Best things to do at Kew in the summer holidays

For a London family day out full of nature and fun, Kew Gardens has you covered. Our gardens are at their summer best, full of shady trees and places to play. Here’s our guide to summer holiday fun with the family at Kew.

Go wild at Oaklore

26 July to 31 August 2025, included with entry

A playful and anarchic collective of Oak-Keepers has landed at Kew Gardens for the summer, and they need you!

Oaklore is part performance, part self-guided trail: an adventure of making and exploring, living out exciting stories and creating memories together, as we dive into the wonder of the oak tree. This event is aimed at ages 7-11 but open to all ages.

Find out more

See inside a tree at Of the Oak

3 May to 28 September 2025, included with entry

Of the Oak is a one-of-a-kind immersive art installation where visitors can interact with a giant digital tree. Peer beneath the bark of one of Kew’s living oaks and watch as the pulses of water and energy follow your movements.

Once you've met our digital oak, get to know the other majestic trees at Kew on a free Of the Oak guided walking tour, led by one of our expert guides.

Learn more

The Children’s Garden and other family highlights

The Children’s Garden is the perfect place to run, climb and play; it's open to visit until one hour before the Gardens close.

Get a bird’s eye view of the gardens from the Treetop Walkway, then it’s back to ground level to stretch energetic legs on our acres of lawns.

In the Natural Area, young visitors can crawl inside our giant badger sett, feel like Alice in Wonderland at our giant picnic table, test their skills on our log trail and enjoy the cool shade under the trees.

Then prepare to be amazed at our giant waterlilies in the Waterlily House and Princess of Wales Conservatory: their leaves can get over 3 metres wide.

Bring your bikes to Summer Cycle

7 August 2025, booking essential

Our Summer Cycle event is back on 7 August for a rare chance to experience the Gardens on two wheels. You’ll get exclusive after-hours access to the Gardens with tours, music, food and entertainment, plus scavenger hunts for all ages with prizes up for grabs.

Book tickets to Summer Cycle

Theatre on Kew

18 July to 31 August 2025, booking essential

Choose from three critically-acclaimed outdoor theatre productions set in the magical backdrop of our gardens.

Meet your favourite curious characters in Alice in Wonderland; bring little ones to join Tinkerbell in The Dream Fairies - Adventure through Bubble Land; or, for older audiences, experience Shakespeare’s Macbeth under the stars.

Book tickets

Spot wildlife

There are lots of animals as well as plants to see at Kew. Ducks, geese, swans and other waterfowl live on our lakes and ponds. If you’re lucky, you might spy a fox or a muntjac deer in a quiet corner of the gardens.

Listen out for woodpeckers up in the trees. There are also more than 100 species of bees at Kew: how many can you see?

A perennial favourite with younger visitors is the underwater viewing window into the pond in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, where you can spot some of our biggest and oldest resident fish.

Where to eat, drink and picnic

Behind the Temperate House this summer, don’t miss the Food Village, serving shawarma, pizza and tapas – plus mocktails and margaritas for the grown-ups.

You’re welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy your lunch on our benches and lawns. There are lots of options for sun or shade throughout the Gardens.

The Family Kitchen & Shop is next to the Children’s Garden, serving fresh stone-baked pizza, salads, hot food and ice cream.

Coffee, cakes and sandwiches are on offer at the Orangery and at Victoria Plaza Café, next to the Victoria Gate entrance. Kids’ menu options are available at the Pavilion Bar and Grill.

Find out more

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Ways to save at Kew

Make the most of your visit with a selection of discounts; affordable food and drink options; free tours, events and exhibitions; and budget transport options.

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Summer early opening for Kew members

1 May to 30 September 2025, members only

All summer long, Kew members and their guests can visit the Gardens from 8am. Escape the crowds and be the first to enjoy the glasshouses when they open at 10am.

From 8.15am on weekends and bank holidays, the Children’s Garden will also open early for members accompanied by children.

Learn more

Not a Kew member?

Become a Kew member to enjoy unlimited visits to the Gardens and a feast of discounts and benefits, all year round. Family memberships available from £88 a year.

Become a member

Accessibility and quiet sessions

We run free Children’s Garden quiet sessions for children with SEND every month from July to September. We also run free monthly SEND family sensory tours with interactive storytelling.

Free visual guides, SEND sensory story sacks, sensory activity packs, and picture exchange communication packs are available on request to help everyone have a wonderful time at Kew.

Find out more

Accessibility at Kew

Learn together as a family

Ignite your child’s scientific curiosity with Mini and Young Scientist Backpacks (3-7 years and 7+ years), full of hands-on activities and art materials – so everyone can take their drawings home to stick on the fridge. Booking is essential.

Book yours now

With our free family learning cards, nature trails and seasonal spotter sheets, everyone can learn together about plants and the natural world. Find out more

For babies and toddlers

There are toilets and baby changing within easy reach of all the main attractions, cafés and gates, and you can find a private baby feeding room at the Family Kitchen & Shop.

The Gardens are mostly level and there's level or ramped access to most of the buildings. There is a buggy park at The Hive.

Maps of Kew Gardens

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