The Kew Gardens Orchid Festival returns for 2025, with over 3000 orchids in total, including beautiful animals in a colourful display in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. Along with 3000 different coloured orchids, you'll also find birds, alpacas and more.

Kew Gardens Orchid Festival – everything you need to know

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Are you planning a trip to the Kew Gardens Orchid Festival ? In this post you’ll find absolutely everything you need to know about your visit, including how to get there and where to get your tickets.

In 2025 the Kew Gardens Orchid Festival transports you to the depths of Peru- with over 3000 orchid plants in total in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. I was kindly invited to the preview event by Kew Gardens on the 30/01 to share the first impressions of this years festival with you.

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Kew Gardens Orchid Festival 2025 – flora & fauna of Peru

The world-famous orchid festival returns to Kew in 2025. This year, the theme is highlighting the biodiversity of Peru. Discover over 3000 orchid flowers in a tropical glasshouse at London’s largest UNESCO world heritage site. The 2025 festival will take you on a journey through South America- not only whilst discovering fluorescent flowers, but also some of the native wildlife to Peru.

An archway of dense foliage, lined with white orchids greets you to the 2025 Orchids Festival at Kew gardens. At the end of the narrow wooden walkway, a bear sculpture peaks out of the bushes, setting the scene of being transported to Peru.
A green, blue and pink perky parrot is suspended from the ceiling of the glasshouse at the Kew Gardens Orchid Festival in 2025- flora and fauna of Peru.
Inside a wooden archway, thousands of beautifully coloured orchids pour out onto the pond in the glasshouse. Setting the scene of a Peruvian landscape, a brown alpaca sculpture stands solidly in-front of the ramp, leading up to the upper floor of the Princess of Wales Conservatory.

Here are some highlights which await you at this year’s orchids festival:

  • Fantabulous flamingos in a beautiful pond in front of a backdrop of Machu Picchu – one of South America’s most famous landmarks and hikes.
  • Beautiful butterflies suspended from the walls of the glasshouse.
  • A sea of orchids of intense colour, including beautiful arches, crowning the ceilings of the Princess Wales Conservatory.
  • Sculptures of birds, alpacas, bears and parrots, which are hidden around the tropical glasshouse. Look out additionally for real birds, such as robins, which have nested inside the walls of the glasshouse!

Whilst exploring the Kew Gardens Orchid Festival, you can also learn about scientific research, which was undertaken by partners of Kew Gardens in Peru. The information -undertaken by the research partners in Peru- is displayed on billboards around the glasshouse. Whilst exploring the conservatory and taking photos of the festival, don’t forget to learn about the fieldwork undertaken in South America. This includes work surrounding ecosystems, climate change and conserving and restoring crops and wildlife habitats.

Research is a key part of the Kew Gardens Orchid Festival. A figure of a researcher is suspended from the ceiling of the glasshouse in the Princess of Wales conservatory. The researcher is wearing blue dungarees and a red helmet, whilst undertaking the research in south america.
Kew Gardens Orchid Festival isn't just about the orchids, it's also about art and science. Learn about the scientific research, undertaken by research teams in south South and Peru, and discover beautiful paintings by artists, setting the scene in the glasshouses.

FAQs to the 2025 Orchids Festival:

Here’s everything you need to know if you’re planning to visit this year’s festival:

When does Kew Gardens Orchid Festival take place in 2025?

Kew Gardens Orchid Festival takes place from 1st February- 2nd March 2025

Do I need to purchase an extra ticket to the orchids festival?

If you’re a Kew member, or if you’ve bought a ticket to the gardens, you don’t need an extra ticket. If you are looking to purchase a ticket, visit the Kew website here.

Do I need to book a time-slot?

Yes, if you’re planning to visit Kew, you will need a timeslot for the orchids. If you are a member, between 10:00-11:00am there are special slots available. You must book a time slot, as there is a staggered entry into the glasshouse.

What are the opening times of Kew Gardens Orchid Festival 2025?

Kew Gardens is currently open from 10:00-16:00/17:00. However, the glasshouses usually close an hour before park closing time (15:00/16:00).

Where is Kew Gardens?

Kew Gardens is located in the borough of Richmond Upon Thames, on the outskirts of London.

Can I get to Kew Gardens via public transport?

Yes- of course! If you are planning to visit with public transport, please take the tube. The district line takes you to Kew Bridge station. Otherwise, you can take the bus 65, which departs from Ealing Broadway and stops at Kew Gardens.

Does Kew Gardens have on-site parking?

There is on-site parking. However, it costs £9 for a day. On the roads opposite the Victoria Gate, there is FREE on-street parking after 12:00 noon.

A close-up of the main exhibition at the Kew Gardens Orchid Festival in 2025 shows the multi-coloured orchids, next to the brown alpaca sculpture in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. The orchids are orange, pink, yellow and purple.
A bird sculpture is sweeping through the landscape of the glasshouse - the Princess Wales Conservatory. The blue sky creates perfect lighting in the glasshouse, with the sculpture looking as if it is gliding through a dense landscape of foliage, as if in a jungle.
Fluorescent pink flamingos stand tall in the pond in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. The flamingos are surrounded by pink and purple orchids, making up the scene with a backdrop onto Machu Picchu.

Exploring Kew Gardens – London’s LARGEST UNESCO world heritage site.

Did YOU know- Kew gardens is the LARGEST UNESCO world heritage site in London? If you’re planning a visit to London, then Kew Gardens needs to be on your bucket list. However, what else can you see at Kew Gardens?

Here are some of the highlights which await you in London’s hidden tropical paradise:

  • Palm House- a tropical glasshouse with temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius. Explore the two-story glass conservatory.
  • Water-lily house. Admire the dancing waterlillies.
  • A total of 30,000 different species of plants and thousands more species of tree around the grounds.
  • Treetop walkaway – an adventure experience with beautiful views onto London, including the Shard and City of London.
  • Sculpture Gardens, wild flowers and snowdrops in February.
  • You’ll also find further attractions such as the Temperate House, Kew Palace and The Hive.
  • For children there are outdoor and indoor play-areas, such as the Children’s Garden. 

Entry to all of the attractions and gardens at Kew are included in the entry ticket or membership. If you are a member, you can also bring a guest with you- free of charge!

Visiting London? Alongside Kew Gardens Orchid Festival, don’t miss out on these free places to visit:

I’ve put together 13 different free places to visit in London, which you won’t have heard of before. Click here to discover more.

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