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How to make the most of your visit to Orchids
Your guide to how to book, what to expect and what else to see at Kew Gardens.
The orchid festival at Kew Gardens is your ticket to chasing away the winter greys with tropical colour. Here’s our guide to planning your visit to our spectacular floral display this February and March.
Preparing for your Orchids visit
Book your time slot
To visit Orchids, you’ll need both a ticket to Kew and an Orchids time slot, which you can book online at the same time. Orchids is included in your Kew Gardens ticket price.
Time slots are booked fast every year, so book yours as early as possible. Weekend time slots book out quickly, while weekdays and mornings are usually quieter.
Exclusive time slots for members
Kew members get access to members-only time slots for Orchids.
Accessibility and quiet sessions
The route around Orchids is fully accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters. We recommend booking a quieter slot or one of our Monday quiet sessions if you use mobility aids, as weekends tend to be very busy.
Orchids quiet sessions are on Mondays from 11am to 12pm.
What to wear
The queue to enter Orchids can be long, so don’t forget to dress for chilly, rainy weather and wear comfortable shoes.
It’s cold outside but it’s warm in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, where Orchids is held. You may want to wear removable layers to stay comfortable in the tropical temperatures indoors.
Visiting Orchids
It usually takes about 30 minutes to walk around Orchids. The route is one-way and it can get very busy at peak times.
This year, Orchids is inspired by the biodiversity of China. Don’t miss the spectacular giant flower sculpture in the shape of a dragon, and keep your eyes peeled for rare native Chinese orchids. Please consider other visitors when you’re taking photos and videos.
We love seeing Orchids through your eyes – don’t forget to tag us @kewgardens on Instagram and Facebook!
At the end of the route is the pop-up Orchids shop where you can find books, clothing, homewares and gifts. Stay for the short film to learn how our scientists pollinate Kew’s rare orchids behind the scenes.
Other things to do at Kew
Kew Gardens covers 320 acres with 16,900 species of plants – so there’s plenty to see before and after your visit to Orchids.
Visit our other glasshouses
Our Palm House is a tropical jungle filled with lush greenery all year round.
In the Temperate House – the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse – you can stroll through the Mediterranean, the Americas and Australasia.
Located near the orchid festival, the Davies Alpine House is dedicated to tiny but tough mountain plants like irises and campanulas.
Did you know we also have a Bonsai House? Our smallest glasshouse for our smallest trees is located next to the Kitchen Garden.
Grab a coffee and a bite
You can find hot food, sandwiches, cakes and drinks at our five cafes and restaurants around the Gardens.
Victoria Plaza Café is the closest to the Orchids entrance, while the Orangery is the closest when you exit the festival.
As well as warming winter favourites, we’ll have exclusive Chinese dishes available only during Orchids: Chinese almond cookies, tofu coconut curry at the Orangery and braised beef noodle soup at the Pavilion.
For the ultimate Kew Gardens treat, book your table at the Botanical Brasserie and enjoy Chinese-spiced sea bass or a decadent afternoon tea with a Chinese twist.
Take a guided tour
Get to know our gardens with a tour led by our expert guides.
Our hop on, hop off Kew Explorer land train will take you around all the highlights of Kew, with commentary from our expert guides. The carriages are covered so you can enjoy a ride in any weather. Adults £5, children £2.
If you’d like to stretch your legs, you can take your pick of our free guided walking tours. The Introduction to the Gardens tour is tailor-made for your first visit to Kew, or perhaps you’re keen to spot daffodils and blossoms on a Signs of spring tour. Walking tours are free and run daily from Victoria Plaza.
Whether you’re an orchid obsessive or you’re looking for an escape from the winter blues, there’s plenty to pack into your visit to Orchids at Kew. See you soon!
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