One of London’s most iconic attractions, the Palm House at Kew Gardens, is set to close for five years from 2027 as part of a landmark £60 million restoration project.
The Victorian glasshouse—home to over 1,300 tropical plants and the world’s oldest potted plant—will undergo its most ambitious upgrade in over four decades, with the aim of becoming the world’s first net-zero heritage glasshouse.
Built between 1844 and 1848, the Palm House has long been a symbol of British horticultural excellence and Victorian engineering. But time, heat and humidity have taken their toll. The structure is showing serious signs of deterioration, prompting urgent action to preserve both the building and its irreplaceable botanical collection.
The restoration will include the replacement of 16,500 single-glass panes with high-performance sealed glazing, installation of bespoke silicone gaskets to reduce heat loss, and a full transition from gas-fired heating to a modern air and water source heat pump system. Rainwater storage and irrigation systems will be upgraded, and Sir William Nesfield’s original ornamental garden layout will be restored.
Safeguarding the plant collection is central to the project. Kew’s horticultural team has already begun the delicate process of relocating specimens—including the 250-year-old cycad, which weighs over a tonne—to purpose-built temporary and permanent glasshouses. These facilities will maintain optimal conditions for the plants throughout the renovation.
The adjacent Waterlily House will also close during the works, which are expected to run until 2032. Planning permission has been submitted to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and funding is being secured through a mix of government support, private donations, and philanthropic partnerships.
Richard Deverell, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, described the project as “a pivotal moment” in the site’s history. “With sustainability at the core of our mission, this transformation will protect irreplaceable plants and serve as a beacon of what sustainable heritage can achieve,” he said.
For business travellers and tourists alike, the closure marks a rare opportunity to witness heritage conservation in action. Visitors have until 2027 to experience the Palm House in its current form, after which Kew Gardens will remain open with alternative attractions including the Temperate House, Princess of Wales Conservatory, and Treetop Walkway.