Security at Kew Gardens

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable time at Kew, so we have a number of security measures in place to protect our visitors and staff.

Exterior shot of the Temperate House

Our security team                                     

Kew Gardens Constables, our dedicated Kew Constabulary team, are on site 365 days a year to keep our visitors, staff and precious collections safe. 

The team are not only a friendly face; they are professionally trained to carry out vital security checks of visitors entering Kew, and to look out for anything suspicious around the Gardens and in our buildings.

Our team also work closely with other local security services and partners, including the police, and have state of the art technology to assist them.

Did you know? The Royal Botanic Gardens Constabulary was formed all the way back in 1845.

A photo of the Kew Constabulary response vehicle which is a black car with neon yellow stripes
Kew Constabulary response vehicle © RBG Kew

Arriving at Kew Gardens

Bag and some additional checks may be required when arriving at Kew, to ensure the safety and security of all our visitors. 

We don’t allow any items which are illegal in the UK to be taken into the Gardens, as well as items such as bikes and scooters. Please check our dos and don'ts for a full list of items not allowed in the Gardens, as well as other tips to ensure you have an enjoyable visit.

We do not have locker facilities at Kew so you should keep all your belongings with you throughout your visit. Any items left behind may be removed or destroyed.

Our Constabulary deal with all lost property in the Gardens. If you are missing something that you believe was lost at Kew please get in touch as soon as you can with your details and a description of the item. Our team will be able to let you know if we can get you reunited.

Stay alert

We ask all our visitors to stay alert and report anything that doesn’t seem right to a member of staff, no matter how small. All of our staff are security trained and will be happy to help.

Other ways to report suspicious behaviour

  • Report in confidence online at www.gov.uk/ACT
  • Call the police confidentially on 0800 789 321 
ACT: Actions Counters Terrorism

By playing your part and remaining alert, you’ll be doing your bit to help keep everyone safe. 

Get in touch

For security advice during your visit, please contact us (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm):

Call: +44 (0)20 8332 5655

Email: info@kew.org

Two women chat to each other amongst the greenery of the Palm House

Dos & don'ts

Help us to look after Kew Gardens and protect the plants and buildings across our UNESCO world heritage site.

Our full list of dos and don'ts