The Hive at Kew Gardens

I have been twice to The Hive and it never ceases to amaze me. The structure is a wonder and glorious to see by night. The mechanism where you listen all about The Hive via a wooden stick and vibrations is brilliant fun. Going inside The Hive and on its upper level is fun, a bit nerve wracking for us people with slight vertigo! Worth visiting Kew Gardens just for this. The fact that it is set in such decadent surroundings only adds to it’s appeal. The gardens are beautiful and awash with flowers and plants from far and wide. I am looking forward to next visit already : ) 

If it looks stunning on Instagram, the structure in real life isn’t as striking. I’d stop by if you were planning to visit the gardens anyway, but would not recommend going there just for it.

The best bit was the interactive section “downstairs”. With educational panels telling us more about the life of bees, it was an interesting part of the visit. The added bonus was an incredible activity where you had to put a wooden stick in your mouth and somehow you’ll be able to hear (through your mouth) a short narrative about the life of bees. Ingenious!

Visiting the Hive in London is a unique chance to see what started out as the UK Pavilion at the World Fair Milan last year (www.milanworldsfair.com/uk.htm) without having to board a plane!
It's 170,000 aluminium pieces have since been painstakingly taken down and reassembled at Kew Gardens so this is a great opportunity to see it in the beautiful surroundings of Kew, and is included in your gardens ticket.
It's a fascinating sculpture and in the evening you can witness the full effect of flickering lights within the structure relaying via the intensity of light and sound the realtime buzz of a real bee hive located in the gardens, which adds another dimension.
Being that the botanical gardens are well worth visiting anyway, this is a great addition to the gardens. It's a must see for any fan of sculpture, architecture and or engineering, and well worth a look for anyone else!

Finally! This was my 3rd attempt to visit The Hive. Attempt one, it was closed due to extremely dramatic thunder and lightening - no one would want to be near a metal structure during that storm, let alone outside getting a drenching. Attempt 2, on a glorious summer day, for no reason whatsoever, it was closed. Still, it allowed us a delightful afternoon in Kew and a free return. And on that return, last week, on a typically British grey day, we finally got to see the amazing structure.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect, to be honest, it was smaller than I had thought it would be, but it was still very impressive. As you first approach it, you see the lovely wild meadows, which is the kind of fauna that bees apparently thrive off. This was even more delightful in comparison to the manicured flower beds, which The Hive overlooks.

In The Hive itself, it's rather fun to watch the light bulbs flash on and off as the local bees go about their business. Though it was a little grey to fully enjoy the effects, it's quite beautiful to see the sky bouncing off the glass panels and the silhouettes of people on the platform above you, which you view when you stand underneath.

Although a very simple installation from the outside, you can see the complexity and genius of the design and engineering close-up. Of course, I've never been inside an actual bee-hive, but for the first time in my life, I left feeling a little more understanding of our furry buzzing friends.

Top tips: Go on a clear day if you can, go early or later or/and mid-week to avoid the crowds, plan this as part of entire day at Kew to make the most of the ticket entry fee and don't wear a short skirt!

Kew is one of my very favourite places in the world! It was one of the few places we went as a family as a child and now I make it there a couple of times a year if I can. This year the attraction of The Hive seduced me into a membership and I have been 3 times in about month. I haven't been able to find out if The Hive is a permanent fixture - i hope so. It is really interesting and striking. My first visit was on a gloriously hot and sunny day, the second on typically British summer's rainy day and the third dry but overcast. Interestingly the day where The Hive showed the most bee action was the overcast but dry day. I've been with adult friends and various ages of children - they all found it interesting and enjoyed it. Its brilliant being able to stand underneath and look up at the people in the centre above you!

On all three visits I discovered new things about The Hive but also about bits of Kew - its such a fascinating and interesting place - with new things to discover all the time. I really wish I lived close enough to pop in every week as it really gives me serenity and joy!

If I wasn't so technologically lazy I'd post lots of our photos! If you haven't been it really is worth a trip! My only bug bear about Kew is they haven't ever decided to provide picnic storage space or more varied food options!

After my first try to go an see the Hive has been ruined by heavy rains. We decided to try it again on a warm (and dry) summer evening (Thanks to Kew for their late opening hours) including a lovely picnic. I can only recommend leaving the Hive to the very last when visiting, as we had the pleasure to see it in different lights.

When we first arrived it really did not fail to impress - it's a amazing structure in the middle of the park and fits in really well. We had a quick walk around, but decided to have our picnic first and wait for the sun to go down - let me tell you: worth every minute. It's even more impressive in twilight and as it gets less busy later on - it's a perfect photo set. Once you enter the Hive it helps you imagining being in a real bee hive, by using your senses.

I could have spent hours there, but unfortunately they close at one point. I have already planned to go back this winter to see it in yet another light...

When we went it wasn't fully operational... the lights for one were not working so it didn't have the full effect.  I could hear a humming noise so I guess the sound was working but we were told upfront it wasn't.  So not sure what the humming/buzzing sound was.  The whole thing is actually pretty impressive even though in the vastness of Kew - it is pretty small and blink and you might miss it if you are not actually looking out for it.  All in all though, I just love Kew Gardens for a day out.  But that is for a different review.

As the center piece of last year's Milano Expo, The Hive does not fail to impress. Carefully placed in the middle of a wild flower meadow - in order to attract some bees, naturally - the iron sculpture is impressive. Get closer, and you'll be invited to experiment different sensations from the inside of a real bee hive, from the hum to LED lights that simulate the movement inside. A magnificent addition to the summer collection of the Kew Gardens, hurry to catch it before it's gone. Make it a day to explore the stunning Kew Gardens, a masterpiece of botany on its own.

I visited the Hive on a beautifully sunny day yesterday. I could go on and on about how stunning Kew Gardens are in general, but as this post is about The Hive, I'll try and stick to that.

Walking up to the Hive is very impressive. Your brain can't quite seem to figure out what's going on, how the metal structure is actually built up by hundreds of carefully constructed layers, how it can look so large and monumental but yet it seems to be floating in thin air.

There are a few different positions from which you can enjoy different views, all giving you a new perspective and impression of the structure. Stand below it, walk into it or check it out from the side - you will always find something new to wonder about. I loved the wild flower meadow around the installation that ties in with its actual purpose - to remind visitors of the importance of bees, flowers and wildlife and what we can do to protect and promote this.

Definitely worth a visit, especially on a sunny day when the sun filters through it like it did yesterday. 

The Hive

My second attempted visit to The Hive at Kew Gardens is on a blisteringly hot summers day - as opposed to the first where the electrically charged skies meant that we were unable to go anywhere near it as thunder and lightning are considered a tad on the dangerous side for a metal structure. So there's my first tip, go in fairly good weather if you can and my second tip is to go at the beginning or end of day to do your best to avoid the crowds. The Hive is an impressive, curious structure from the outside, visible from all sides and protected by wild flower bankings. The silver metal, which in sunlight almost seems to have a rose gold hue, feels imposing but somehow still delicate with slender pieces holding together like a elaborate and arty giant Jenga and accented with glowing, flickering bulbs. If you enter the structure from the bottom you can look up to the people above visible through a Perspex walkway. It you enter the floor above, The Hive is all around you, glowing and buzzing with gentle music and then look up to see the sky above through the skylight and light streaming in through gaps in the structure. From all the Perspex and metal it's a reflective dream with light chaotically bouncing about so makes for wonderful photos with people becoming chic silhouettes against the backdrop. Take a seat on this level or even lie on the floor if you can and it becomes a gallery space with gentle sounds all around it's a meditative space. Enjoy the sensory experience of The Hive.

What a wonderful way to spend a lazy London summery Sunday afternoon.. walking around in Kew Gardens and checking The Hive out. Thankfully there were no thunderstorms this time, because the last time we tried to go, the Hive was closed due to weather conditions. It is an installation illuminated with 1000 LED lights that flicker at the times when the bees' communicate with each other in a real beehive. It gets crowded with visiting families but it is still a great and creative way to grab attention to and appreciate the bees and how important they are to the nature and human lives.

I have to say I was slightly underwhelmed with The Hive despite the amount of good press it is receiving. The concept is pretty impressive and the staff are informative and helpful. There were large crows which are too be expected but in the middle of all the hustle and bustle the beauty of what is going on kind of gets lost. Regardless of The Hive, any day spent wandering around Kew gardens is always a successful day spent.

Impressive structure and worth visiting but amongst the Kew Gardens there are far more impressive and beautiful areas to visit.

The Hive is a work of art that has come to Kew Gardens for a visit form Milan. It is an interactive piece and it is unique in that it allows the visitor to interact with bees. These bees are in a hive somewhere else in the gardens and their activity alters the look and sound of the installation.

It is an impressive structure from the distance. As you approach, it looks a little like a huge rectangular swarm of bees hovering over the park. When you get closer, you can see and hear its vibrancy and as you walk inside, it hums, throbs and gently changes colour with 1000 LED lights flickering. The work also contains an area where you can put a lollipop like stick into your mouth in order to mimic the method of communication of bees.

The Hive is both informative and interesting. It is also strangely relaxing in the way it filters the light as you sit inside sheltering form the sun on a warm London day. I would recommend not to rush through the artwork, it repays time spent there. The summer wildflower meadow on the walk up is beautiful too.

Despite the tempestuous and foreboding weather that is our English summertime, the brief glimpse of The Hive at Kew Gardens was an impressive one.

In spite of the thunderstorm and with a great deal of trepidation, we ventured into the base of the giant metal structure.

There are tubes which mimic the way bees communicate via vibrations, which was fascinating. We also managed to walk up into the open section but quickly retreated as the thunder intensified, the entire exhibit was closed for safety precautions shortly after.

I look forward to going back in sunnier climes to appreciate both the gardens and The Hive.

I was super excited to finally see the unveiling of The Hive, but unfortunately, there was an utter downpour on the evening I had tickets for. It's an impressive structure but definitely not one for a rainy day... they ended up closing the gardens.

As always Kew does not disappoint! The structure is amazing! I went on the preview evening and unfortunately the lightening and rain forced them to end our evening.

There is an interactive part where you put a small like piece of wood clenched in your teeth to feel the vibrations. I look forward to seeing it again on a less stormy day. It's included in your entry ticket so be sure and stop by!

The Hive is a stunning, atmospheric and large scale sculptural representation of a bee hive.  The piece buzzes with activity, be it the sound scape of bees, the flicking lights or the people enjoying it. The sculpture is situated in a beautifully landscaped wild flower garden which in turn supports bees. At this point in the season only a few flowers were out but I imagine when it reaches its peak it will be even more charming. The exhibit has staff on hand to explain more about the life of bees and the structures their hives take. There are also interactive elements which include putting a lollypop stick between your teeth, inserting it in a pole whilst placing your fingers in your ears. You’ll hear a short narrative about bees, sounds they make and the meaning behind it before hearing it yourself. The structure of the Hive is mesmerising. You can walk under it, around it and go into it. There are so many angles to capture and sounds to hear making this a wonderful addition to Kew Gardens. 

The Hive is an interesting huge metal structure; it is very innovative in educating us how bees communicate with each other using vibrations and buzzes; the Hive itself buzzes! There are special educational poles where you could mimic how bees suck nectar while listening to interesting facts about bees communications. At these poles, Pick up a wooden ice stick, put one end in your mouth and put another end at the metal slot on the pole, then block both of your ears, you could hear different bees buzzes and feel the vibrations. It was a shame that the staff had to close The Hive after a few minutes due to heavy rain... It is an open structure so it didnt protect the visitors fully from the elements.🙈