What's on this October at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst
Release date: 18 September 2025
- Material World, exploring the intertwined threads of nature, culture and creativity now open in the Temperate House
- New exhibitions in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery celebrate Indian art
- Zog zooms into Kew Gardens and Wakehurst this half-term
- Horticultural highlights include early autumn colour in the arboretum
- Halloween at Kew returns
- Coming soon to Wakehurst- Glow Wild
Kew Gardens
Material World | Temperate House | until 2 November | supported by Cazenove Capital
Now open in the Temperate House Material World is a festival of art, fashion and horticulture inside the stunning Temperate House. This thought-provoking exhibition dives into the fascinating connections between textiles, plants and sustainability, exploring the hidden stories behind everyday materials. Drawing from Kew's renowned scientific collections, Material World explores the intertwined threads of nature, culture and creativity, and allows us to discover how we can all wear a more sustainable future.
Material World After Hours will see the Temperate House transformed on 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 & 18 October, from 6.30pm – 10.30pm. Suitable for adults aged 18+ only.
The Singh Twins and Flora Indica | 11 October 2025 – 12 April 2026 | Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art | Included with entry
This autumn in Kew’s Shirley Sherwood Gallery, discover two complementary exhibitions that 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.
To tie in with the exhibitions, acclaimed chef Anjula Devi will curate a selection of dishes for visitors to enjoy, available in Kew’s Pavilion Bar & Grill from 11 October – 14 November.
Zog | 18 October – 2 November | 10am – 3.30pm (4.30pm at Wakehurst) | Included with entry
This autumn, set off on an outdoor adventure inspired by Zog, the bestselling children's book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Taking place across the beautiful autumnal landscape of both Kew Gardens and Wakehurst, this interactive trail invites families to explore the story’s themes of perseverance, friendship, and teamwork while making muddy memories and embracing the elements.
Wellbeing in Nature
Kew’s popular event series Wellbeing in Nature returns this month, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing within the inspiring surroundings of Kew Gardens’ 320-acre UNESCO World Heritage site. All tickets include entry to Kew Gardens and a 20% discount in our restaurants.
Sound Baths in Nature | 1 & 8 October | 4 – 5 pm | Nash Conservatory
Immerse yourself in the calming sounds of gongs, singing bowls and gentle percussion in a therapeutic sonic experience for relaxation and wellbeing. Therapeutic sound has been proven to offer a wide range of health benefits, helping to boost your immune system by making you feel more grounded, balanced, and connected.
Horticultural Highlights- Autumn
Horticultural highlights during October at Kew Gardens include the spectacular signs of early autumn unfolding across Kew’s arboretum, which can be enjoyed from a unique perspective with a seasonal stroll along the Treetop Walkway.
Elsewhere, visitors can explore the Agius Evolution Garden with a new Bloomberg Connects audio tour exploring the science and horticultural stories behind this unique area of the Gardens.
Short course
Fungi: Drawing & painting mushrooms | 6 – 8 October | 10.30am – 4pm | Botanical Brasserie Courtyard
Fungi exhibit an astonishing variety of shapes, colours, and textures, making them fascinating subjects for botanical art. This three-day course will introduce participants to fungal structures, identification techniques, and artistic rendering using pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour.
Halloween at Kew | 17 October – 2 November | Timed entry, pre-booking essential
This October, Kew Gardens will transform once more into a ghostly, glowing adventure, brought to you by the producers of Christmas at Kew. As night falls over the Gardens, explore one of London’s best Halloween events with this eerie illuminated trail. Watch out for tricks in the forgotten fairground and beware the monsters lurking in Frankenstein’s laboratory. As you wind through the haunted woods, be careful of giant spiders waiting in creepy cobwebs, ghastly ghouls and wicked witches.
Kew Publishing Book of the Month | The Psychedelic Garden by Sandra Lawrence
A fascinating exploration of the mind-altering plants that for centuries have helped shape the way we see the world. This book is a fascinating exploration of the mind-altering plants that for centuries have helped shape the way we see the world. Packed with expert text and stunning botanical illustrations from the Kew archive, this book delves into the folklore, cultural relevance and botanical background of remarkable plants that have long been leveraged to hallucinogenic effect.
Wakehurst
Horticultural Highlights
Wakehurst’s autumn highlights include sweeping vistas reflecting off tranquil waters, and a tapestry of golden leaves putting on a display throughout the woodlands. Adventurers are rewarded with magnificent trees on display - golden British birches in Bethlehem Wood, and bronze Japanese maples around the Water Gardens and Mansion Pond.
Across the gardens, the shapes of weird and wonderful fungi present a myriad of opportunities to interact with nature in new ways. In the Children’s & Community Garden, new vegetable beds proudly display the season’s harvest – come and spot our oddly-shaped Tromboncino squash and myriad of seasonal vegetables. Visitors bringing furry friends can take in the best of Wakehurst’s woodlands along the dog-walking route, from evergreen Wollemi pines and redwoods to the first signs of changing leaves and autumn fungi. The picturesque Westwood Lake nestled at the bottom of the valley is ideal for adventurous explorers, with the lake’s reflections creating the perfect spot to watch the seasons change.
For World Mental Health Day on 10 October, discover the healing benefits of nature - pine trees are a hotspot for phytoncides, natural oils that plants release to protect themselves from germs. When breathed in, they encourage the body to ramp up natural killer cells that take down viruses – so come walk the Wakehurst Pinetum (an evergreen glade) for an immunity-boosting experience.
Events
Fungi walks | 15, 16, 18 and 20 October | 11am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 2.30pm |
Whether you are a fanatic or new to the weird and wonderful world of fungi, everyone is welcome to these autumnal fungi walks. Learn about the types of fungi at Wakehurst, as well as how to identify the different types that grow around Sussex, looking at their shape, growth formations, and colour. These sessions are for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Wakehurst landscape, wants to spend more time in nature, and pick up a new skill.
Forest bathing | 12 October - 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm | 16 November – 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 4pm | Wakehurst and Kew members £25, Non-members £40
Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing invites you to slow down and fully immerse yourself in the calming forest environment at Wakehurst. Guided by Swedish teacher and workshop leader Helena Skoog, you'll learn how to engage all your senses to connect deeply with your surroundings. Experience the restorative power of nature as it helps relieve tension, relax your mind, and nourish your sense of well-being.
Glow Wild | Selected evenings, 27 November 2025 to 3 January 2026 | 4pm to 10pm | Flexible ticket options available
Glow Wild returns to Wakehurst with a bold new theme: Seed Safari - A Walk on the Wild Side. From 27 November 2025 to 3 January 2026, Sussex’s award-winning lantern trail invites visitors of all ages to wander into a radiant reimagining of the natural world, where seeds spark stories and the wild glows after dark. Book ticket for the trail now, featuring brand-new bespoke installations, an enhanced street food offering and Wakehurst’s iconic Christmas tree. Glow Wild guests can also add on an exclusive Mansion VIP experience, with a welcome drink, seasonal mezze-style sharing platter and a fully stocked bar.
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 25th 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.
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
NOTES TO EDITORS
About 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. In 2021 Kew launched its Sustainability Strategy to become climate positive by 2030. 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 200,000 visitors with £1 tickets.
About Wakehurst
Whilst Wakehurst is not a National Trust property, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has a longstanding relationship with the National Trust dating back to 1965 when Kew took over the running of Wakehurst’s 535 acres of botanical landscapes and Elizabethan Mansion, bequeathed to the National Trust in 1963.
Wakehurst is Kew’s wild botanic garden in the Sussex High Weald National Landscape. Its ancient and beautiful landscapes span 535 acres and are a place for escape, exploration, tranquility, and wonder. Its diverse collection of plants from Britain and around the globe thrive within a tapestry of innovative gardens, temperate woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. Wakehurst is a centre for UK biodiversity and global conservation, seed research and ecosystem science. At its heart is Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, the world’s largest store of seeds from wild plant species.
RBG Kew receives approximately one third of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needed to support RBG Kew’s vital work comes from donors, membership and commercial activity including ticket sales. 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.
At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we’re dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With our world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – we’re 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 our planet and humanity.
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In March 2021, RBG Kew launched its 10-year strategy Our Manifesto for Change 2021. The institution’s ultimate goal is step up to help to end the extinction crisis and contribute to creating a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. In the wake of a global pandemic, and with the future of the planet in peril, the strategy represents a public commitment by RBG Kew to do everything in its power to reverse the environmental devastation of biodiversity loss and climate change. The five key priorities are 1) Delivering science-based knowledge and solutions to protect biodiversity and use natural resources sustainably 2) Inspiring people to protect the natural world 3) Training the next generation of experts: 4) Extending our reach 5) Influencing national and international opinion and policy.
On May 25 2021 RBG Kew launched its new Sustainability Strategy – committing to become Climate Positive by 2030 and marking a step-change in our urgent action to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis.