Kew Gardens - any tips?

[KenAdams]

I'm visiting Kew Gardens for the first time soon with DD. Any tips or anything I need to know? Where is good to eat?

Will you be driving? If so, Kew Road is free to park on after 10am- I always aim to get there just before for a good parking space.

You can book a slot in the new playground online for free which saves having to wait for a slot on the day. There’s a cafe near there which is child friendly or the restaurant The Orangery is only a short walk away. Food is ok in both, kids lunch box options, it’s not cheap but generally quite nice.

There’s a brilliant woodland playground the other side of the gardens- I think it’s called the badger set or something.

My kids love the Princess of Wales conservatory- there are water dragons roaming free and fish to look at.

There’s lots more too- the land train would be a good way to get about and some stuff is far away from each other. Any more questions, fire away.

Definitly pay for the land train. Hop on and off loads.

The walkway through the trees is great.

The kitchen gardens should have pumpkins now.

We normally take our own food.

Where is good to eat? Not inside Kew gardens!
The food is good but priced to keep the lower classes out.
£4 for an egg and cress sandwich.
£1.80 for a 250ml can of water.
£11 for a pulled pork roll.
£2.80 for a can of Cawston fizzy Rhubarb and apple drink. In Tesco you can buy a packet of 4 of them for £3.20!
It's getting to the point where I'm going to have to stop visiting because it's making me so angry. I could buy a whole loaf of bread, pack of eggs, butter, and a flock of cress for the same price as their sandwich.

But have fun OP!

Excellent - thanks all. I've managed to book a slot for the Childrens Garden. I'm doing the train 2 for 1 thing so I can't book actual tickets in advance but the plan was to park on Kew Road so I'll make sure I get there nice and early.

I take it you can just pay for the land train when you're there?

Is the childrens guide book any good? It looks quite sweet.

Check if there is anything on when you enter. There was a free acrobat with cellist performance in the glass house when we went. DS liked the Hive.

Take a picnic.