Kew Gardens tickets are cheaper on Tuesdays: Director Richard Deverell explains why
Tickets for Kew Gardens are now cheaper on Tuesdays. It's the latest move by Kew to increase access by experimenting with ticket prices and removing "financial obstacles to visiting." To mark the launch of '£10 Tuesdays' for Autumn 2026, here Kew's Director Richard Deverell pens our latest guest column to explain why.
This article first appeared in the maxwell museums newsletter
Autumn at Kew Gardens. Sebastian Kettley © RBG Kew
I’ve been fortunate enough to be the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for fourteen years, and in that time, I’ve witnessed huge transformation — across the gardens, in our rapidly changing climate, and also when considering the external factors which play a part in motivating people to visit us.
At Kew, we’re perfectly placed to use our scientific and horticultural expertise to address the most pressing challenges facing the planet, from researching new medicines to identifying resilient plant species which will thrive for generations to come. With a similar spirit of innovation in mind, I’m extremely proud that we’ve also paved the way in making attractions more accessible for visitors from all backgrounds.
Back in January 2022, we launched our £1 ticket for Universal Credit recipients, fulfilling a key commitment in our Manifesto for Change to make Kew accessible to all. It’s since been very encouraging to see many peer organisations follow suit.
Kew Director Richard Deverell. Photo: RBG Kew/Ines Stuart-Davidson
We’ve now sold over 250,000 ‘£1 tickets’, and in 2024 we expanded the offer to allow ticket holders to bring four additional guests with them for just £1 each. We know that access to nature has been scientifically proven to improve mental and physical wellbeing, and this concession allows many people to reap the benefits of connecting with nature who would otherwise not be able to.
With cost-of-living pressures still being acutely felt, we’ve also been keenly aware of prospective visitors who might find the cost of a standard ticket out of reach, but who don’t qualify for our existing suite of concessions.
With the support of our Trustees, this month we launched our new ‘£10 Tuesdays’, offering daytime entry for just £10, every Tuesday until the end of 2026. As a charity and public body which aims to inspire as many people as possible to access — and advocate for — nature, my hope is that this new concession will further break down barriers.
Autumn at Kew. Sebastian Kettley © RBG Kew
It has undoubtedly been a challenging summer for visitor attractions, with prolonged heatwaves and extreme temperatures influencing visitor behaviour. Kew hasn’t been immune to these impacts, but as London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site, we are uniquely placed to research the impacts of this extreme weather in real-time. We can also create provocative interventions which illustrate the issues we face, such as our Climate Changed Oak tree which was unveiled at the start of London Climate Action Week.
The climate crisis, like the cost-of-living crisis, can often feel overwhelming and all-consuming, but thanks to Kew’s pioneering scientific research we have reasons to be hopeful.
My hope is that this new £10 ticket will help to eliminate some of the financial obstacles people might face when visiting us and simultaneously inspire people to champion nature in their own communities.
A ticket to Kew — whether it’s £1 or £10 — buys you much more than just entry to the gardens. It allows you to play a part in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, and supports our vital work to create a thriving planet for all.
Kew’s ‘£10 Tuesdays' tickets can be booked until 29 December 2026
Richard Deverell has been Director of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew since 2012. He previously held senior roles at Ofcom and the BBC
