What’s on this November at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst

Kew Gardens

Christmas at Kew | Selected dates, 14 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 | 4.20pm to 10pm | Kew Gardens (Entrances: Victoria Gate, Brentford Gate and Elizabeth Gate)

Christmas at Kew is an unmissable opportunity to herald the start of the festive season or welcome in the New Year with family and friends. The new 2025 trail promises to be as magical as ever.  

Don’t miss spectacular new creations from world-wide artists presented uniquely for the first time in the UK. These larger-than-life illuminations are always unforgettable and to make it even more memorable, glimpse Father Christmas along the way.  

Enjoy delicious street food with festive delights ranging from hot dishes and sweet treats to spiced winter warmers and hot chocolate along the trail and in the food court by the Temperate House. The Pavilion Bar & Grill will also be open for walk-ins, offering a special festive menu. 

Enjoy a holly, jolly Christmas at Kew under the stars! 

The Singh Twins and Flora Indica | 11 October 2025 – 12 April 2026 | Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art | Included with entry

This autumn in Kew’s Shirley Sherwood Gallery, discover two complementary exhibitions that explore the complex colonial history of botanical art through both historical and contemporary lenses. In Gallery 5, Botanical Tales and Seeds of Empire by internationally acclaimed artists The Singh Twins showcases a striking new body of work inspired by Kew’s botanical archives. 

Flora Indica: Recovering the lost histories of Indian botanical art, displayed in Galleries 1–4 will be the first-ever public display of 52 rediscovered botanical illustrations by Indian artists commissioned by British botanists between 1790 and 1850.

To tie in with the exhibitions, acclaimed chef Anjula Devi will curate a selection of dishes for visitors to enjoy, available in Kew’s Pavilion Bar & Grill from 11 October – 14 November. 

Discover the fascinating world of fungi with The Caley Brothers | 6 November | 10.30am to 1pm

or 3pm to 5.30pm | Cambridge Cottage, Kew Gardens

Join us for an immersive mushroom workshop that combines expert knowledge, engaging demonstrations, and a tour of the mushroom beds within the Kitchen Garden at Kew. 

The workshop begins with an interactive talk, introducing the basics of mushrooms, their role in ecosystems, and how you can grow them at home. You’ll also enjoy a demonstration of 1-2 hands-on projects that bring the process to life. Next, we’ll take a walk to the kitchen garden, where you’ll explore how mushrooms can complement sustainable gardening. The Caley Brothers will highlight their benefits, from enriching soil to producing nutrient-rich food and answer any questions or curiosities you have about how you too can grow your own. Finally, enjoy a guided tour of the Fungarium, where you’ll delve deeper into the incredible diversity of fungi and their potential to transform how we think about mushrooms.

This workshop promises to be educational, inspiring, and a fantastic way to connect with nature’s most fascinating organisms. Book your spot today!

Ronnie Scott's All Stars Festive Session | 24 November 2025 | 6.30pm to 9pm | The Orangery, Kew Gardens 

Join the club’s sensational house band Ronnie Scott’s All Stars as they take you on a journey through the last 60 years of jazz music, as well as some festive favourites.  

Hear incredible music from 1959 to the present day, performed by the UK’s finest jazz musicians. The current Ronnie Scott’s All Stars is led by the ebullient and highly-acclaimed pianist James Pearson. Joining James is bassist Sam Burgess and drummer Chris Higginbottom. 

The All Stars have also been in demand outside Ronnie Scott’s, having been invited to play at New York’s Birdland, the Rochester Jazz Festival and the Dubai Jazz Festival.

The bar opens at 6.30pm and the performance begins at 7.30pm, lasting approximately 90 minutes, inclusive of a short interval.

Autumn walks and tours at Kew

Kew in autumn walking tour | Daily at 12.30pm, until the 30 November | Guides Desk, Victoria Gate Plaza, Kew Gardens | Included with entry (maximum capacity 15 people)

Join one of our expert guides on an autumn walking tour and experience the wonder of Kew as it bursts into colour. Step into autumn and take a closer look at the abundance of seeds, fruits and leaves.

Dementia-friendly health walks | 5 November 2025 | 11 – 12am | Free, and free entry to the Gardens is included. Please register in advance

These relaxing walks are designed to be accessible for people living with dementia. Starting from Victoria Gate and lasting around 60 minutes, the walks are led by our volunteer walk leaders. Each walk is different to take in seasonal highlights across the Gardens.

Sensory tours | 9 November | 2-3pm | Kew Gardens, Victoria Gate | Free, and free entry to the Gardens is included. Please register in advance

Designed for visitors with a visual impairment and their carers. This sensory experience gives you the chance to explore the Gardens through touch, smell, and description. Led by one of Kew’s specially-trained tour guides. Each tour is different to take in seasonal highlights across the Gardens.

Monthly British Sign Language tours| 9 November 2025 | 11am to 12pm | Kew Gardens, Victoria Gate | Free, and free entry to the Gardens is included. Please register in advance.

For visitors who use British Sign Language, these walking tours are led by our specially-trained tour guides and offer a fascinating overview of the Gardens, its history and important scientific work. Each tour is different to take in seasonal highlights across the Gardens.

Kew Publishing Book of the Month | The Botanical Bar by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Esther Clark & Jenny Linford | A collection of 50 fragrant, floral, fruity and herbal cocktail recipes.

Wakehurst

Horticultural Highlights

For beauty lovers, Wakehurst’s autumn highlights include sweeping vistas reflecting off tranquil waters, and a tapestry of golden leaves putting on a display throughout the woodlands. Adventurers are rewarded with the very best of autumn, with golden British birches in Bethlehem Wood, and bronze Japanese maples around the Water Gardens and Mansion Pond. In the Winter Garden, November brings the vibrant red of dogwood and glistening silver of the birches, carefully planted to create an immersive experience. 

As Autumn draws in, we start preparations for Glow Wild, and this year our award-winning winter light trail returns with a new seed-inspired chapter featuring audio vignettes from Wakehurst Ambassador Cate Blanchett. Now in its twelfth year and celebrating 25 years of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, Glow Wild weaves science with storytelling across a trail of newly commissioned, handcrafted installations from award-winning artists and local makers, including our biggest installation ever.

Bank a Seed in the Millennium Seed Bank | All day, free with entry  

Experience the journey of a seed first-hand with a brand-new interactive installation in the Millennium Seed Bank Atrium. Children can step into the shoes of scientists who are working to bank the world’s wild seeds, sparking curiosity and discovery.  

Events

Christmas wreath making workshops | 28, 29 and 30 November | 10am to 12.30pm, 1.30pm to 4pm | £55 for Wakehurst/Kew members, £60 for non-members

Get into the festive spirit and learn a new skill by creating a traditional Christmas wreath adorned with seasonal decorations, ensuring your door is the best dressed in town. Lindfield-based florist Gemma from The Chestnut Flower Company will lead this relaxed and enjoyable workshop, guiding you step-by-step to craft your own unique wreath. Draw inspiration from Wakehurst's wild, wintry landscapes, using hand-picked foliage from the gardens.

Glow Wild | Selected evenings, 27 November 2025 to 3 January 2026 | 4pm to 10pm | Flexible ticket options available

Glow Wild returns to Wakehurst with a bold new theme: Seed Safari - A Walk on the Wild Side. From 27 November 2025 to 3 January 2026, Sussex’s award-winning lantern trail invites visitors of all ages to wander into a radiant reimagining of the natural world, where seeds spark stories and the wild glows after dark. Book ticket for the trail now, featuring brand-new bespoke installations, an enhanced street food offering and Wakehurst’s iconic Christmas tree. Glow Wild guests can also add on an exclusive Mansion VIP experience, with a welcome drink, seasonal mezze-style sharing platter and a fully stocked bar. 

Crafting for Conection | 24 November | 11am to 12pm, 1pm to 2pm | Free, designed for those who face barriers to visiting

Together, we’ll explore our relationship with the natural world and create a show-stopping artwork to be unveiled at Wakehurst’s Community Festival on 8th and 9th May. No experience needed — just curiosity, creativity, and an openness to try something new.

Nature Natters Walks | November 2025 to March 2026 | Free, designed for those who face barriers to visiting

Our 1 hour community well-being walks provide an opportunity for individuals to enjoy nature in a supportive and welcoming environment. Participants can explore Wakehurst alongside our trained guides, with opportunities to meet new people and chat with our friendly volunteers.

Parkrun at Wakehurst | Every Saturday from 9am | Free  

Pace yourself through our scenic landscape as Parkrun is now at Wakehurst. Every Saturday morning, embark on a fun, free and friendly 5K. Participants must register with Parkrun before their first event.  

Guided tours | Tues to Thurs, 11.30am and 2pm | Fri – Mon, 11.30am | Free, subject to availability 

Whether it’s your first time visiting or you're a regular to the gardens wanting to learn more, join a volunteer-led tour to discover seasonal areas of interest, learn about the history of the landscape and discover behind-the-scenes stories of the gardens. 

Millennium Seed Bank Atrium Guided Tours | Mondays 2pm | Free, subject to availability 

Step inside the most biodiverse place on earth and enjoy a guided tour of the MSB Atrium. Trained volunteer guides will take you through the journey of a seed from collection to banking and point out areas of interest through the laboratory windows. Launched in celebration of the Millennium Seed Bank’s 25^th anniversary.

Dog walks at Wakehurst | Daily | Dedicated dog walking route 

Enjoy Wakehurst’s wintery woodlands and captivating views with your four-legged friend in tow. Wakehurst’s dedicated dog walking route takes you through woodlands of the world, offering a dog walk with a difference. Excitable pups can burn off energy in the secure off-lead area and enjoy some downtime in Wakehurst’s dog-friendly cafes. 

Uniformed group visits | Evenings and Saturdays | £170 per group of up to 30 young people 

Twilight and Saturday sessions ideal for groups such as Cubs, Beavers, Brownies, Scouts, Guides or for eco/extracurricular clubs. Led by a qualified teacher, work towards conservation learning, nature connectedness, exploration or activity badges in our vast landscape and outdoor learning facilities.

Exhibitions

Surviving or Thriving: An exhibition on plants and us | Daily, 10am – 3.30pm | Millennium Seed Bank | Included with entry

This exhibition brings Kew’s State of the World’s Plants reports to life, telling the story of why some plants are only surviving, while others are thriving. Through film, audio, models, and a futuristic garden, explore the challenges that plants face and discover the vital role of fungi. 

ENDS