Autumn at Wakehurst: Your guide to the 2026 season events

Name: Autumn at Wakehurst
Start: 2026-10-02
End: 2027-01-02
Location: Wakehurst

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-20 09:56 2 min read

Lush green park landscape featuring trees with vibrant autumn colors under blue skies.

As the landscape at Wakehurst in Ardingly, West Sussex, shifts into its seasonal display of reds and golds, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew has announced its programme of events running from 2 October 2026 through to 2 January 2027. The schedule offers a mix of outdoor cinema, family-focused nature trails, and the return of the annual winter light festival.

Seasonal highlights and event dates

The programme is designed to engage visitors with the changing environment, from the emergence of fungi in the woodlands to the festive atmosphere of the winter season. Key dates for your diary include:

Outdoor Cinema: 2–4 October. A series of screenings featuring Halloween favourites and family-friendly films.
Wallace & Gromit: Fantastic Fungi Trail: 17 October – 1 November. An interactive trail designed for families to explore the local fungi landscape.
Glow Wild: 26 November – 2 January 2027. The annual winter lantern trail returns with the theme ‘In Search of Nature’s Gifts’.
Henry Moore and more: Open now until 23 May 2027. An exhibition featuring iconic sculptures curated in partnership with the Henry Moore Institute.

Practical planning for your visit

Wakehurst is open daily, though operating hours change as the season progresses. Until 24 October, the site is open from 10am to 6pm, with last entry at 5:30pm. From 25 October onwards, the closing time shifts to 4:30pm, with last entry at 4pm. Please note that on the evenings of Glow Wild, the gardens close at 3pm to prepare for the light trail.

Autumn at Wakehurst: Your guide to the 2026 season events

Entry fees vary depending on your membership status. Adult day entry is £18.50, with reduced rates for young people (17-25 years) at £9.25 and children (5-16 years) at £4. Children aged four and under enter for free. Specific activities, such as the Wallace & Gromit trail booklet, may carry an additional cost for non-members.

Ongoing activities and community access

Beyond the seasonal events, the site continues its regular programming. Parkrun takes place every Saturday morning at 9am, and the Millennium Seed Bank Atrium offers guided tours on Mondays at 2pm. The Elizabethan Mansion remains open for exploration, with new exhibition spaces detailing the history of the site and the scientific mission of the seed bank. For those visiting with dogs, the gardens remain dog-friendly, offering designated off-lead areas and refreshments at the onsite cafes.

For further information on booking tickets or to enquire about the Community Access Scheme, please refer to the official Kew website. As event tickets for specific activities like the outdoor cinema and Glow Wild are limited, early booking via the official Kew website is recommended to ensure availability.

Source: Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Press and Media

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Details confirmed against the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew 2026 autumn press release.

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