A Local’s Guide to the Best Things to Do in Kew (Plus Where to Eat and Drink)
Kew is one of London's quieter pleasures. A village green at the centre, the river along one side, a UNESCO World Heritage botanical garden on another, and a handful of independent shops and cafes threaded through the streets in between. Whether you have a free afternoon or a full day, here is what to make time for.
Kew Gardens
No visit to the area is complete without an afternoon at the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Gardens cover more than 300 acres and include the Victorian Palm House, the Temperate House, the Treetop Walkway eighteen metres up, and rare botanical collections from every corner of the world. Buy tickets online in advance to skip the queue, and arrive early on weekends if you want the glasshouses to yourself.
The Thames Path
The towpath runs along the river just minutes from Kew Bridge and the Elizabeth Gate. Head east towards Chiswick or west towards Richmond. Both directions offer riverside scenery, rowing clubs at full pace on weekday mornings, and plenty of waterside benches when you need a pause. One of the best walking routes in West London, and gentle enough for a long, slow morning.
Kew Village
A short walk from Kew Gardens station, Kew Village is a pocket of independent shops, cafes, and bakeries that feels closer to a market town than a London suburb. The first Sunday of every month brings the Kew Village Market, with stalls of artisanal food, crafts, and live music. A good starting point if you want a coffee before the Gardens, or a stop on the way to the river.
Kew Palace
Tucked inside Kew Gardens, Kew Palace is a small red-brick royal residence that once housed King George III and Queen Charlotte. The rooms are restored to their Georgian best and the surrounding gardens are quiet enough to feel separate from the main grounds. An hour here is well spent, particularly on a busy weekend when the rest of the Gardens are buzzing.
Kew Green
Kew Green is at the centre of village life. A wide expanse of open grass, framed by Georgian townhouses, with a cricket pitch in the middle and a church at one end. On a summer Sunday it fills with families, dog walkers and the cricket crowd. It is also where you will find us.
The Greyhound Kew, Where to Land at the End of It All
After a morning in the Gardens or a stretch along the towpath, the natural next stop is a pub on the Green. The Greyhound Kew sits on the corner of Kew Green, two minutes from the Elizabeth Gate and a short walk from the station.
Our kitchen runs from noon every day, with seasonal British dishes, a properly built Sunday roast at the weekend, and a main menu that earns its keep through the week. The bar carries real ales, craft beers, a wine list we are proud of, and handcrafted cocktails.
We are also one of the most dog friendly pubs in Kew, with water bowls at the bar and a real welcome for every four-legged regular. For larger groups, birthdays or work gatherings, private hire is available for sections of the pub or the whole place.
Plan Your Day
Kew rewards visitors who take their time. A morning in the Gardens, a slow lunch, a wander through the Village, an afternoon along the river, an evening on the Green. Whichever combination suits, book a table before you head out and the last stop of the day is already taken care of.