Winter Wonders at RBG Kew: Seasonal Highlights, Snowdrops, and Spectacular Events

Winter Horticultural Highlights at Kew Gardens

As temperatures fall and many of Kew’s 11,000 trees shed their leaves, the Gardens’ extraordinary winter character emerges—revealing sculptural silhouettes, colourful stems, richly textured barks and fragrant seasonal blooms that make Kew a must-visit destination at this time of year. Those who venture up the 18-metre Treetop Walkway are treated to sweeping views of sweet chestnut, beech, horse chestnut and oak trees—and, as the canopy opens, a spectacular view of the London skyline.

For a festive stroll, Holly Walk is unmissable. Once a public bridle path known as Love Lane (keep an eye out for sprigs of mistletoe!), since 1874 it has housed one of Europe’s largest holly collections (boasting over 30 varieties of holly (Ilex)) and offers a historic route through Kew’s winter landscape.

“People often assume winter is a quiet time in the Gardens, with bare trees and landscapes that lack colour,” says Faye Adams, Alpine and Rock Garden Supervisor at RBG Kew. “In reality, it’s a busy period for horticulturists as this is the time we need to put in essential groundwork to ensure the gardens flourish come spring and summer. And, if you look closely, many species are already in full bloom. The ‘Grumpy’ snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii 'Grumpy') is just one example, alongside rare Juno iris, Bellevalia and extraordinary South African bulbs.”

Winter Garden
Newly extended in 2024, Kew’s Winter Garden promises a vibrant sensory escape during the depths of winter. Here, visitors can enjoy delicate snowdrops, the glossy black foliage of mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) and the silver-white bark of Himalayan birches. Its elevated position provides unique views,, including of the Temperate House and the Great Pagoda, some of Kew’s most recognisable buildings

The extension celebrates shady winter-interest planting, featuring fiery witch hazel (Hamamelis) and dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’). The scents from winter flowering shrubs like Daphne, Edgeworthia, Viburnum, the sweet box (Sarcococca), and wintersweet (Chimonanthus) are intoxicating, drawing you in from adistance. While the main purpose of this heady scent is to attract the few pollinating insects that are present at this time of year, it’s a bonus for visitors to enjoy too.   

Grass Garden
The Grass Garden is a showstopper at this time of year, exhibiting an array of hues and textures. A variety of seed heads offer incredible structural interest, and act as an important source of shelter for insects and other small creatures as we head into the winter months, as well as a vital food source for birds. With long, billowy stems rustling in the wind, this area of the Gardens also offers a multisensory experience, inviting visitors to sit, reflect and enjoy the tranquility of nature amidst the business of the festive season. 

Snowdrops
Kew has monitored flowering times for over 50 years, providing valuable information about our changing climate and an early warning of the effect this may have on our plants. While in the 1950s common snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) emerged in late February, since the 1990s the first signs of their delicate, white flowers have typically appeared in January—now one of the earliest signs that spring is on its way.

Kew Gardens is home to all 19 known Galanthus species, two subspecies and more than 50 cultivars. The Rock Garden is the jewel in the crown for galanthophiles, especially in late January when the beloved ‘Grumpy’ snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii ‘Grumpy’) may appear, bearing its unmistakable green markings that strongly resemble a frowning face.

As February approaches, coloured stems, highly perfumed flowers and the first daffodils begin to pepper the landscape, alongside witch hazel (Hamamelis) and dogwood (Cornus) with its vivid coloured stems adding brilliant flashes of seasonal colour.

Glasshouses
Warm up among the tropical and temperate landscapes of Kew’s iconic glasshouses. Wander from the tropical and steamy Palm House to the magnificent Temperate House with its 1,500 species of plants, the Princess of Wales Conservatory with 10 climate zones and the Davies Alpine House showcasing delicate alpine species. This innovative glasshouse will celebrate its 20^th anniversary in 2026.

What else is on at Kew this winter?
Alongside impressive horticultural displays, a jam-packed programme of events promises something for everyone at Kew and Wakehurst this winter:

Christmas at Kew | Selected dates until 4 January 2026 | 4.20pm to 10pm | Kew Gardens (Entrances: Victoria Gate, Brentford Gate and Elizabeth Gate) | Pre-booking essential

Christmas at Kew is an unmissable opportunity celebrate the festive season or welcome in the New Year with family and friends. Don’t miss spectacular new creations from world-wide artists presented uniquely for the first time in the UK. These larger-than-life illuminations are always unforgettable and to make it even more memorable, glimpse Father Christmas along the way.  

Orchids China | 7 February – 8 March 2026 | Pre-booking essential

Join us for an orchid spectacular inspired by China, as we celebrate 30 years of our much-loved Orchid Festival. The 2026 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.

Orchids After Hourswill see the Princess of Wales Conservatory transformed during weekend evenings in February and March. Pre-booking essential.

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.

Wakehurst

Evergreen woodlands offer a feast of pine fragrance and birdsong at Wakehurst, bringing the Pinetum and Coates Wood to life, while sweeping viewpoints reveal rolling hills and the undulating beauty of the Sussex High Weald. 

The Winter Garden is an enchanting ensemble of delicate British Birches, sweet-scented witch hazel and striking red dogwood. All-weather paths weave through the ornamental design, leading visitors to something new around every corner, revealing a tapestry of colour and texture even in the colder months. Mature Himalayan silver birch trees (Betula utilis var. Jacquemontianii) rise above a layered display of bold red dogwood (Cornus) and ‘Karl Foerster’ grasses (Calamagrostis), whilst snowdrops and cyclamen start to pop up across the ground throughout late winter. 

Open over Boxing Day and over the festive period, Wakehurst is the ideal location for families to come together, uniting the generations for a crisp winter walk.  Should the days bring less favourable weather, visitors can seek warmth in the Atrium of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, which offers windows into the labs and an interactive exhibition for children. 

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 tickets 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.      

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

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