March at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst

Kew Gardens

Orchids 2026 | until 8 March 2026 | Pre-booking essential

Running until 8 March, the 2026 Orchid festival takes inspiration from China’s remarkable biodiversity, heritage and design traditions, filling our Princess of Wales glasshouse with a dazzling array of orchids and large-scale floral installations. Wander among dragons, lanterns and intricate plant sculptures that bring to life the beauty and wildlife of one of the world’s most biodiverse countries and experience a burst of colour and warmth in the winter months. 

Sounds of Blossom | 14 March – 6 April | 11am – 6pm | Across the Gardens

Awaken your senses with spectacular blooms and uplifting music, set within the serenity of London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site. This spring, immerse yourself in the splendour of nature at Sounds of Blossom. In collaboration with the Royal College of Music for the third consecutive year, seven new compositions have been created by talented music students, inspired by the unique charm of Kew’s lush spring landscape and our world-renowned magnolia and cherry blossoms.

The Singh Twins and Flora Indica | until 12 April 2026 | Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art | Included with entry

Now running in Kew’s Shirley Sherwood Gallery, two complementary exhibitions explore the complex colonial history of botanical art through both historical and contemporary lenses. In Gallery 5, Botanical Tales and Seeds of Empire by internationally acclaimed artists The Singh Twins showcases a striking new body of work inspired by Kew’s botanical archives. 

Flora Indica: Recovering the lost histories of Indian botanical art, displayed in Galleries 1–4 will be the first-ever public display of 52 rediscovered botanical illustrations by Indian artists commissioned by British botanists between 1790 and 1850.

An accompanying Indian flora walking tour runs each Sunday and Wednesday until 29 March, departing from Victoria Plaza at 11.30am. 

International Garden Photographer of the Year: Exhibition 19 | 14 February – 9 March 2026 | Opposite the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art

IGPOTY touring exhibition 19 will launch at Kew Gardens and will feature a curated selection of high-placed photographs. The competition is a celebration of our planet’s green spaces, flora, fauna, and fungi showcased via some of the world’s finest photography, with a special Captured at Kew category showcasing the best of the Gardens across all seasons. 

Horticultural Highlights- Early Spring

Early swathes of magnolia bring delicate clouds of pastel pinks overhead – look for hotspots by Elizabeth Gate, The Hive and along Princess Walk. Sunny spots of daffodils dazzle with their bright yellow hues across the Great Broad Walk Borders and throughout the Natural Area and Woodland Garden. 

Sound baths in nature | 10 & 25 March | 4 – 5pm | Nash Conservatory 

Immerse yourself in the calming sounds of gongs, singing bowls and gentle percussion for a therapeutic sonic experience in one of London’s most iconic green spaces. No previous experience is needed for this expert-led session, making it the perfect opportunity to try a new way of reaching deep meditation and relaxation.

Kew Publishing Book of the Month | Kew Book of Paper Gardens by Fideli Sundqvist 

Lush, evergreen and made entirely from paper, create 50 stunning projects, from delicate leaves and dreamy floral bouquets to sculptural potted plants. 

Discover the enchanting art of paper crafting with this inspiring guide endorsed by the prestigious Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a curious beginner, this book will help you to transform your home into a year-round paper garden.

Coming Soon | Henry Moore: Monumental Nature | opens 9 May

From early May, experience the awe-inspiring scale and beauty of Henry Moore's sculptures in the stunning landscape of Kew Gardens. Henry Moore: Monumental Nature will be the largest outdoor exhibition of Moore's work ever presented, featuring over 100 pieces including 30 monumental sculptures set throughout the Gardens, alongside over 70 works on paper, models, and smaller pieces displayed in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. Join us for this once-in-a-generation event, organised with the Henry Moore Foundation.

Wakehurst

Spring begins to take centre stage at Wakehurst, as the Water Gardens come to life with pastel-pink magnolia arching over The Slips boardwalk, and delicate golden yellow daffodils line the Mansion lawns. Elsewhere, Wakehurst’s impressive rhododendron collection begin to put on their annual display, with towering shrubs adorned with red, pink and white. 

With British Science Week falling 6-15 March, the month is the perfect time to connect and engage with science across Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex. Wakehurst’s free citizen science trail Trees for Bees returns for its third year, offering a fun and engaging way for visitors to contribute directly to pollination research. As scientists are measuring the abundance of bees on Wakehurst’s trees, budding young wildlife experts can help by counting the pollinators they see, logging data on an easy-to-use app. Elsewhere, children can play the role of a seed scientist with the Bank a Seed interactive display, and visitors can explore the history of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, with exhibitions in the Mansion Chapel and MSB Atrium.

Events

Members’ Wine School | Thursday 12 March | 5.30 to 7pm, 7.45pm to 9.15pm | £30, members only
This members-only 90-minute wine tasting is your gateway to the world of wine, sustainability, and storytelling, all set against the stunning backdrop of Wakehurst's Elizabethan Mansion. Explore the Kew Series Wines and their unique stories, learn about wine and sustainability in a relaxed setting, and enjoy a tasting of six exceptional wines from Laithwaites.

Octonauts: Above and Beyond at Wakehurst | 28 March to 12 April | Over the Easter holidays, the Octonauts: Above and Beyond family trail celebrates biodiversity in the natural world, as brave explorers discover the challenges facing plant life and global ecosystems, reflecting the daring crew’s mission of explore, rescue, protect! Budding young Octonauts will join the squad to help protect plants and wildlife, with plenty of puzzles and photo opportunities along the way.

Parkrun at Wakehurst | Every Saturday from 9am | Free  
Pace yourself through our scenic landscape as Parkrun is now at Wakehurst. Every Saturday morning, embark on a fun, free and friendly 5K. Participants must register with Parkrun before their first event.  

Guided tours | Tues to Thurs, 11.30am and 2pm | Fri – Mon, 11.30am | Free, subject to availability 

Whether it’s your first time visiting or you're a regular to the gardens wanting to learn more, join a volunteer-led tour to discover seasonal areas of interest, learn about the history of the landscape and discover behind-the-scenes stories of the gardens. 

Millennium Seed Bank Atrium Guided Tours | Mondays 2pm | Free, subject to availability 

Step inside the most biodiverse place on earth and enjoy a guided tour of the MSB Atrium. Trained volunteer guides will take you through the journey of a seed from collection to banking and point out areas of interest through the laboratory windows. Launched in celebration of the Millennium Seed Bank’s 25^th anniversary.

Dog walks at Wakehurst | Daily | Dedicated dog walking route 

Enjoy Wakehurst’s wintery woodlands and captivating views with your four-legged friend in tow. Wakehurst’s dedicated dog walking route takes you through woodlands of the world, offering a dog walk with a difference. Excitable pups can burn off energy in the secure off-lead area and enjoy some downtime in Wakehurst’s dog-friendly cafes. 

Uniformed group visits | Evenings and Saturdays | £170 per group of up to 30 young people 

Twilight and Saturday sessions ideal for groups such as Cubs, Beavers, Brownies, Scouts, Guides or for eco/extracurricular clubs. Led by a qualified teacher, work towards conservation learning, nature connectedness, exploration or activity badges in our vast landscape and outdoor learning facilities.

Coming Soon | Henry Moore and more | Opens 5 June, included with entry
From summer 2026, sculpture meets the beauty of the natural world as we showcase four of Henry Moore’s iconic sculptures, alongside bold new commissions from contemporary artists, set across the gardens. Curated in partnership with the Henry Moore Institute, this remarkable exhibition will invite visitors to explore the evolving conversation between art and nature.

Discovery and Access Events 

Events spanning gardening, art and wellbeing, designed for those who face barriers to visiting. To enquire about one of these events, please email wakehurstcommunity@kew.org. 

Trees for Bees Engagement Sessions | 12 and 17 March | 10am to 1pm | Free
Join us at Wakehurst to carry out a one-of-a-kind research project finding out which trees pollinators like best and how we can make our cities more pollinator friendly! You don’t need to have any prior experience or be a scientist. We will tell you everything you need to know. Come along and hear from our pollination scientists about their groundbreaking research, then explore our stunning landscapes while you are guided to take part in Trees for Bees – Wakehurst’s citizen science project monitoring pollinator foraging behaviour around the gardens.

Sow and Grow workshops | Monday 23 March, 10.30am-1pm | Free

Join us for our monthly hands-on gardening workshops. Taking place in Wakehurst’s Children’s and Community Garden, these sessions offer a practical introduction to sustainable gardening for people who may face physical, sensory, psychological, or social barriers to visiting Wakehurst independently.

Nature Natters Wellbeing Walks | Monday 30 March, 11am-12pm, 1pm-2pm | Free

Our one-hour community well-being walks provide an opportunity for individuals to enjoy nature in a supportive and welcoming environment. Participants can explore Wakehurst alongside our trained guides, with opportunities to meet new people and chat with our friendly volunteers.  

Dementia Friendly walks | Tuesday 31 March, 11am-12pm | Free

Led by our expert volunteers, you will learn about the wonderful plants, people and places that make up Wakehurst. Starting at the Visitor Reception and lasting around 60 minutes, the walks are led by our volunteer guides, who are specially trained by the Alzheimer's Society.

Exhibitions

Surviving or Thriving: An exhibition on plants and us |Daily, 10am–3.30pm | Millennium Seed Bank | Included with entry

This exhibition brings Kew’s State of the World’s Plants reports to life, telling the story of why some plants are only surviving, while others are thriving. Through film, audio, models, and a futuristic garden, explore  the challenges that plants face and discover the vital role of fungi. 

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ENDS