Kew Gardens September events: fungi, jazz and free tours
Kew Gardens’ main September programme runs from 5 to 29 September 2026 at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE. The first dated event, Silent Disco, starts at 7pm on 5 September. Prices and entry arrangements vary: several guided activities are free, while paid options include botanical art workshops from £115. Some sessions require advance registration.
The programme published by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew combines rarely seen scientific collections with music, gardening, art and wellbeing. Wakehurst in Sussex has its own September schedule of free runs, guided tours and exhibitions.
The Fungarium opens to visitors for the first time
Kew’s Fungarium is usually a working scientific collection rather than a public attraction. On 15, 22 and 29 September, visitors aged 18 and over can join Collections Manager Lee Davies for 45-minute tours beginning at 2pm.
The collection holds more than one million dried specimens, including material collected by Charles Darwin. Researchers use it to identify species, examine relationships between fungi and plants, study climate change and support work involving new medicines.
Another science-led option is the Hidden Worlds lichen tour on 14 and 28 September from 2pm to 3pm. Recommended for ages 12 and over, the walk uses hand lenses and guided observations to examine some of the roughly 200 lichen species recorded at Kew Gardens.
September dates for music, gardening and fitness
| Event | Confirmed date and time |
|---|---|
| Silent Disco, Temperate House | 5 September, 7pm–10.30pm |
| Richmond RUNFEST | 12–13 September |
| Gardening for beginners | 18 September, 10.30am–4pm |
| Jazz Cats Quartet | 24 September, 6.30pm–9pm |
| Temperate House Yoga | 26 September, 7pm |
| Fungarium tours | 15, 22 and 29 September, 2pm |
The Jazz Cats Quartet performs in the Nash Conservatory, with the concert beginning at 7.30pm. Its programme draws on Frank Sinatra, the Rat Pack and the Great American Songbook. Entry is through Elizabeth Gate.
Richmond RUNFEST gives runners access to routes through Kew’s World Heritage Site. A 10K takes place on 12 September, followed by the half and full marathons on 13 September. All races start at the Orangery, with entry through Elizabeth Gate.
The one-day beginners’ gardening course is for adults seeking practical instruction in soil preparation, plant selection and planting trees, shrubs and herbaceous species. It takes place in the Lady Lisa Lecture Theatre, reached through Jodrell Gate.
Wellbeing sessions among Kew’s plants
Forest bathing walks leave at 10.30am on 5, 12, 19 and 26 September. Participants meet outside Victoria Plaza 15 minutes beforehand and join guides from the Forest Bathing Institute for a sensory walk through the arboretum.
Sound baths run in the Nash Conservatory on 9 and 16 September, with sessions from 4pm to 5pm and 6pm to 7pm. Tai chi takes place in the Mediterranean Garden on 11 September, while the 26 September yoga session is held among the Temperate House’s rare and endangered plants with live acoustic music.
Free accessible tours require advance registration
A British Sign Language walking tour runs from 11am to noon on 13 September. A sensory tour for visitors with visual impairments and their carers follows from 2pm to 3pm, beginning at Victoria Gate. Both activities are free, include garden entry and require advance registration.
Kew’s dementia-friendly health walk is scheduled for 16 September from 11am to noon. The 60-minute volunteer-led walk also starts at Victoria Gate, includes free admission and requires registration in advance.
Art continues beyond the September programme
Henry Moore: Monumental Nature remains at Kew until 31 January 2027. The exhibition brings together more than 100 pieces, including 30 monumental outdoor sculptures and over 90 works on paper, models and smaller objects in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art.
The gallery also hosts Monumental Botanical Art, an exhibition examining plants through altered scale and perspective. On 13 September, Leigh Ann Gale leads an acorn-painting workshop from 10.30am to 4pm, priced at £115 for Kew members and £125 for non-members.
Free tours and Saturday runs at Wakehurst
Wakehurst’s September landscape includes purple smooth asters in the American Prairie, autumn produce in the Children’s & Community Garden and access to the Loder Valley Nature Reserve. Parkrun begins at 9am every Saturday and is free, although participants must register with Parkrun before attending their first event.
Volunteer-led garden tours run daily at 11.30am, with additional 2pm tours from Tuesday to Friday, subject to availability. Free Millennium Seed Bank Atrium tours take place at 2pm on Mondays. Visitors planning for October and winter can also consult the guide to autumn at Wakehurst.
There is no single price or entry arrangement covering every September activity. Visitors should check the listing for their chosen event, including its age limit, registration requirement and designated entrance; the named gates include Elizabeth, Jodrell and Victoria.
Source: Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Press and Media
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Dates, times, venues, prices and registration details were drawn from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew programme released on 21 August 2026.
- Matched individual event dates and times against the organiser’s September listing.
- Separated free activities from paid workshops and events with unspecified prices.
- Retained the stated age limits and advance-registration requirements.
- Checked the named gates and on-site venues for the featured activities.
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- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Press and Media
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- Kew, London
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- 2026-08-24 17:27
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