Endless Summer Family Fun, Kew Gardens

This summer, the whole family is invited to escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a trip to Kew Gardens. Kew will be transporting visitors to the British countryside through a series of summer holiday activities for all ages, including arts, crafts and virtual reality tree-top tours. With exciting activities to reconnect with nature, fun for the whole family is guaranteed.

Read on for some of our top picks for families at Kew Gardens' endless summer fun extravaganza.

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Pollinator Day
20 July 2017
Nash Conservatory

For the second year in a row, Kew Gardens will host an interactive, fun-filled day dedicated to teaching visitors the important role bees play in our environment. You and the whole family are invited to get a close-up view of foraging bees in the 'bumble-arium', learn about the vital role of pollinators, join bee walks, short talks and myth-busting sessions hosted by Kew's scientists and university experts for this jam-packed day. Discover what makes honey taste so different, and what you can do to help save the bees.

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Virtual Reality: View from a Giant Redwood: a virtual climbing experience
Every day, 22 July 2017-3 September 2017, 10:30am-4:30pm

If you're not comfortable with your kids scaling a 150-year-old giant redwood and soaking up the spectacular views, sign them up for this virtual reality tour of the tree-tops. Kids aged 13 and up are invited to join head arborist Tony Kirkham as he climbs one of the towering trees and explains how Kew cares for their forest of 14,000 in this virtual reality experience.

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Theatre in the Gardens:
The Wind in the Willows
22 July-28 August

The whole family – from ages three to 103 – are invited to join Ratty, Mole and Mr Toad at Kew this summer. Sing, shout and help save the day in this fun adventure.

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Dream Fairies
29 July-28 August

The Dream Fairies have been let loose in Kew Gardens this summer, and they're going on an adventure... Sing and dance with Midsummer Night's Dream-inspired fairies such as Cobweb, Moth and Peasblossom. Travel to Bubble Land to help the fairies find their lost wings in this performance suitable for ages 3-8.

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Tanabata 2017
2-3 August 2017. Runs from 10:30 - 4:30 both days
Located in the Bamboo Garden and Minka House

Tanabata is a traditional Japanese Festival, also known as the Star Festival. It celebrates the meeting of two deities who are represented in the stars. According to legend, the Milky Way separates the two lovers, and they are only allowed to meet once a year. This year, Tanabata will be celebrated at Kew Gardens with a host of activities from writing and origami, to tea ceremonies, storytelling and a bamboo tour. Free to all visitors with the purchase of a day pass.

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Kew Science Festival 2017
4-6 August 2017, all day
Kew Palace lawns

Focusing on the importance of conserving the world's plant biodiversity while illuminating the crucial value of plant science, this is one day of scientific merrymaking aspiring young botanists won't want to miss. Held in a huge marquee in front of Kew Palace, families can expect a vast array of different activities for all ages that range from extracting DNA from vegetables to dissecting plants.

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Insect Adventure Camp
Times vary between events

Capturing the summer outdoor spirit, Insect Adventure Camp celebrates the crucial role tiny critters play in the environment. From bees to butterflies, the Insect Adventure Camp is packed with hands-on activities and adventures for the whole family, including:

• Animation workshops: Make a stop-motion animation at Kew Gardens with professional film-makers, Chocolate Films. Budding directors are invited to create and animate paper flowers, insects and other pollinators in the unofficial world record attempt for most contributors to a stop-motion animation film before it is shown at Kew later in the year.
  Animation workshops are from Tuesday-Sunday, 22 July-3 September, 10:30am-4:30pm, located in the Green Oak Shelter near the entrance to the Woodland Walk. Free.
• Takeaway insect hotels: Discover how to build a house fit for a bumblebee. The series of creative, hands-on workshops provide an opportunity for your family to create a tiny abode for bees, butterflies or moths, before bringing your creation back to your home.
  Takeaway insect hotel workshops are every day from 22 July-3 September, 10:30am-4:30pm, in one of the bell tents near the Woodland House. Ages 4+.