Kew Gardens Parking: Plan Before You Reach Brentford Gate
Kew Gardens has an official visitor car park beside Brentford Gate. However, spaces are limited and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, driving works best when you know the price, postcode and backup plan before leaving home.
Standard parking currently costs £10 for the day. Meanwhile, Blue Badge holders park free, and motorcycles or mopeds do not pay the normal car parking charge.
PER DAY
Quick Answer: Where Should You Park for Kew Gardens?
Most drivers should start with the official Kew Gardens car park beside Brentford Gate and Ferry Lane. Use TW9 3AF for the driving route.
Standard visitor parking currently costs £10 per day. However, buying admission to the Gardens does not reserve a parking space. Availability remains first come, first served.
Blue Badge holders currently park free in the official car park. In addition, motorcycles and mopeds are exempt from the normal car parking charge.
Kew sits inside London’s ULEZ. By contrast, the Gardens are outside the Congestion Charge zone. Therefore, drivers should check vehicle compliance separately from the parking fee.
Kew Gardens Parking Prices in 2026
The official visitor car park has a straightforward daily tariff. Standard cars currently pay £10 per day.
Because the charge is daily rather than hourly, a longer daytime visit does not automatically increase the parking fee. Nevertheless, availability remains limited.
Current Parking Options
| Option | Current Cost | Access | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor Car Park | £10 per day | Brentford Gate / Ferry Lane | Most drivers |
| Blue Badge Parking | Free | Main visitor car park | Eligible disabled visitors |
| Motorcycle or Moped | Free | Official parking area | Two-wheel visitors |
| Public Transport | No Kew parking charge | Tube, rail or bus | Busy days |
Does Admission Include Parking?
No. A Kew Gardens admission ticket and a parking payment are separate. Therefore, buying an entry ticket does not automatically include the £10 visitor car park.
Likewise, paying for parking does not guarantee availability. Spaces are still assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
How to Pay for Kew Gardens Parking
Kew currently gives drivers several ways to pay the £10 daily charge. Therefore, you do not have to rely on one payment method.
Card-Only Parking Meter
The visitor car park has a card-only meter. Consequently, cash should not be your only payment plan.
PayByPhone
Alternatively, drivers can use the PayByPhone service. Before confirming the session, check the parking location and vehicle registration carefully.
Pay at a Kew Kiosk
Another option is to pay at the kiosk at Brentford or Elizabeth Gate. However, you will need to provide your vehicle registration and parking location.
Read the Current Signs
First, check the payment instructions displayed in the car park.
Confirm the Vehicle
Next, enter or provide the correct registration number.
Check the Parking Location
After that, make sure the payment applies to the correct Kew parking area.
Keep Confirmation
Finally, save the receipt or digital confirmation until the visit is complete.
Free Parking Options at Kew Gardens
Most standard car visitors should expect to pay the £10 daily fee. However, Kew currently provides two important official exceptions.
Free Parking for Blue Badge Holders
Drivers displaying a Blue Badge can park free in the official Kew Gardens car park. In addition, Kew allows eligible drivers to use another car park space if the dedicated accessible spaces are full.
Free Motorcycle and Moped Parking
Motorcycles and mopeds do not currently pay the standard car parking charge. Therefore, two-wheel visitors have an official no-charge parking option.
Should You Look for Free Street Parking?
Nearby residential roads should not be treated as guaranteed free parking. Restrictions vary by street, day and time.
Moreover, Kew’s current visitor information states that parking is prohibited along Kew Road. Consequently, arriving at Victoria Gate does not mean you can simply leave the car on Kew Road.
How Limited Is Parking at Kew Gardens?
Think of the Official Car Park as Limited, Not Guaranteed
Kew explicitly describes its parking capacity as limited. Therefore, the Ferry Lane car park should not be treated like a large shopping-centre garage with guaranteed spare capacity.
Weekends, school holidays and special events can create more pressure. As a result, an earlier arrival can improve your chances, although it still cannot guarantee a space.
On select peak-season weekends, Kew may open the Herbarium car park as overflow parking after the Ferry Lane car park fills. However, this arrangement should not be assumed for every visit.
How to Drive to Kew Gardens Parking
Use TW9 3AF when driving to the main visitor car park. This postcode takes you toward Brentford Gate and Ferry Lane.
Do Not Use a Random Kew Gardens Pin
Kew has several entrances, and not all of them serve the main car park. Therefore, a general attraction pin can leave you near a pedestrian gate instead of the parking entrance.
Allow Time for Local Traffic
Roads around Kew, Richmond, Brentford and Kew Bridge can become busy. For that reason, add a small buffer to your expected arrival time.
Use TW9 3AF
First, set the main car park postcode rather than a general Kew pin.
Check ULEZ
Next, confirm whether your vehicle meets the current London ULEZ standard.
Review Live Traffic
Then, check for delays around Richmond, Brentford and Kew Bridge.
Follow Kew Signs
Finally, use current signs and staff directions as you approach Ferry Lane.
What If the Kew Gardens Car Park Is Full?
Limited capacity makes a backup plan important. Therefore, decide what you will do before reaching the entrance.
Check for Official Overflow Parking
On selected peak-season weekends, Kew may operate the Herbarium car park as overflow parking. Specifically, it opens when the Ferry Lane car park becomes full.
This overflow arrangement is not permanent, though. Consequently, check current visitor information before relying on it.
Use Public Transport as Plan B
Kew Gardens station provides a useful alternative for many visitors. Meanwhile, Kew Bridge station can work well for passengers approaching on South Western Railway services.
Buses also serve several Kew entrances. As a result, switching to public transport can remove the risk of finding the official car park full.
Which Kew Gardens Gate Should You Use?
Kew has four main visitor entrances. However, the best gate depends heavily on how you arrive.
Brentford Gate for Drivers
Drivers should generally use Brentford Gate because the official visitor car park is beside it. The relevant car park postcode is TW9 3AF.
Victoria Gate for Tube Arrivals
Kew Gardens station is about 500 metres from Victoria Gate. Therefore, this entrance is particularly convenient for Tube and Mildmay Line visitors.
Elizabeth Gate for Kew Bridge and River Arrivals
Kew Bridge station is about 800 metres from Elizabeth Gate. In addition, Elizabeth Gate is convenient for visitors arriving from Kew Pier.
Lion Gate for Richmond-Side Walks
Lion Gate is a pedestrian entrance on the Richmond side. However, seasonal weekday opening arrangements can change, so check current Kew information before relying on this gate.
| Gate | Area | Best Access | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brentford | TW9 3AF | Main visitor car park | Drivers |
| Victoria | Kew Road | Kew Gardens station | Tube and rail |
| Elizabeth | Kew Green | Kew Bridge and river | Rail and boat arrivals |
| Lion | Richmond side | Pedestrian entrance | Walking arrivals |
Blue Badge and Accessible Parking at Kew Gardens
Drivers displaying a Blue Badge currently park free in the official Kew Gardens car park at TW9 3AF.
Accessible Spaces in the Main Car Park
Kew’s current accessibility page lists 11 accessible or Blue Badge spaces in the car park. If those marked spaces are full, eligible visitors may use other spaces in the car park.
Therefore, a full row of dedicated accessible bays does not always mean the entire car park is unusable for a Blue Badge holder.
Elizabeth Gate Accessible Parking
Kew also lists disabled-access bays and a drop-off area near Elizabeth Gate. Consequently, this entrance may be useful when a particular mobility route suits your visit better.
ULEZ and Congestion Charge at Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens is inside London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone. Consequently, a non-compliant vehicle may face the applicable ULEZ daily charge.
Is Kew Gardens in the Congestion Charge Zone?
No. Kew Gardens is outside London’s Congestion Charge zone. Therefore, a direct drive to Kew does not automatically create a Congestion Charge payment.
Parking and ULEZ Are Separate
The £10 Kew parking fee covers the visitor car park only. In other words, it does not include any road-user charge that may apply to your vehicle.
For that reason, check ULEZ compliance before setting off. Do not rely only on the vehicle’s age.
When Does the Kew Gardens Car Park Entrance Close?
Kew currently states that the car park entrance closes 30 minutes after the Gardens close.
Check the Garden Closing Time
Kew’s closing time changes during the year. Therefore, check the official opening-hours information for your exact visit date rather than relying on a fixed year-round time.
Special events may also use different arrangements. Consequently, Christmas at Kew, Halloween or another ticketed event can have separate parking and entry instructions.
Parking for Christmas at Kew and Special Events
Normal daytime parking rules should not automatically be applied to special events. For example, Christmas at Kew uses reserved parking arrangements for Brentford Gate.
Christmas at Kew Reserved Parking
Current Christmas at Kew information lists pre-paid parking at the Ferry Lane car park for Brentford Gate. The published event parking price is £15 and must be added when buying the event tickets.
Therefore, do not assume the normal £10 daytime arrangement applies to an evening Christmas event.
Halloween at Kew
Halloween events can also use pre-paid Brentford Gate parking. As a result, event visitors should follow the parking option attached to their specific event booking.
Motorcycle and Moped Parking at Kew Gardens
Motorcycles and mopeds currently do not pay the standard visitor car parking charge.
Free parking still comes with normal parking responsibilities. Therefore, use the appropriate area and follow all current signs or staff directions.
Accessible routes and pedestrian areas should remain clear. Consequently, avoid leaving a motorcycle where it could obstruct an entrance, pathway or Blue Badge space.
Alternatives to Driving to Kew Gardens
Public transport becomes especially useful when parking availability is uncertain. In addition, it removes the need to pay the £10 car park fee.
Kew Gardens Station
Kew Gardens station is around 500 metres from Victoria Gate. Therefore, it is a convenient option for District Line and Mildmay Line passengers.
Kew Bridge Station
South Western Railway passengers can use Kew Bridge station. From there, Elizabeth Gate is approximately 800 metres away.
Bus Services
Route 65 serves stops near Elizabeth, Victoria and Lion Gates. Meanwhile, route 110 serves the Kew Gardens station and Elizabeth Gate area.
Routes 237 and 267 also stop near Kew Bridge station. Consequently, buses can provide a useful backup when driving conditions are difficult.
Which Kew Gardens Parking Plan Fits Your Visit?
Before You Drive: Kew Gardens Parking Checklist
Parking Checks
Before Leaving Home
When You Arrive
Kew Gardens Parking Map
The main visitor car park is beside Brentford Gate at Ferry Lane. Therefore, use TW9 3AF when planning the driving route.
Use the Map for the Main Journey
Map apps may also show Kew’s other visitor entrances. However, those entrances do not all provide access to the main visitor car park.
Once you reach the area, follow the current Brentford Gate and Ferry Lane signs. That final check can prevent a wrong turn toward a pedestrian entrance.
Brentford Gate • Ferry Lane • TW9 3AF Open Google Maps
Official Kew Gardens Parking Information
This guide helps you plan the parking part of your visit. Nevertheless, Kew’s own website should be the final source for live prices, temporary access changes and event arrangements.
Driving, Parking and Public Transport
Use Kew’s Getting Here page for the current £10 tariff, payment methods, car park postcode, ULEZ information, overflow parking and public transport routes.
Check Closures Before Travelling
Gate arrangements and attraction closures can change throughout the year. Therefore, review Kew’s current closures page shortly before your visit.
Driving Elsewhere in London?
Kew is outside the Congestion Charge zone, so its driving setup is different from central London. In comparison, destinations around Victoria can involve both expensive parking and central road charges.
Therefore, use a separate guide if your journey continues into central London.
Kew Gardens Parking FAQs
These quick answers cover the questions drivers commonly need before a Kew visit. In addition, they reflect current published Kew parking information.