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About
Kew Palace is the smallest and most intimate of the royal palaces. The four-storey brick house was built c. 1631 by Samuel Fortrey, a merchant of Dutch origin, whose initials together with those of his wife Catherine, can be seen above the entrance. It is constructed of red bricks laid in a style known as Flemish bond, consisting of bricks arranged with sides and ends alternating. The gabled main front gives the house a Dutch appearance. Later alterations included the installation of sash windows to replace the original brick mullions and transforms.
First used by the Royal Family in 1728, the Palace was finally purchased by George III in 1781 as an annex to the White House (located where the sundial now stands) to accommodate his expanding family, subsequently becaming a more permanent home for the Royal Family. Queen Charlotte died here in 1818.
Having lain untouched since Queen Charlotte's death, the Royal Kitchens at Kew can now be explored for the very first time. Your visit will open the door to a lost space and let you discover more about life in the historic times, the servants who worked in the kitchens and Georgian culinary life.
Entrance to the Royal Kitchens at Kew is included in the Kew Palace admission ticket and is FREE for HRP members.
Guide Prices
Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
---|---|
Ticket | Free |
Entry to Kew Palace is free with paid admission to Kew Gardens.
On busy days, entry to Kew Palace will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Facilities
Accessibility
- Assistance dogs welcome
- Disabled access
- Disabled toilets
Booking & Payment Details
- Free Entry
Groups
- Facilities for educational visits
Meeting, Conference & Wedding Facilities
- Facilities for conferencing
- Facilities for corporate hospitality
Parking
- Parking with charge
Property Facilities
- Dogs not accepted (except guidedogs)
- Public toilets
Target Markets
- Accepts groups
Map & Directions
Road Directions
By car
Please note: Parking at Kew is extremely limited, with spaces in our car park available on a first come, first served basis. Please plan ahead if you are considering driving to Kew, as we cannot guarantee available space in our car park.
Kew Gardens car park (TW9 3AF)
Ferry Lane, near Brentford Gate.
- Limited parking available in the car park
- Parking costs £7 per day. You can pay on site, or with the paybyphone app.
- No charge for motorcycles and mopeds
- Blue badge holders park for free in disabled access parking spaces or other spaces if full
- Car park closes 30 minutes after the Gardens close
- The Herbarium car park will operate as a weekend overflow car park, opening at the point that the Ferry Lane car park gets full
Parking around Kew Gardens
- There is no parking allowed on Kew Road (A307) Check Richmond council website for parking updates.
- From Monday 3 May 2021, you will need to pay to park in visitor spaces at Kew Green using RingGo.
- Try the Just Park app to find parking near Kew Gardens.
- Restrictions apply on residential streets around Kew
- Three disabled access parking bays and drop-off area at Elizabeth Gate (TW9 3AB)
- There is no coach park at Kew
Richmond Athletic Grounds (TW9 2SF)
- Check out the Just Park app for Richmond Athletic Grounds. It's about 20 min walk to Victoria Gate. Please note: Kew Gardens is not affiliated in any way with Just Park
Public Transport Directions
By bike
We love to welcome cyclists to our Gardens.
There are bicycle racks at all four gates. At Elizabeth Gate and Victoria Gate, the racks are inside the gates behind the booths.
Bikes left outside our gates are left at your own risk.
We do not allow bicycles, tricycles, roller skates, skateboards, and scooters into the Gardens.
By bus
Route 65 stops close to Lion Gate, Elizabeth Gate and Victoria Gate.
Route 110 stops near Kew Gardens station and Elizabeth Gate.
Routes 237 and 267 stop at Kew Bridge station.
By train
Kew Bridge station is 800m from Elizabeth Gate, via Kew Bridge. South West Trains run services from Waterloo, via Vauxhall and Clapham Junction. There is no level access at Kew Bridge.
Richmond station has lift and level access. Take 65 bus (in the direction of Ealing Broadway) to Lion or Victoria Gate.
By tube
Kew Gardens station is 500m from Victoria Gate. It is in Zone 3 and is served by the District Line (Richmond branch) and London Overground.
There is no level access from the westbound platform. It is possible to continue one stop to Richmond and catch a tube back to use the eastbound platform which does have level access.
By boat
Thames River Boats operate a special service from Westminster Pier to Kew Pier.
Timings:
Westminster to Kew:
- 11am - 2.30pm
Kew to Westminster:
- 12.30pm - 3.30pm - 5pm
Sailing times may vary, check the Thames River Boats site for more information.