Christmas at Kew

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in West London are holding a number of Christmas related events during the month of December. Among the activities to get you in the Christmas mood are the 12m by 6m high Snow Dome open daily from 10.30am-3.30pm until 23 December, the traditional Christmas Carousel open from 10am-3.30pm, daily until 2 January, and kids can visit Santa Claus for free on weekends up until 16 December and daily from then on with the big man being in his grotto between 12noon-3.30pm.

Traditional rides in a horse drawn Victorian carriage up and down Kew’s Broadwalk are available priced £2.50 adults, £1.50 children. There’s a free children’s Christmas pantomime with performances at 11am, 1pm and 2pm, again at weekends until 16 December and daily from then until 23 December, and on 14-15 December there’s a free Carol Concert starting at 6.30pm with roast chestnuts and mulled wine on offer and parts of Kew Gardens atmospherically lit up. Kew also has a 1000 sq.m ice rink on daily from 10am-10pm in front of the Temperate House. All the other events are situated not far from the main entrance on the eastern side of the gardens near the Orangery and cafe.

Kew Gardens are located alongside the south bank of the River Thames close to Richmond in west London, the nearest Tube is Kew Gardens on the District Line. Map