Christmas at Kew 2026: Two Evenings Are Adults Only, and It Is Not Included in a Garden Ticket

Christmas at Kew has two evenings this year that are for adults only, and they are new. The adult only evenings are on 3 and 9 December 2026, and they are the ones to look at first if a light trail with a fairground is not an evening you want to share with children.

The rest of the details below are from Kew’s own event page, which also says something worth knowing before you buy: Christmas at Kew is a ticketed event, separate from general Kew admission, so a Gardens ticket does not get you onto the trail.

Dates and times

The trail runs on selected dates from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, from 4.20pm to 10pm. On 24 December it closes an hour early, at 9pm. Not every date in the range is available, so check the calendar for the evening you want.

Entry is timed and capacity is limited, which is why Kew tells you to book early. The last entry depends on which gate you use.

Brentford Gate: 7pm. Elizabeth Gate: 7.20pm. Victoria Gate: 8pm. On Christmas Eve each of those comes forward, to 6.20pm at Brentford and Elizabeth and 7pm at Victoria. The Gardens close at 10pm.

What it costs

Tickets are from 25.50 pounds. Kew Members get a discount, family and child tickets are available, and a limited number of anytime entry tickets give you access to the trail from 4.20pm to 7.40pm. Kew also sells one pound tickets for people on Universal Credit.

The “from” price is the cheapest slot, so a date near Christmas will cost more than a Tuesday in November. Check the price for the evening you want before assuming.

What is on the trail

Kew describes larger than life light installations, sparkling colour tunnels, immersive soundscapes, and a visit from Father Christmas, with a traditional fairground and street food at the end: savoury bites, sweet delights, toasted marshmallows, mulled wine and hot chocolate.

That is the description of the standard evening. Kew says only that 3 and 9 December are adult only and new for 2026, and does not say what else changes on them, so read the event page before assuming the fairground or the food is different.

Getting there

Kew asks visitors to travel by public transport wherever possible. Limited parking is available for the event and must be pre booked with the tickets. There are three entrances, Victoria Gate, Brentford Gate and Elizabeth Gate, and because last entry differs by gate, the gate on your ticket matters.

Bicycles, tricycles, roller skates, skateboards, scooters and other vehicles, apart from powered wheelchairs, are not allowed on the trail and must be left at the gates.

Quiet Access sessions for visitors with hidden disabilities such as autism are on 21 November and on 1, 16 and 26 December. Kew asks other visitors not to book those slots.

For the rest of the festive list, our London Christmas page covers what to do beyond the lights, and the Christmas markets and Winter Wonderland are the other big evening options.

Where to go next

Ice skating in London covers the rinks, which open in the same weeks as the light trail.

The London Christmas guide covers the rest of the season, and Winter Wonderland is the bigger and louder evening in Hyde Park.

The restaurants in Richmond are the nearest place to eat before or after, and Richmond Park is the daytime half of a trip to that side of London.