Kew Gardens Palm House £66m restoration and plant move
London's Royal Botanic Gardens Kew will close its Palm House in autumn 2027 for a £66m restoration, requiring the relocation of 1,300 tropical plants.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The world-famous Palm House at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London faces a massive makeover.
- The £66m restoration project is triggered by hot and humid conditions damaging ironwork and glass.
- Works will begin in autumn 2027, closing the glasshouse for up to four years.
- Teams must completely empty the building of 1,300 tropical plants and trees before work starts.
The world-renowned Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London is preparing for a landmark restoration project to overhaul its iconic Palm House. Decades of maintaining the intense hot and humid conditions required inside the Victorian glasshouse have taken a heavy toll on its historic ironwork and glass panels.
The extensive £66m restoration project is scheduled to kick off in autumn 2027. Consequently, the Palm House will be closed to visitors for a period of up to four years as conservationists and engineers undertake the complex task of repairing the aging structure.
Before any physical construction work can begin, the glasshouse faces a monumental logistical challenge. The interior must be entirely emptied, requiring the careful excavation and relocation of 1,300 tropical plants and trees housed within the structure.
Moving this vast collection of flora is a delicate undertaking, as many specimens are large, mature, and highly sensitive to environmental shifts. Horticultural experts must meticulously plan every step of the temporary relocation to ensure the survival of these invaluable botanical treasures.
Restoring a Victorian glasshouse of this magnitude involves balancing strict architectural heritage preservation with modern engineering needs. The constant tropical moisture required to sustain the exotic collection accelerates corrosion, making comprehensive overhauls vital while safeguarding rare species from shock during transit.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This major project will ensure that the historic Victorian masterpiece survives for future generations while upgrading safety standards across Kew Gardens. Once the four-year renovation concludes, the Palm House will reopen to welcome botanical enthusiasts and visitors from around the globe.
Source: BBC Science & Environment
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