The Kew Orchid Festival

3 February to 3 March 2024

Every year, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew hosts a spectacular festival dedicated to the vibrant and diverse world of orchids. This year, from February 8th to March 8th, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the wonders of the orchid world at the 25th annual Kew Orchid Festival. This year’s theme, ‘Intoxication,’ focuses on the intoxicating scents and colours of these exotic flowers, highlighting their role in traditional medicine and cultural practices.

The festival’s main attraction is the Princess of Wales Conservatory, which is transformed into a paradise of orchids, with over 5,000 vibrant blooms on display. The conservatory, a modern glasshouse, provides the perfect environment for the diverse range of orchids to thrive in. As visitors walk through the tropical paradise, they will be greeted with a sensory explosion of colours and scents, from delicate white Phalaenopsis to vibrant purple Vandas.

This year’s festival also features a special display of carnivorous plants, showcasing the fascinating relationship between orchids and insects. Orchids have evolved to attract pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, with their alluring scents and bright colours. However, some orchids have taken this relationship to the next level by developing unique adaptations to trap and feed on insects, making them true predators of the plant world.

Sounds of blossom

23 March to 14 April 2024

Join them at Kew Gardens to celebrate the arrival of spring while taking in the breathtaking springtime blossoms.

Sounds of Blossom, in association with the Royal College of Music, will bring the springtime blooms to life. Inspired by the glory of spring, college music students wrote new pieces on a commission from Kew. These recently composed pieces will be performed in and around Kew’s blossoming hotspots, the Gardens.

As you stroll amid the trees, lose yourself in the natural world and allow all of your senses to come alive. Take in the pastel hues, the soft music, and the delightful aromas of the breeze. Breathe, feel better about yourself, and re-establish a connection with nature at Sounds of Blossom.

Come by on the weekends for even more, such as talks from scientists and horticulturists at Kew, live music, and wellness programmes.

International Garden Photographer of the Year: Exhibition 17

Saturday 3 February to Sunday 10 March 2024

The IGPOTY touring exhibition 17, which will debut at Kew in February 2024, will showcase a carefully chosen collection of top-scoring winning images from Competition 17 in 2023.

Favourite categories including “The Beauty of Plants,” “Beautiful Gardens,” “Trees, Woods, and Forests,” and “Wildlife in the Garden” will be among those on exhibit. Along with the artistic category “7IM Abstract Views” and the environmental category “MPB Plants & Planet,” the most recent addition “The World of Fungi” will be on exhibit.

There will be a representative from the “Portfolios” category, which is organised in collaboration with The Royal Photographic Society. The top-placed winning images from the “Captured at Kew” special prize will also be on show; Kew is the only location where these prints can be seen.