The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a world-renowned botanical garden and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in southwest London. It offers a stunning escape into nature with its diverse plant collections, iconic glasshouses, and beautiful landscapes, making it a popular destination for visitors and special events.
Kew Gardens group transport at a glance
- Coach drop-off Elizabeth Gate on Kew Green (TW9 3AE). All coach and minibus drop-offs and pick-ups happen here, with a 15-minute maximum stay.
- Coach parking None on site. Coaches park at Old Deer Park or Richmond Athletic Association in Richmond, a short drive away.
- Free entry for drivers and organisers Coach drivers and group organisers of pre-paid groups get free entry during daytime visits.
- Opening hours The Gardens open at 10:00. Christmas at Kew runs in the evenings in winter, with timed entry slots.
- Group sizes Minibuses for 9–16 passengers, midi coaches for 17–37, full-size coaches for 38–70, and double-deckers for 71+. Larger groups travel in multiple vehicles.
- Busiest periods Spring blossom, summer weekends, school holidays and Christmas at Kew, when coach timeslots at Elizabeth Gate are limited.
- Prices See our pricing page for current coach and minibus prices. You get a fixed written quote for every booking.
Why take a coach to Kew Gardens?
Kew is spread over more than 300 acres in south-west London, and its nearest stations are a walk from the gates. For a garden club or senior group, a coach means no platforms or changes, and a drop-off right at Elizabeth Gate. Coats, bags and plant purchases can go back on the coach at the end of the day.
For Christmas at Kew, a coach is even more useful. The trail finishes after dark in winter, and your group can be picked up at the gate for a warm, door-to-door journey home instead of a late train.
How group coach hire to Kew Gardens works
The London Coach Company is a licensed London coach operator. Our drivers run your trip from pickup to return, and we plan every Kew booking around your group's arrival time or Christmas at Kew entry slot.
You get one point of contact, one fixed quote and one booking. Because coaches can only stop at Elizabeth Gate for 15 minutes, we time the drop-off and pickup closely so your group isn't kept waiting on Kew Green.
Typical Kew Gardens bookings:
- Garden club, WI and U3A day out. A full day in the Gardens, with a private guided tour or meal vouchers arranged through Kew's group team, and a relaxed afternoon pickup.
- Christmas at Kew evening trip. An afternoon or early-evening departure, drop-off for your timed entry slot and a pickup at Elizabeth Gate after the light trail.
- Seasonal visits. Spring blossom and bluebells, summer borders, autumn colour and the glasshouses in winter.
- School trip. Science and geography visits, with education sessions starting at 10:30 and a return before the end of the school day.
Typical journey times to Kew Gardens
Times are for a full-size coach on a weekday morning, door to set-down.
We build traffic into every quote, so your group arrives in time for its slot.
| From | Approx. journey time |
|---|---|
| Guildford | 45–60 mins |
| Reading | 50–65 mins |
| Basingstoke | 55–70 mins |
| St Albans | 50–65 mins |
| Luton | 60–75 mins |
| Oxford | 70–85 mins |
| Maidstone | 75–90 mins |
| Brighton | 80–100 mins |
| Chelmsford | 80–100 mins |
| Milton Keynes | 75–95 mins |
Kew Gardens group visit rules (what organisers need to know)
Kew's group rules decide how you book, when you pay and how your coach gets in, so check them before you book transport.
- Group rates for 15 or more. Groups of 15 or more get reduced ticket prices and book through Kew's group bookings team. Smaller groups book standard tickets online.
- Numbers and payment seven days ahead. Kew needs final numbers and payment seven days before the visit. Cancellations must be made in writing at least seven days before, or full charges apply.
- Free entry for drivers and organisers. Coach drivers and group organisers of pre-paid groups get free entry during the day, but not at after-hours events such as Christmas at Kew.
- Extras. Private tours and meal vouchers can be booked for groups.
- Schools book separately. Education groups book an education visit. Sessions run in groups of up to 15 pupils and start at 10:30, at the school's meeting point opposite the Palm House.
What this means for your coach booking: we time your drop-off at Elizabeth Gate for your group's arrival, and move the coach straight to the Richmond coach parking. Tell us your arrival time and any tour or session times, and we'll plan the pickup around them.
Rules are set by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and can change. Always confirm your booking details on Kew's group visits page.
Christmas at Kew by coach
Christmas at Kew is one of London's most popular winter light trails, and a favourite evening trip for clubs, societies, WI and U3A groups. It's also one of the few events where the coach arrangements really matter.
- Coaches need a timeslot. Coaches can only drop off and pick up at Elizabeth Gate, and they need a pre-booked coach timeslot to stop there. A coach pass is issued when the group booking is paid.
- Who can book group tickets? Kew offers Christmas at Kew group tickets to organisers who have an account with Kew or send groups to Kew regularly through the year.
- Arrive on time. Groups arriving before their allocated slot may be asked to wait, and the whole group should enter together at the same gate.
- Allow two to three hours. That's the average group visit time for the trail.
- No stopping or idling on Kew Green. Coaches can't wait or leave their engines running at Elizabeth Gate or elsewhere on Kew Green, so the driver parks nearby and returns for your pickup slot.
What this means for your coach booking: once you have your entry time and coach timeslot, we plan the departure from your pickup point, the drop-off and the late-evening return. Tell us your slot as soon as it's confirmed, as evening coaches in December book up early.
Arrangements are set by Kew for each Christmas season and can change. Always confirm your booking details on Kew's Christmas at Kew group page.
Coach access, drop-off and waiting
- Set-down point: Elizabeth Gate on Kew Green (TW9 3AE). The carriage ring is for drop-off and collection only, with a maximum stay of 15 minutes.
- Kew Road: coaches and minibuses can no longer drop off or pick up on Kew Road (A307), because of borough-wide traffic changes.
- Where the coach waits: there is no coach parking on site, and coaches must not wait on Kew Green. After drop-off, the coach moves to coach parking at Old Deer Park (TW9 2RA) or Richmond Athletic Association (TW9 2SF) in Richmond. Spaces are limited, and any parking charges are included in your quote.
- No engine idling. Our drivers switch off at every stop, and never wait with the engine running on Kew Green.
- Congestion Charge: Kew Gardens is outside the central London Congestion Charge zone.
- Emissions: coaches and buses over 5 tonnes are subject to the London-wide Low Emission Zone (Euro VI standard), not the ULEZ. Minibuses under 5 tonnes are subject to the ULEZ. All vehicles we supply are LEZ and ULEZ compliant.
Public transport, for anyone meeting the group there: Kew Bridge station, about a 15 to 20-minute walk, is closest to Elizabeth Gate. Kew Gardens station (District line and London Overground) is closest to Victoria Gate.
Accessibility
Kew welcomes visitors with disabilities and their carers, and publishes accessibility maps of the Gardens. Visits usually involve a fair amount of walking, including over grass and uneven paths, so comfortable footwear is recommended.
Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available by special request. Please tell us about any wheelchair users or mobility requirements when you request a quote, so we can confirm a suitable vehicle for your group.
Combining Kew Gardens with other visits
| Combined with | How the coach helps |
|---|---|
| Kew Palace | Inside the Gardens, so no coach move is needed. Check Kew Palace opening dates before you travel. |
| Hampton Court Palace | A short coach move along the Thames for a palace and gardens day. See our Hampton Court Palace page. |
| Richmond | A few minutes away, for lunch or afternoon tea by the river before the journey home. |
| Natural History Museum | A coach move into South Kensington for a botany and nature day. See our Natural History Museum page. |
| Royal Museums Greenwich | A coach move across London for a Thames-side day at the other end of the river. See our Royal Museums Greenwich page. |
Vehicle options
| Vehicle | Passengers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Minibus (standard or executive) | 9–16 | Small garden clubs, private tours and SEND groups |
| Midi coach (standard or executive) | 17–37 | WI and U3A groups, a single class |
| Full-size coach (standard or executive) | 38–70 | Large garden clubs, society outings and Christmas at Kew groups |
| Double-decker coach | 71+ | Full year groups in one vehicle |
| Multiple vehicles | Any size | Very large groups and corporate evenings |
See our full fleet options. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available by special request. Availability depends on the date, and December evenings book up first.
About the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's leading botanic gardens, spread over more than 300 acres beside the Thames. Highlights for groups include the Victorian Palm House, the Temperate House, the Princess of Wales Conservatory, the Great Pagoda, the Treetop Walkway, the Hive and Kew Palace, a former royal residence inside the Gardens.
Kew also runs a year-round programme of seasonal events, from spring blossom to Christmas at Kew in winter. For full visitor information and bookings, see the official Kew Gardens website.
Who books Kew Gardens transport with us
- Garden clubs and horticultural societies: year-round visits to the Gardens and glasshouses. See our tourism and leisure coach hire.
- WI, U3A and senior groups: relaxed day trips, private tours and Christmas at Kew evenings.
- Schools and colleges: science, geography and plant biology trips. See our education transport.
- Tour operators and international groups: day trips from London hotels and airport transfers. See our airport transfers.
- Corporate and event groups: Christmas at Kew team nights and private events. See our corporate transport.
Get a quote for Kew Gardens group transport
Send us your date, pickup address, group size and arrival time or Christmas at Kew entry slot, and we'll come back with a fixed written quote.
- Call +44 20 3457 2071
- Email [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a coach drop off at Kew Gardens?
All coach and minibus drop-offs and pick-ups take place at Elizabeth Gate on Kew Green (TW9 3AE). The carriage ring there is for drop-off and collection only, with a maximum stay of 15 minutes. Coaches can no longer drop off or pick up on Kew Road (A307).
Is there coach parking at Kew Gardens?
There is no coach parking on site, and coaches must not wait on Kew Green. After drop-off, the coach moves to coach parking at Old Deer Park or Richmond Athletic Association in Richmond, a short drive away. Any parking charges are included in your quote.
Do coach drivers get free entry to Kew Gardens?
Yes, for daytime visits. Coach drivers and group organisers of pre-paid groups get free entry to the Gardens during the day. This does not apply to after-hours events such as Christmas at Kew.
How do group bookings work at Kew Gardens?
Groups of 15 or more get reduced ticket prices and book through Kew's group bookings team. Final numbers and payment are needed seven days before the visit, and cancellations must be made in writing at least seven days before, or full charges apply. Private tours and meal vouchers are also available.
Can we go to Christmas at Kew by coach?
Yes. Coaches can only drop off and pick up at Elizabeth Gate, and they need a pre-booked coach timeslot to stop there. The coach pass is issued when the group booking is paid. Group tickets for Christmas at Kew are offered to organisers with a Kew account or who send groups to Kew regularly.
Do coaches pay the Congestion Charge or ULEZ at Kew Gardens?
Kew Gardens is outside the central London Congestion Charge zone. Coaches over 5 tonnes are subject to the London-wide Low Emission Zone rather than the ULEZ, and minibuses under 5 tonnes are subject to the ULEZ. Vehicles we supply are LEZ and ULEZ compliant, and any applicable charges are included in your quote.
How much does coach hire to Kew Gardens cost?
See our pricing page for current coach and minibus prices. The final price depends on group size, pickup location, waiting time and any extra stops. You get a fixed written quote before booking.
Who operates the coaches?
The London Coach Company is a licensed London coach operator. Your trip is run by our own professional drivers, with the vehicle matched to your group size and itinerary.
Do you have wheelchair-accessible coaches for Kew Gardens visits?
Yes, wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available by special request. Tell us about any wheelchair users or mobility requirements when you request a quote, so we can confirm a suitable vehicle for your date.