Christmas at Kew
Christmas at Kew is an annual festival of lights held at Kew Gardens in west London. In this article, we’ll explain what makes it special and provide some useful information for visitors.
Year of foundation | 2013 |
Type of festival | Annual Christmas light trail, winter illumination and sound installation festival |
Date | Season 2026/2027: November 13, 2026 – January 3, 2027 |
Location | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Southwest London, UK |
Address | Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE |
Entrances | Victoria Gate, Brentford Gate and Elizabeth Gate |
Organiser | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) in partnership with RG Live and Sony Music |
Opening hours | 4:20 pm – 10:00 pm (last entry between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm depending on the gate) |
Ticket prices |
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Duration of the walk | The trail is approximately 3 km (1.8 miles) long and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete |
Parking | Parking at Kew’s Ferry Lane car park (TW9 3AF) is for advance booking only (for an additional £15.00) |
Official website |
About the festival
Christmas at Kew takes place at Kew Gardens – the famous botanical garden renowned for its collection of plants, historic glasshouses, and scientific research. During the festival, the gardens open for evening walks along a specially designed route.
Important! This is a separate ticketed event: a standard daytime ticket to Kew Gardens does not grant access to Christmas at Kew.
The festival’s main feature is the seamless combination of light art with the natural landscape. The installations are placed beautifully amongst the trees, along the paths, and across open spaces, creating a truly magical winter experience.
Christmas at Kew 2026
Festival programme
In 2026, the Christmas at Kew trail will feature dozens of light installations, large-scale artworks and sound effects. Some of the installations have been created especially for the new season, whilst others are returning by popular demand.
The Treetop Walkway will host ‘Infinite Choir’ – a light and sound installation by Squidsoup. Next to it will be ‘Drift’ by Studio Vertigo: an installation of glowing spheres resembling seeds, carried from place to place by the wind.
The French collective TILT will create large floral forms whose lighting changes in time with the music. Another new work is an animated willow by ITHACA studio, in which light creates the effect of water trickling down from the crown.
Christmas at Kew – Installations
Tall light monoliths leading to Pagoda Vista will be installed near the historic Temperate House. New ‘Skirt Trees’ installations, inspired by characters from The Nutcracker ballet, will also appear around the conservatory itself.
A light show featuring fountains and giant illuminated chandeliers will once again be staged by the Palm House Pond. A Neon Tree will be set up next to the Palm House, whilst projections will tell the story of the conservatory’s renovation and the preservation of its plant collection.
Among the features beloved by visitors will be the Christmas Cathedral, a light-filled structure with arches to walk beneath, and the Fire Garden with its flickering lights reminiscent of dancing flames. The light show at the Temperate House will also return.
Festive decorations will line the route: Candy Cane Lane, the Gingerbread Walk, life-size Nutcracker figures and huge glittering baubles. At the entrance, guests will be greeted by illuminated arches, oversized presents and Father Christmas.
Christmas at Kew – Festival programme
As well as the light installations, the festival will feature traditional fairground rides and stalls selling street food and drinks. Visitors will be able to buy hot chocolate and mulled wine, roast marshmallows and sample seasonal dishes.
A new addition to the programme will be adults-only evenings on 3 and 9 December. These are open to visitors aged 18 and over. For guests who find it difficult to be in noisy environments or amongst large crowds, special ‘Quiet Access’ sessions are available on 21 November, 1, 16 and 26 December. These must also be booked in advance.
Information for visitors
We recommend planning your visit to Christmas at Kew in advance: please check the opening times and ticket prices.
Opening times
The festival will run from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, but not every day. There are some exceptions to the schedule; the festival will not be open on the following days:
- 16 November – Monday;
- 23 November – Monday;
- 28 November – Saturday;
- 25 December – Friday (Christmas Day).
Normal opening hours are from 4:20 pm to 10:00 pm. On 24 December, the festival will close at 9:00 pm. The last admission time depends on the gate you choose.
On 24 December, last admission via Victoria Gate is at 7:00 pm, via Elizabeth Gate at 6:20 pm, and via Brentford Gate at 6:00 pm. The gardens themselves close at 9:00 pm on this day.
Christmas at Kew 2026
Tickets
Prices vary depending on the day of your visit: dates with higher demand are marked as ‘peak’, whilst those with lower prices are marked as ‘off-peak’. All prices listed below include a £1.00 booking fee.
Ticket type | Peak | Off-peak |
|---|---|---|
Adult | £37.00 | £29.50 |
Member Adult | £31.60 | £25.23 |
Child (4 – 15) | £24.00 | £20.00 |
Child (under 4) | Free | Free |
Family (2 Adults / 2 Children) | £108.00 | £89.00 |
Anytime Adult | £61.00 | £61.00 |
Anytime Child | £41.00 | £41.00 |
Anytime Adult and Child | £101.00 | £101.00 |
Off-peak dates: 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 and 30 November, 1 and 2 December.
Admission is free for children under 4, but they must still have their own ticket. Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Reviews
Reviews from visitors to Christmas at Kew suggest that this is no ordinary Christmas market, but rather a stroll through a large botanical garden featuring carefully designed lighting displays. It’s worth allowing more than two hours to explore the route, especially if you want to stop for photos, have a bite to eat or visit the attractions.
Peter:
The two highlights for me were: the display at the high tree walk and the illumination of the conservatory and lake. Both were to music – absolutely fantastic.
Emma:
What an amazing place. We went for the Christmas at Kew and it was absolutely fantastic. Something for everyone, lots of light displays, great walking, fresh air, and also lots of food booths along the way.
Contact details and location
Christmas at Kew takes place at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in west London.
Address: Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE.
The following gates are used to enter the festival: Victoria Gate, Elizabeth Gate and Brentford Gate. You must select your preferred gate when purchasing your ticket:
- Main entrance (Victoria Gate): Kew Road, TW9 3JR;
- Elizabeth Gate entrance: TW9 3AE;
- Brentford Gate entrance: TW9 3AF.
Christmas at Kew has a car park, but spaces are limited and must be booked in advance at the same time as your festival tickets.
Contact details:
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8332 5655
Email: info@kew.org
FAQ
When is Christmas at Kew taking place?
The festival will run from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 on selected days. The event is closed on 16 and 23 November, 28 November and 25 December.
How much do tickets for the festival cost?
Tickets for adults cost £29.50 – £37.00, and for children aged 4 – 15, £20.00 – £24.00. A family ticket for two adults and two children costs £89.00 – £108.00. Children under four go in for free, but a ticket is required. All prices include a booking fee.
How long does it take to see all the displays?
You should allow at least two hours for the route, which is approximately 3 km long.
What time does the Christmas at Kew event close?
On normal days, the festival closes at 10:00 pm. On 24 December, the trail is open until 9:00 pm. Last entry times vary depending on the gate you choose: 6:20 pm for Elizabeth Gate, 6:00 pm for Brentford Gate and 7:00 pm for Victoria Gate.