30 September 2024
10 best things to do at Wakehurst this autumn
Enjoy the autumn colours at Wakehurst by becoming a Nature Hero, discovering the magic of Christmas lights or exploring the Millennium Seed Bank this October and November.
As the leaves transform the landscape into a breathtaking tapestry of autumn colour, join us to embrace this beautiful season at Wakehurst.
Whether you're an avid photographer, a budding nature hero, or already thinking about our Christmas light trail, there's something for everyone to enjoy this autumn.
1. Become a Seed Seeker
Get amongst the changing colours this October half term and join us for an exciting adventure as we launch the Nature Heroes Academy in collaboration with National Geographic Kids!
Young explorers will set off across the gardens with our Nature Heroes, Pip, Bud and Sprout to discover their inner scientist and earn their Seed Seeker badge.
Seek, spy, spot and sense your way through interactive activities as you journey across Wakehurst’s woodlands to find a seed, just like Kew’s scientists do out in the wild!
2. Book your tickets to Glow Wild
Whether it's your family festive tradition or your first time experiencing the magic of Glow Wild, don't miss out on the South East's must-see winter lantern experience.
Our award-winning festive trail is back for 2024 with a new route and exclusive installations, from a giant flying owl to a fiery hidden dragon.
Not 100% sure on a date? You can book a flexible ticket that can be swapped or upgraded up to 72 hours before your booking, to work around life’s unpredictability!
3. Snap our autumn hotspots.
Autumn is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular seasons at Wakehurst, with the gardens ablaze in vibrant reds, burnt oranges, and stunning golds. It’s the season for filling your social feed with fallen leaves, misty mornings and moody reflections – even on the most overcast days, a bright orange tree can really pop.
Follow our list below for our top autumn colour spots:
- Mansion Pond: for a sensory delight of colourful acers and shrubs, with a peek of the Mansion being slowly revealed as the scaffolding comes down
- Bethlehem Wood: for bright yellow birches and leaf piles galore
- Water Gardens: for a spectrum of colour and leisurely boardwalk strolls
- Westwood Valley: for dramatic ravines, late flowering rhododendrons and thriving fungi
- Westwood Lake: for stunning reflections and the ultimate autumn snap
Did you know? Leaves turn a different colour in the autumn due to hormonal changes in the tree, triggered by longer nights as the summer comes to an end.
4. Go on a fungus hunt
While wandering through our wild landscapes, don't forget to stop and look out for weird and wonderful fungi on the woodland floor.
These organisms are exceptionally important to life on Earth, keeping the natural world in balance through relationships with plants and animals, and helping to break down dead and decaying matter.
Venture through hotspots such as Westwood Valley, the Pinetum, Bethlehem Wood and Coates Wood to see what shapes, colours, smells and textures you can find.
5. Warm up with tasty treats
From a hot drink at Seeds Café to fuel your day, to hearty meals at Stables Kitchen to round it all off, our restaurants and cafés serve up tasty treats and warming drinks to keep you going.
Want to bring your own food? No problem! Pack a picnic and get your thermos ready for lunch in a wild landscape.
6. Nurture young minds
Our Explorer Rucksacks are updated each season to keep young minds engaged through changing colours, patterns and wildlife throughout the year.
Get hands-on with collecting, become a wildlife detective or go on an investigative expedition.
Explorer Rucksacks are available to book online and can be picked up at the Visitor Centre.
7. Enjoy a doggy day out
With 10km of dog walking paths and trails to discover, you and your dog can stretch your legs while soaking in our most spectacular autumn hotspots, from Westwood Lake to Bethlehem Wood.
Four-legged friends can roll around in the autumn leaves, splash through muddy puddles, or run free in our off-lead area.
Find out more about dog walking at Wakehurst and see our full dog walking routes to plan your perfect doggy day out.
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8. Shelter from the weather in the most biodiverse place in the world
Even on a drizzly day, there’s plenty for adventurers young and old to enjoy.
Why not step inside the most biodiverse place on Earth? Home to an underground collection of 2.4 billion seeds, the Millennium Seed Bank is a safehouse for seeds from across the globe.
Shelter from the weather and see scientists at work, or learn something new at our specially curated exhibition Surviving or Thriving.
9. Get in the spooky spirit
At our Visitor Centre Shop we've got everything you need to cosy up this autumn, from our creepily cute range of Halloween Jellycats, a wide range of captivating books, to colourful plants to bring the joy of autumn to your own backyard.
If (like us) you're already counting down the days to Christmas, ensure your door is the best dressed in town with a wreath-making workshop or make a start on your shopping with our selection of gifts and cards.
We’ve got you sorted, with gifts for the foodies, plant-lovers, or little adventurers in your life. Don’t forget, members get an additional 10% off and benefit from an extra discount week in November.
10. Become a member
With so much to experience at Wakehurst this autumn, you'll need to visit more than once!
Wakehurst members benefit from unlimited entry all year round, so you can experience all the autumn highlights and much more.
With exclusive early openings on selected weekends, discounts on our flagship events, 10% discount in the shop and more, there are so many reasons to become a member.
Looking for the perfect present for a nature lover? You can gift a Wakehurst membership for them to enjoy all year!
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