Kew Gardens is the largest botanical garden in the world.
This UNESCO World Heritage Sight is home to an incredibly diverse collection of plants, including rare and endangered species.
Spread over 300 acres, the Gardens consist of 50,000 living plants, installations, walkaways, and buildings with Victorian decor.
For something this huge, having only one entrance for all visitors is not practical.
Why does Kew Garden Have Multiple Entrances?
The four separate entrances are designed to provide convenient access to different parts of the expansive gardens.
Each entrance is strategically located to allow visitors easy access to specific attractions and features within the gardens.
This arrangement offers a variety of places to start your exploration, which helps control visitor flow, disperse crowds, and improve your experience overall.
Kew Gardens TourWhat are the four Kew Garden Entrances
The Kew Gardens has four entrances for everybody’s convenience:
- Victoria Gate
- Lion Gate
- Elizabeth Gate
- Brentford Gate
The following sections cover everything you need to know about Kew Garden Entrances:
The Victoria Gate
Victoria Gate is the most famous entrance of all.
It is considered the Main Gate and lies on the Kew Green Road.
Decimus Burton, an architect, created the plans for the Victoria Gates in 1845.
The royal coat of arms, which announces Kew’s longstanding ties to royalty, is incorporated into its intricate wrought iron work.
It is a great option for public transport.
*The gates lie a mere five-minute walk away from the Kew Gardens station.
Attractions near the Victoria Entrance: Palm House, Temperate House, The Botanical, Temple of Aeolus, Rose Garden, Waterlily House, Afternoon Tea at Botanical Brasserie
Restaurants Near the Victoria Gate: The Victoria Gate Cafe, The Botanical Brasserie
How to reach Victoria Gate
The most convenient way to reach the Victoria Gate is by public transport.
By Bus
The bus stop Kew Road Victoria Gate (Stop D) (buses: 65, 110, N65) is only a few steps away from the Victoria Gate entrance of Kew Gardens.
By Train
Kew Gardens travel terminal (commuter trains: Overground) is only a five-minute walk away from the Victoria Entrance.
By Subway
District line subway services will also take you to the Kew Gardens travel terminal.
By Bicycle
Put on Google Maps and navigate to the Victoria Gate at Kew Garden.
Bicycle racks are available at all four gates, but bicycle parking is at your own risk.
At Victoria Gate, the racks are inside the gates behind the booths.
Note: If you are traveling by car, your preference should be the Brentford Gate as it has a car park.
Check out Parking at Kew Gardens to know more.
The Elizabeth Gate
The Elizabeth entrance is located north of the park and about 0.8 km from Kew Bridge station.
Situated at the northern tip of the premises, the gates serve as the focal point of a crescent that faces Kew Green Road.
They consist of two imposing double gates hung from Portland Stone piers.
*This gate is the best option if you are using the river commute.
Attractions near the Elizabeth Entrance: Agius Evolution Garden & Kitchen Gardens
, The Hive, Princess of Wales Conservatory Herbarium & Library, Nash Conservatory
Restaurants Near the Elizabeth Gate: The Orangery
How to reach Elizabeth Gate
You can reach this entrance either by bus or by river commute. It is up to you to decide which transport option suits you better.
By Bus
The bus stop Kew Green (Stop A) (Bus No: 65, 110, and N65) is a 5-minute walk from the Elizabeth gate.
The Musical Museum bus sop (Stop U) (Bus No: 237, 267, and N9), is a 10-minute walk from the Elizabeth gate.
By Boat
Elizabeth Gate’s proximity to the Thames makes transportation by boat very convenient for visitors.
Thames River Boats offers a special service from Westminster Pier to Kew Pier.
Elizabeth gate entrance is only a 0.2-mile walk from the Kew Pier.
By Bicycle
Put on Google Maps and navigate to the Elizabeth Gate at Kew Garden.
Bicycle racks are available at all four gates, but bicycle parking is at your own risk.
At Elizabeth Gate, the racks are inside the gates behind the booths.
The Lion Gate
Lion Gate gives you an entry to the south corner of the Kew Botanical Gardens. It is a small gate with a lion sculpture mounted atop it.
*The Gate is the perfect outlet for those coming from the Richmond Train Station, which is only 1.1 km (0.7 miles) away.
Attractions near the Victoria Entrance: Treetop Walkway, Great Pagoda, Temperate House, Marianne North Gallery, Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, Japanese Gateway, Ruined Arch.
Restaurants near the Lion Gate: Pavilion Bar and Grill
How to reach Lion Gate
Public Transportation is the most convenient way to reach this entrance.
By Bus
The bus stop Kew Gardens Lion Gate (Stop P) (Bus No: 65, N65), is just outside the gate.
The bus stop Kew Gardens Lion Gate (Stop F) (Bus No: 65, 110, N65) is a minute away from the Lion Gate.
By Train
Richmond train station is a 15-minute walk away.
The Brentford Gate
Brentford Gate is at the end of the Ferry Lane car park and is best suited for visitors traveling in a private vehicle.
They are a set of simple iron double doors without the opulence of Victoria Gate or Elizabeth Gate.
*Brentford Gate is the only gate that is convenient for visitors traveling by bus, car, or river commute.
Attractions near the Brentford Entrance: Children’s Garden, Kew Palace, Great Broad Walk Borders, Queen’s garden
Restaurants Near the Brentford Entrance: Family Kitchen and Shop.
How to Reach Brentford Gate
By Car/Bike
Put on Google Maps and navigate to the Car Park at Ferry Lane.
The Brentford Gate adjoins the car park.
Bicycle racks are available at all four gates, but bicycle parking is at your own risk.
Please note: There is very limited parking at Kew, and spots are available in the car park on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you intend to drive to Kew, please make advance arrangements since the Kew Gardens cannot guarantee a spot in the parking lot.
Please plan your travel accordingly since parking can get even more crowded during special events such as Christmas at Kew Gardens.
Entrance Gate Prices
The Kew Gardens Entrances do not have a separate pricing scale, and the ticket costs are constant across all Garden Gates.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (30 to 64 years): £14
Student Ticket (with a valid ID): £7
Youth Ticket (16 to 29 years): £7
Senior Ticket (60+ years): £12
Child Ticket (4 to 15 years): £4
Infant Ticket (up to 3 years): Free
Family Ticket (1 adult & 2 children): £29
Family Ticket (2 adult & 2 children): £48
Entrance Gates Timings
The Kew Entrance Gates do not have separate opening and closing times and are governed by the same timing rules that are set by the Kew Gardens.
The Kew Gardens open at 10 am, but their closing time varies between 3 pm and 6 pm, depending on the seasons. Check out the website for accurate timing updates.
The last entry is always one hour before closing time.
