This summer, visitors to Kew Gardens are invited to celebrate the majesty of trees, enjoy a plethora of exciting events, and discover new horticultural wonders across the 320-acre UNESCO World Heritage Garden in West London.
A celebration of trees
Kew’s summer of trees continues throughout the coming months, with interactive art installation Of the Oak taking centre stage on Syon Vista until 28 September. Created by internationally acclaimed artist collective Marshmallow Laser Feast, this unique artwork allows visitors to discover the secret life of one of Kew’s oldest and most important trees: the Lucombe oak. Accompanying meditation trails and an interactive field guide encourage visitors to connect with some of the most spectacular trees across the Gardens, as well as learn more about the incredible web of species which rely on oak trees for survival.
In the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art until 14 September, The Power of Trees unravels the majesty of conifers, with the evocative artwork Horizontal by Finnish artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila creating an atmospheric portrait of life in the boreal forest. Alongside this, 20 new botanical illustrations by the artists of the Bedgebury National Pinetum Florilegium Society showcase some of the most enigmatic trees from Bedgebury’s collection of conifers and celebrate the historic connections between Kew and Bedgebury National Pinetum in its centenary year.
From 26 July families visiting Kew Gardens can enjoy Oaklore, an imaginative new experience by acclaimed arts collective Wild Rumpus. Oaklore invites young visitors to become ‘Oaktivists’ – tree guardians, on an interactive , performance-led journey across Kew’s arboretum, discovering more about the wonder of trees and the vital role which we all share in protecting them for the future.
Elsewhere across the Gardens, favourites such as the Treetop Walkway, Badger Sett, Log Trail and Remarkable Trees trail all offer opportunities to explore Kew’s 11,000-strong arboretum and learn more about the past, present and future of this incredible collection.
A summer of activity in nature
The family-friendly Joe Wicks Festival returns to Kew Gardens on 6 July. Taking place across four zones, the festival offers a plethora of activities and workshops for visitors of all ages: Joe Wicks himself will lead a series of fitness activities in ReEnergise, alongside yoga, pilates and family mindfulness activities hosted by leading experts. In the ReConnect zone, visitors can stretch their minds and reflect on an inspiring series of talks from authors and celebrities. The ReTreat zone will include meditation workshops delivered by the London Meditation Centre, as well as mobile massage and ice baths. Family fun will be at the heart of the RePlay zone, with crafts, play and book readings. Tickets are available now.
Throughout the summer, Kew’s popular Wellbeing in nature series continues, with tai-chi, Pilates, forest bathing, Temperate House yoga and sound baths taking place across the Gardens. Summer Cycle returns on 7 August, offering a rare chance to experience Kew on two wheels.
New gardens and horticultural highlights
July 2025 sees the opening of the brand-new Carbon Garden. This innovative new space will showcase the essential role plants and fungi play in tackling climate change in a beautiful, permanent new garden. The Carbon Garden aims to reveal the invisible, bringing to life the critical role carbon plays in sustaining life on Earth, communicating the scale of the climate crisis, and sharing the extraordinary potential of plants and fungi to combat it. Through a dry garden, perennial planting, a rain garden and a pavilion created using natural materials, the Carbon Garden will showcase the work of Kew scientists and horticulturists and inspire visitors to become advocates for nature.
Flowering for the first time this summer, Kew’s new Wild Rose Garden showcases one of the best collections of wild roses in the world. With over 70 types of wild rose on display, this garden tells the story of the evolution of the much-loved flower and its development in cultivation to become a floral favourite across the world.
Elsewhere, the fragrant Rose Garden is the ideal spot to enjoy a balmy midsummer evening, while Kew’sGreat Broad Walk Borders showcase a spectacular range of colourful summer plants. Cool down in the shady arboretum and enjoy new wildflower meadows and an abundance of wildlife in the Natural Area.
Music and theatre
Kew the Music is back for 2025, with spectacular sunset concerts taking place from 8 – 13 July 2025. Confirmed to headline are Craig David, The Human League, UB40, DJ Spoony, Alison Moyet and the Gipsy Kings. This week-long festival of summer picnic concerts set within Kew’s stunning grounds offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the ambience of the Gardens as the sun goes down.
Theatre on Kew also returns for the summer, with performances by the Australian Shakespeare Company starting 18 July. This year’s productions include family favourites The Dream Fairies- Adventure to Bubble Land and Alice in Wonderland during the daytime, and Shakespeare’s classic Macbeth under the stars on select evenings until the end of August.
Experience the magic of outdoor cinema with Kew the Movies this summer (20-22 June). Pack a picnic, bring a blanket or camping chairs, and settle in for an evening of movie magic beneath the open sky. Films include Wicked Sing-A-Long (PG), Moana 2 and Bridget Jones’ Diary. A full list can be found here.
Entry for as little as £1
Kew Gardens is open every weekday from 10am – 7pm (last entry 6pm) and until 8pm at weekends (last entry 7pm). Booking in advance online continues to offer the best value. Kew members can benefit from daily entry to the Gardens from 8am, and a £10 ticket is available for 16 – 29-year-olds.
Entry to the Gardens after 4pm is just £10, and a £1 ticket concession is available for recipients of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, other legacy benefits and asylum applicants in receipt of a valid ARC card. £1 ticket buyers may also purchase up to 4 additional guest tickets for £1 per person. A guest can be a child aged 4-15 or another adult/person 16 years or older. More information can be found at kew.org.
At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we’re dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With Kew’s world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – we’re using our trusted voice to shape policy and
practice worldwide. As a charity we rely on the critical support of our visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.