1 October 2024
Best things to do at Kew this autumn
From woodland walks to a spooky Halloween trail, there's plenty to do at Kew Gardens this autumn.
.jpg.webp?itok=9jSfn69Q "Fallen autumn leaves at Kew, Andrew McRobb © RBG Kew")
The Gardens have come alive with the rich colours of autumn.
Discover what's on at Kew Gardens this October and November. Breathe in the fresh air and spot our autumnal highlights, including our brand new Halloween trail, sculpture exhibitions and half term adventures.
Halloween at Kew
This year, Kew Gardens will transform into a spooktacular adventure with a brand-new, after dark Halloween trail full of hidden surprises, from 18 October to 3 November 2024.
Bring family and friends and wind your way through the illuminated haunted woods teeming with creepy neon cobwebs, ghastly ghouls, wicked witches, larger-than life spiders and beastly bats. Could it be a trick of the light or do things really go “bump in the night”?
Enjoy the sweetest of treats on offer with a wickedly good hot toddy or devilishly decadent hot chocolate and toast a marshmallow with someone special (separate charges apply).
Book your tickets now to secure the date and time of your choice.
See some of the world’s rarest plants
This autumn, step inside the Temperate House for Rare and Extinct, an exhibition showcasing some of Kew’s most precious specimens – plants so special, they’re not usually found on display.
Running from 19 October to 17 November 2024, this exhibition will explore Kew’s unique collection of rare and threatened plants, including plants that are now extinct in the wild. Learn how Kew’s expert horticulturists are using their knowledge and skills to cultivate and care for them, as well as how we’re working to conserve the world’s most precious species and halt biodiversity loss.
Alongside the living plants will be a curated selection from Kew’s historic collections, shining a spotlight on useful plant-based objects from our Economic Botany Collection, Herbarium and Archives.
Rare and Extinct is included with entry to Kew Gardens.
Room on the Broom
This October half term, dive into Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved tale as you follow the kind witch on her enchanting journey across our stunning autumn landscape.
Spot familiar characters from the story, engage with playful installations and enjoy family-friendly activities that bring the magic of the book to life along the winding paths of Kew.
Watch out for Dog’s muddy paw prints and see if you can find Frog hiding in his lily pond. Together, work to scare off Dragon and save the day!
Room on the Broom is included with entry to Kew Gardens and runs from 19 October to 3 November 2024.
Explore Felicity Aylieff’s monumental art
Opening on 26 October 2024, Expressions in Blue is a major solo exhibition from acclaimed ceramic artist Felicity Aylieff.
Aylieff is renowned for her longstanding collaborations with porcelain production workshops and artisan craftspeople in Jingdezhen, China – known as the “Porcelain Capital” of the world.
Expressions in Blue will include Aylieff’s incredible 5 metre tall vases, all hand-thrown and hand-painted with cobalt oxides. Alongside the 'new Ming’ vases will be a selection of colourful hand-painted Fencai enamelled vessels inspired by the botanical illustrations Aylieff researched in the Shirley Sherwood Collection.
Expressions in Blue is included with entry to Kew Gardens.
Revel in the change of colours
Enjoy the sensory delight of autumn, with vibrant colours, crisp leaves, petrichor and other seasonal smells.
There are many places to enjoy the dramatic changes that take place in our Gardens, but the best spots for blazes of colour are the Treetop Walkway and the Arboretum (which has 14,000 trees to discover).
The Grass Garden is also stunning at this time of year, exhibiting plenty of hues and textures, and don’t miss out on the daily walking tour: a free and fun way to learn more about the Gardens.
See Kew your way with our themed trails
Create your own tailored Kew experience with seven unique themed walking trails.
Meet Kew's oldest, biggest and best-loved trees, including the famous Wollemi pine, on the Remarkable Trees trail. On the Mindfulness and Wellbeing trail, pay close attention to the nature around you and let your brain unwind.
New this autumn, the Folly trail follows the route that Augusta, Princess of Wales and her son King George III would have taken on their strolls around Kew Gardens, visiting the locations of former ornamental buildings and the few that still exist today.
Download your favourite trail guides and see Kew in a whole new way.
Nourish your body and mind
Head back to school this autumn with our new range of short courses.
Whether you're a budding botanical artist or you’re keen to try your hand at willow weaving, we've got something for everyone.
Or relax and unwind with our pilates sessions, sound baths in nature, and yoga in the Temperate House, all running through October.
.jpg.webp?itok=OfNEVyZa "Yoga, Temperate House © RBG Kew")
Moments of calm
Kew has some ideal spots for quiet contemplation, where you can immerse yourself in the landscape and notice small details.
The Lake Crossing is the perfect pause for autumnal reflections on the water.
A stroll through the Rock Garden will reward you with late-flowering sedums, autumn crocuses and silver vegetation.
Bask in peak tranquility in the Japanese Landscape, brimming with fiery foliage.
Or relax at King William’s Temple, one of Kew’s historical structures built in 1837 for Queen Victoria (and a lovely place for a refreshment from one of our cafes).
.jpg.webp?itok=mrM-HvGH "Wakehurst in autumn, Jim Holden © RBG Kew")
