Kew Gardens - When to visit within May itinerary

CamAmCherie, I'm planning to visit Kew Gardens in March when I'm there, and posted a few questions here. I got some really wonderful responses about logistics but also about things to see and do and how to get to Richmond from Kew and so on. Here's a link to the thread:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/please-check-logistics-of-day-trip-to-kew-gardens-and-richmond

Thanks, Mardee, I don't know why that didn't come up when I searched. I was sure that there'd been something recently---maybe it was much further down on my search and I didn't get to it.

I'll read through that, again. I'm guessing YOUR thread was one of the main reasons this was on my list----I should have just searched your posts but I hadn't thought of that.

The flowers in full bloom may vary over those dates.

We spent 3 weeks in London, from May 1 -24, a few years back, and went to Kew 3 times, one week apart. In part that was because we had different visitors staying with us, and they wanted to go. But also, it is too much to see in one visit, unless you spend the whole day there. And, things changed between the first and last visits. Most notably, the stunning display of azaleas and rhododendrons did not fully develop until mid May. But that can vary from year to year.

Ahhh. Just reread your thread, Mardee, thanks again for linking. It's all coming back, the Great Vine, the 'A Lady in London'...there was so much in your thread that got me excited last November.

Last night I was looking at accommodation in Richmond, so it was fun to reread your thread and recognize the hotels mentioned.

I was thinking it might be good to go directly from Heathrow (so glad to reread Rebecca's mention of the Blackberry Cars), visit Richmond that day (Sunday) to walk off the flight, visit Kew the next day, and maybe even spend some more time in the area on the Tuesday before heading to London or wherever else we settle on. I'm sure I would be happy for a daylong Kew visit, but I'm guessing my husband may time out before. He can bring his Kindle 😉

Richmond would also be a good addition to a trip with our daughter and partner as we all watched Ted Lasso together before they moved to Seattle....

Choices, choices.

Thank you, Lola, I was wondering if we should keep 2 visits in mind. I don't know how many times we will be visiting in the spring, so I want to maximize views of gardens!

May weather can be variable - I have known snow and sleet, and I have known heat waves.

Flowers, other than the Great Broad Walk Borders, aren't really the thing at Kew as you walk around. Yes, there's a fabulous rose garden - probably not doing much at the beginning of May, perhaps a bit more towards the end with the big flourish in June, and plenty of all sorts of flowers in the various greenhouses and other buildings https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-in-the-gardens Depending on the weather the borders may be getting on well by mid May.

Kew is about the specialist collections, ever so well displayed,of all sorts of plants, from towering redwoods to tiny alpines.

The place is vast so best to set a plan and visit a few areas each trip. Consult the map and try to tie parts together logically. https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/visit-kew-gardens/map

I have never approached Kew or Hampton Court by boat so cannot speak to the experience, nor how strange they would find luggage.

I'm sure I would be happy for a daylong Kew visit, but I'm guessing my husband may time out before.

Ha ha, just park him in a cafe while you stroll around. And I agree with Nigel about the flowers. It would be lovely to see them, but I think there will be a lot to see in mid-March and even more when you're there! BTW, Kew does open early for members after May 1. https://kewtw9.org/kew-gardens-early-opening-for-members/

Re: baggage; not sure about the boat but you could always email them at [email protected] and ask. And there is no place to stash luggage at Kew; however, there are some Stasher locations nearby.

FWIW, I love Hampton Court Palace, and I plan on going this trip, but will also be bringing my 2 grandkids here next year for them to enjoy. I think any history loving young person would love it!

Thanks, Nigel and Mardee. It will be hard to decide where to place our focus.

For me I would always choose Hampton Court over Kew. It’s a place with so much history and therefore extremely interesting if you like that kind of thing. Kew is nice but I’m not really interested in plants and gardening, it’s very flat and doesn’t have the sweeping vistas of the grand country house gardens. It’s more like a museum of plants. I’m sure others will disagree!

a thought about flowers and Kew and Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court is so much more than the buildings - although they are incredible. If you walk towards the Tiltyard before the main entrance (but still ticketed) you get to the Rose Garden and then the Kitchen Garden, both special.

After walking through the most direct route through the palace you come out into the Great Borders - hundreds of metres of formal borders. By mid-May they should be on full strength. Then follow the building around clockwise and there is garden after garden, and all are different and all will be trying their best by then too.

What I am trying to say is, if you want flowers and flower gardens you won't go far wrong at Hampton Court Palace.

If you want magnificent plant specimens and fabulous trees and shrubs and unique items and love trees (and Chinese Pagodas and tree walks and Badger setts for humans and a Royal Palace for days gone by, Kew has it all.

You can't go wrong with either but they are significantly different.

I love - and belong to - both.

ps. Food's better at Hampton Court IMHO

I think Helen's on the money with "museum of flowers". One of my first jobs many years ago was scanning Kew's archive of photos on slides. They have a lot of real global rarities and still do some good work in conservation I believe.

Thanks, also, Helen, Nigel and Gerry. I am excited to see Hampton Court, too.

We went to Kew by boat from Westminster Pier-an absolute must-do. It was much more enjoyable than the narrated Thames tour. We took the Tube back to London after our visit to Kew.

Thanks, Cala
Is there only one boat company from Westminster Pier? Or, which did you use?
I wonder if the trip from London is better viewing than the return trip to London?
We're still trying to decide if we use our reservations in Richmond for our first 2 nights after landing or squeeze both Richmond and Kew into 1 day trip from London.

Hi Cheryl,
We bought Kew memberships prior to our 2022 visit. The getting in early option was attractive to us as photographers. Note that the associated free Kew magazine that comes with memberships is world-class. It comes bi-monthly and there was never a duff issue nor a single duff page! Fantastic quality mag.

One could combine a Kew visit with a lazy walk along the Thames Towpath.
Richmond is an absolute must on several levels. If you are into flowers then the Isabella Plantation section of Richmond's park will be worth your time.

Btw, we thereafter wrote a looooooooong trip report-cum photo essay titled 'Back to Brick: a London TR.' Over on Fodors, I go by 'zebec'. One could simply Google 'zebec Fodors Back to Brick'. Lots of floral imagery (Kew plus otherwise), music, humour and plenty more.
cheers
I am done. The end.

Thanks, gregglamarsh, for all that information. I'm looking forward to looking at your report.