Having debuted in 2024, it looks like Kew’s Halloween trails – from the producers of Kew Gardens’ beloved Christmas trail – is here to stay and a permanent seasonal fixture.
It’s a light trail, basically, but a souped up one: we’re promised eerie illuminated trees, ghoulish installations, fire performers and more, with a troupe of actors on hand to stoke up our horrors (in a family friendly way, of course).
There are three timeslots: only available in half-term week, Daylight sessions run during the daytime and are intended for younger audiences who want an absolute minimum of spookiness (or simply not be out too late); Twlight slots are between 6pm and 7.30pm and things are definitely getting a bit scarier (ie darker); finally the Moonlight slots run after 7.30pm when it should be fully dark.
It’s worth stressing that the trail is suitable for all ages at all times, but certainly there are ways a means of managing the spook factor and fitting it around the bedtime of younger audiences. If none of that’s your bag, there will be a host of activities themed around beloved Julia Donaldson children’s book Zog-themed running at Kew until November 3.
Halloween at Kew opening dates
Halloween at Kew 2026 begins Friday October 16 and runs until Sunday November 1. From October 16 to October 24 it will run 6pm to 10pm; from Octover 24 to Novemeber 1 it will run 4pm to 10pm.
Tickets and pricing
Tickets for Halloween at Kew cost £19.50 for adults during off-peak times, or £24 during peak times. Members’ tickets are discounted by approcimately £3. Children (aged 4-15) cost £13 off-peak, or £17 peak and under fours go free, but still have to be ticketed. There are also discounted family tickets available, costing £60 for two adults and two children off-peak or £76 peak.
How long does it take to walk around Halloween at Kew?
The trail is around 1.5km long and should take most guests between one hour and one-and-a-half hours to get around.
