Last Updated on June 2, 2026 by Tavernier’s Travels
If you’re ever in or around the London area and are thinking of a day out, Kew Gardens – and especially Kew Palace – is a great choice. Just a short train or tube ride from the centre of London, Kew Gardens offers a lot to see and do. I have been there several times, both on school trips and as an adult, however that was many years ago, so another visit was well overdue!
The sun was shining, and the gardens were absolutely beautiful, offering a tranquil place to sit and enjoy a picnic. Unfortunately, during our visit, some of the attractions were closed: Waterlily House is closed until 2027 for maintenance, the Rose Garden is not yet in bloom and Queen Charlotte’s cottage only opens at weekends. So we kind of chose a great time to visit – NOT!
However, we still had a great day. We paid a visit to Palm House, a glasshouse home to several different tropical plants. Beware – it’s very hot in there, with minimum temperatures at 18 celsius. Glasses and camera lenses steam up, and in all honesty the air was so close I found it hard to breathe. But if you love tropical plants, then this is well worth taking the time to visit.
Another interesting place we visited was The Princess of Wales Conservatory. It was opened in 1987 by the late Princess of Wales, Diana, although it was actually named after George lll’s mother, Princess Augusta, who founded the gardens in 1759. It offers some very interesting and pretty plants and wasn’t as hot and close as Palm House.
But, for me, the highlight of our visit was Kew Palace.
Kew Palace
Yes, there is an actual palace at Kew Gardens! It’s free to visit as entry is covered by the ticket you paid for to get into the grounds. As you ascend the steps to the entrance, you’re somewhat flung back in time as you are greeted by tour guides dressed in the attire of the era of Queen Charlotte and King George lll. Apparently liking the quiet and privacy it offered them, George and Charlotte spent a lot of their time at the palace as a way of escaping the shackles of London court life.
When I questioned one of the tour guides as to why the palace was so small, she pointed out that, as was the custom back then, the heir to the throne would be sent to live in their own palaces. Kew Palace was the home of George when he was a child, and so the size had been suitable for a small household of servants. Set over three floors, with many small rooms, it was perfectly suitable for a child – but for a grown man with a wife and growing family, not so much.
But, as well as offering a sense of simplicity, the couple’s use of the palace was also due to George’s deteriorating mental health. Kew was where George would have treatments away from prying eyes and gossip; as it was also his childhood home, it was thought returning to that environment would help him better respond to the treatments. The door which once led to the room where he would receive his treatments is now firmly closed and that side of the palace was demolished.
The guide also told us George and Charlotte loved being at Kew Palace. They would dress down and live a ‘normal’ life despite having staff wait on them all day every day, so what kind of ‘normal’ they were living I really don’t know! It’s pretty much like the royals today who proclaim to want to live a ‘normal middle class life’ but have numerous sprawling homes across the UK.
I also likened it to Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette’s private country home where she liked to pretend she was some sort of milkmaid, keeping chickens and the like. There, she shunned royal life at Versailles and lived in what she deemed a ‘normal’ house, when in all actuality she too was play-acting in a mini palace! Perhaps it isn’t too surprising that Marie Antoinette and Queen Charlotte were good friends. But, in defence of George III, it was a place where he seemed to feel safe, where he could play with his children and receive his much needed treatments for his mental health.
Fans of Bridgerton, and especially the Queen Charlotte spin-off, or even just a lover of royal history or heritage, will be very interested in visiting Kew Palace. Walking through the palace, you get to see what life would have been like for those living there, with friendly and informative guides on every floor.
The decor is more or less the same as it was when King George and Queen Charlotte lived there. While it’s not the actual decor, it’s very much like the original; a lot of the companies that served the palaces in that period are still in business today and have archives of the materials and wallpapers used. Using this, they can recreate the decor as it would have been, as can be seen in many of the rooms of the palace today. It’s truly fascinating going from room to room on the ground and first floor – and be sure to look up at the ceiling in the games room!
However, when you ascend to the second floor the mood changes, shifting in energy to something quite sombre. As you walk from room to room, George’s favourite composer (Handel) constantly plays. You get to see Queen Charlotte’s hatchment, which was made for her and hung outside the palace when she died as was the norm back then.
In June of 1818, Queen Charlotte had to cut short her journey to Windsor from London as she wasn’t strong enough, resting at Kew; in November of the same year, she died in the palace. King George was never told of the death of his beloved wife; he later died at Windsor Castle on 29th January 1820.
Upon leaving the palace we took a walk around Queen Charlotte’s gardens. It’s very pretty and a nice way to shake off the sadness of touring the palace, well at least for me.
Useful Information for Visiting Kew
If you’re not up for packing a picnic, there are places where you can take a break from exploring the gardens and enjoy lunch. These include the Orangery, Family Kitchen and Shop, The Botanical Brasserie, and the Pavillion Bar and Grill to name a few. We didn’t go in any of these as we already had plans for lunch in nearby Richmond, but were more than a little tempted.
Getting to Kew Gardens
Kew Bridge Station is 800m from the Elizabeth Gate, coming from London you can pick up the train from Waterloo, Vauxhall, or Clapham Junction stations.
From Richmond Station you can pick up bus number 65 from just outside and get off at either Victoria Gate or Lion Gate. You also can walk which should take around 15 minutes.
You can take the tube using the District or Mildmay Lines to Kew Garden Station. You can also drive but be aware parking at Kew Gardens station.
Opening times 10 AM to 7 PM last entry 6 PM. Party tours are available 11 AM – 1:30 PM Check their website for full details.
Entry costs £25 online £28 at the gate, with concessions available.
