included with entry to Gardens, including £1 ticket offer
- Free entry to Kew Gardens for children aged 4 and under
This summer, families are invited to enjoy Horrible Science, a brand-new interactive trail based on the bestselling series of books and set within the beautiful landscape of Kew Gardens’ arboretum.
From the mysterious lives of Foul Fungi to the hidden world of Revolting Roots, Kew’s Horrible Science trail will take budding adventurers and hopeful scientists on a tour of the weird, wonderful and sometimes stomach-churning stories from the kingdoms of plants and fungi.
With unique input from Kew’s own scientific and horticultural experts, and inspired by the works of author Nick Arnold and illustrator Tony De Saulles, learn more about Fiendish Flowers, Greedy Greenery and Vicious Veg through a series of interactive installations across Kew this summer.
Horrible Science at Kew Gardens is guaranteed to be the go-to destination for the summer holidays.
Families are invited to take part in the summer programme, which is included in the price of admission to the Gardens. This includes Kew’s £1 entry offer for recipients of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other legacy benefits. Visit Kew.org in advance of your visit to find the best value offer for your day out.
Food and Drink
Need to take a break from the thrills and fun of Horrible Science? Pop into one of Kew Gardens' many cafes and restaurants. Enjoy hot meals and delicious pizzas at the multi-sensory Family Kitchen & Shop, refreshing drinks and sandwiches at the renovated 18th-century Orangery, and an even greater choice of à la carte dining at the Pavilion Bar and Grill. For a more formal dining experience, head to the Botanical Brasserie with its majestic view of the Palm House.
The Children’s Garden
Stretching across an area the size of 40 tennis courts, the Children’s Garden is the perfect space to explore all that plants need to grow. With more than 100 mature trees spread across the landscape and hidden adventures around every corner, all visitors are welcome to visit throughout the day without the need for prior booking.
If plant life stops, all life stops
At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew we are dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to halt the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. With Kew’s world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – we are using our trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity, we rely on the critical support of our visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of humanity and all life on Earth.
- £1 ticket offer available to recipients of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other legacy benefits
- £9 ticket available to young person or student (16 to 29)
- Family tickets starting from £26 available during peak season (1 February to 31 October)
- Kids under 4 go FREE to Kew
- Visit the website to find the best value offer
ENDS
For high-res images, please download from the following link and credit as named: https://we.tl/t-ig8qHQvbYp
For more information, images and interview requests, please contact Sebastian Kettley, Media Officer (s.kettley@kew.org) or the Press Office (pr@kew.org)
About Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-famous scientific and horticultural institution and conservation charity, whose mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the wellbeing of people and the future of all life on Earth. It is internationally respected for its outstanding collections, horticultural and scientific expertise in plant and fungal diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the globe. Kew Gardens, with its 132 hectares of historic, landscaped gardens, is also a major attraction for international and London visitors alike. Dating back to 1759, the site has a rich history and was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003. Combined visitor numbers with Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, total over 2.5 million per year. 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 receives approximately one third of its funding from the UK Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils, with the remaining two thirds coming from supporters, sponsors, memberships and commercial activity including ticket sales. This enables RBG Kew to carry out its vital scientific and educational work. For tickets and membership options, please visit our website. Since implementing a new accessibility scheme for those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Legacy Benefits, Kew has welcomed over 88,000 visitors with £1 tickets across both UK sites.
About Kew Science
Kew Science is the driving force behind RBG Kew’s mission to understand and protect plants and fungi, for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth. Over 470 Kew science staff work with partners in more than 100 countries worldwide to halt biodiversity loss, uncover secrets of the natural world, and to conserve and restore the extraordinary diversity of plants and fungi. Kew’s Science Strategy 2021–2025 lays out five scientific priorities to aid these goals: research into the protection of biodiversity through Ecosystem Stewardship, understanding the variety and evolution of traits in plants and fungi through Trait Diversity and Function; digitising and sharing tools to analyse Kew’s scientific collections through Digital Revolution; using new technologies to speed up the naming and characterisation of plants and fungi through Accelerated Taxonomy; and cultivating new scientific and commercial partnerships in the UK and globally through Enhanced Partnerships. One of Kew’s greatest international collaborations is the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, which has to date stored more than 2.4 billion seeds of over 40,000 wild species of plants across the globe. In 2023, Kew scientists estimated in the State of the World’s Plants and Fungi report that 3 in 4 undescribed plants globally are already likely threatened with extinction.
About Horrible Science
Horrible Science® is the bestselling book series written by Nick Arnold and illustrated by Tony De Saulles (published by Scholastic). Funny, factual, for kids (and big kids!) and horrible, the popular series will celebrate 30 Horrible Years in 2026. From titles such as Blood, Bones and Body Bits and Nasty Nature to Painful Poison and Shocking Electricity, Horrible Science covers popular science topics in a uniquely appealing way. The books have inspired TV, stage-shows, magazines and products including science kits and experiments. Horrible Science is science with the squishy bits left in!
Horrible Science® is a registered trademark of Scholastic Inc and is used under authorization. All rights reserved. Based on the bestselling books written by Nick Arnold and illustrated by Tony De Saulles. Illustration © Tony De Saulles.