• From Heathrow Airport
Take eastbound Piccadilly train (blue line) to Hammersmith. Cross over to Platform 1 (stairs or lift) and follow ‘From Central London’ instructions below.
• From Central London (Typically also from Gatwick and Stanstead airports).
Take westbound District train (green line) to Richmond (NOT Ealing Broadway). Exit at Kew Gardens and turn right on to North Road (≈5 min walk—map).
• From Richmond
Go one stop to Kew Gardens (District or Overground lines). At Kew Gardens, take underpass to opposite (east) side of station and turn right on to North Road.
• From North Road cross to opposite (west) side of Kew Gardens station via underpass. Take eastbound District line train from platform 2 (NOT Overground train). Typically, allow about 45 min to get downtown.
• Alternatively, take any train to Richmond from platform 1 (east side, same as North Rd). Change at Richmond to platform 2 (do not go through exit barriers) and take train to Waterloo (5 min walk from London Eye).
Check status updates for disruption to London transport, especially to the District and Piccadilly lines. In the event of train cancellations, replacement buses are usually provided, but this will add to journey times.
• First trains from about 6 am (7:30 am on Sundays & holidays).
• Last Richmond trains from about midnight (11 pm on Sundays & holidays).
• Peak travel is between 6:30 to 9:30 am and 4 to 7 pm Monday to Friday.
Most contactless credit or debit cards (issued in the UK or abroad) and Apple Pay or Google Pay, can be used on London Underground and buses. To pay the minimum fare for your journey, be sure to 'touch in' and 'touch out' at ticket barriers (on buses just 'touch in').
Fares are cheaper for travel after 9:30 am and typically cost under £6 (return), or are capped at about £8 for multiple journeys (per adult per day).
An alternative smart-card for use on London public transport (tube & bus), which can also be used for train travel to or from Gatwick airport.
Cards cost ≈£5 and must then be charged with credit (online and at most stations or newsagents).
Kew Village
A & D - Cafe Torelli (6 am to 7 pm)
B - Kew Greenhouse Cafe
C - Starbucks (6 am to 7 pm)
D - Cafe Yukari (from 10 am - closed Sundays & Mondays)
Kew Road
Newens Maids of Honour Tea Rooms (200 m north of Kew Gardens Victoria Gate - 288 Kew Road)
Kew Village
1 - Pizza Express (11:30 am to 10:30 pm)
2 - Antipodea (10 am to 11 pm - closes at 5 pm on Sundays & Mondays)
3 - Ma Cuisine (10 am to 11:30 pm - closed Mondays)
4 - Tap on the Line - Pub & Restaurant (9 am to 11 pm)
5 - Hawthorns (closed Sundays & Mondays)
6 - Kew Gardens Oriental (5 pm to 9 pm - Friday & Saturday )
Sandycombe Road
7 - Kew Gardens Hotel - Pub & Restaurant
8 - Q-Verde (12 noon to 3pm & 6 pm to 11pm)
9 - Curry Bae ( 5:15 pm to 10 pm - closed Mondays)
10 - Garden Fish Bar - Fish & Chips (4:30 pm to 10 pm - closed Sundays)
11 - Rara - Nepalese (2 pm to 11 pm)
12 - Palmyra - Lebanese (1 pm to 11 pm)
13 - Montien - Thai cuisine
Kew village, opposite station main entrance, offers a variety of shops including: ATMs, chemists (pharmacies), Post Office (Sonia's), hairdressers, bookshop, newsagents, dry cleaners, bakery, health food grocer and a Tesco mini supermarket (open 7 am to 11 pm).
Local Links
(First Sunday of each month - 10 am to 2 pm)
(Easter to October from Kew Gardens Pier)
• The National Archives (times & restrictions)
• Taxi ( Heathrow ≈£90) or Uber and Bolt.
Maps & Tours