Kew Gardens tube station
District line · Zones 3 and 4 · Richmond
About Kew Gardens station
Market gardens and orchards surrounded the site when the London and South Western Railway opened this station in 1869 on its new branch to Richmond, which ran via Shepherd’s Bush and Hammersmith. District Railway trains arrived on 1 June 1877 over a new link from Hammersmith, and the District offered the most direct route to central London. From 1 January 1894, when the Great Western joined the Metropolitan’s Richmond service, passengers at Kew Gardens could travel with five different operators. The District paid to electrify the branch, completed on 1 August 1905, and by 3 June 1916 it was the only operator left on the Hammersmith route.
The station is Grade II listed, and a brass plaque records its reopening on 7 October 1989 by Michael Portillo, then Minister of State for Transport, after refurbishment. Just south stands a separately listed footbridge of 1912, built to replace a level crossing. It is a rare surviving example of reinforced concrete using François Hennebique’s pioneering method, with high walls to protect users’ clothes from steam-engine smoke; it was restored in 2004 in a project led by The Kew Society.
First and last trains from Kew Gardens
| Line and direction | Mon–Thu first – last | Friday first – last | Saturday first – last | Sunday first – last |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District towards Richmond | 05:37 – 01:01 | 05:37 – 01:01 | 05:37 – 01:01 | 07:24 – 00:03 |
| District towards Upminster, Tower Hill or Dagenham East | 05:34 – 00:54 to High Street Kensington | 05:34 – 00:54 to High Street Kensington | 05:34 – 00:54 to High Street Kensington | 07:26 – 23:55 to High Street Kensington |
Times are TfL’s published timetable departures from this station; on Saturday the list follows TfL’s “Saturdays and public holidays” timetable.
At the busiest hour on a weekday there are up to 7 District trains an hour per direction from Kew Gardens, counting both directions separately.
Next stations from Kew Gardens
Running times between Kew Gardens and the adjoining stations, from TfL’s timetable.
| Line | Next station | Time |
|---|---|---|
| District | Gunnersbury | 2.6 min |
| District | Richmond | 3.9 min |
Connections
- London Overground: Mildmay line.
Station facilities
What is near Kew Gardens station
For visitors, the station’s main purpose is in its name: the botanic gardens at Kew lie about 460 m to the west, and The National Archives about 550 m to the north-east. Right by the station, Kew Library is about 70 m away, St Luke’s Open Space around 240 m and Kew Art Studio about 250 m. The District line and the Overground’s Mildmay line share the platforms, with Richmond one stop away; bus route 110 also calls.
| Place | Walk from the station |
|---|---|
| Kew Library | 70 m |
| St Luke's Open Space | 240 m |
Frequently asked questions
Built in 1912 to replace a level crossing, it is a rare surviving reinforced concrete structure using the technique of French engineer François Hennebique. Its narrow deck and very high walls protected users’ clothing from steam-train smoke. It is Grade II listed in its own right and was restored in 2004 with Heritage Lottery Fund money.
Kew Gardens station is the closest station to the botanic gardens, which lie about 460 m (500 yards) to the west. The National Archives are also within walking distance, about 550 m (600 yards) to the north-east, so the station serves both.