Waterlily House
Step into a Victorian dream at the Waterlily House, home to colossal Amazon waterlilies and lush tropical flora. A small, atmospheric glasshouse gem.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Peak lily bloom & fewer crowds
Waterlily House
Best Time
Peak lily bloom & fewer crowds
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Step into a Victorian dream at the Waterlily House, home to colossal Amazon waterlilies and lush tropical flora. A small, atmospheric glasshouse gem.
"Small warehouse but definitely worth to see! My favourite warehouse among the four. Giant lotus leaf, crazy!!"
🎯 Check Seasonal Opening
This house is often seasonal. Always check Kew's website before your visit to avoid disappointment!
📸 Postcard Perfect Shots
The reflective pond and lush plants create stunning photo opportunities. Get creative!
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Giant Amazon Waterlilies
Main pond
Witness the colossal Victoria amazonica lily pads, some reaching nearly 3 meters wide. A true natural wonder!
Mirror-Like Pool
Main pond
The inky-black water is dyed weekly, creating a stunning, reflective surface that mirrors the lush greenery above.
Victorian Glasshouse Charm
The entire structure
Step back in time in this 1852-built glasshouse, a beautiful example of Victorian botanical architecture.
Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica)
Perimeter planting
A fun, interactive plant for all ages, its leaves fold up when touched. Kids love it!
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Seasonal Bloom Alert
Embrace the Atmosphere
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
🎯 Check Seasonal Opening
This house is often seasonal. Always check Kew's website before your visit to avoid disappointment!
📸 Postcard Perfect Shots
The reflective pond and lush plants create stunning photo opportunities. Get creative!
💧 Embrace the Humidity
It's a tropical environment inside! Be prepared for warm, humid air – perfect for the plants, maybe less so for makeup.
🚶♀️ Small but Mighty
Don't let its size fool you; this is a must-see. It's compact but packed with wonder.
Tips
from all over the internet
🎯 Check Seasonal Opening
This house is often seasonal. Always check Kew's website before your visit to avoid disappointment!
📸 Postcard Perfect Shots
The reflective pond and lush plants create stunning photo opportunities. Get creative!
💧 Embrace the Humidity
It's a tropical environment inside! Be prepared for warm, humid air – perfect for the plants, maybe less so for makeup.
🚶♀️ Small but Mighty
Don't let its size fool you; this is a must-see. It's compact but packed with wonder.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Visitors consistently praise the Waterlily House for its impressive giant lily pads and charming Victorian atmosphere, calling it a small but unmissable gem within Kew Gardens. Some note its seasonal nature and compact size, but the unique botanical display and photographic potential are widely celebrated.
"I never knew lily pads could get so huge! This was a very impressive greenhouse. It’s small but don’t skip it!"
Vanessa Becker
"Small warehouse but definitely worth to see! My favourite warehouse among the four. Giant lotus leaf, crazy!!"
Qiao Li
"Waterlily House is a small, but charming greenhouse Kew Gardens. Inside there is a pond of about 15 metres in diameter containing as the name of the glasshouse suggests, waterlilies, but also lotus, ferns, papyrus and others that I've got no chance of identifying.
The pond is surrounded by a perimeter of maybe half a metre wide to walk around and the pat is covered with all sorts of plants hanging from the ceiling. Everything looks so perfect, you'll have no trouble finding a postcard picture perfect photo."
macedonboy
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
The Waterlily House is located within the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. You can reach Kew Gardens via the London Underground (District Line to Kew Gardens station), Overground, or by bus. Once inside Kew Gardens, follow signs for the Waterlily House, which is often near the Palm House.
Yes, Kew Gardens has a car park, but it can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. It's generally recommended to use public transport if possible.
The Waterlily House has a perimeter path around the pond, which is generally accessible. However, the space is compact, so it's advisable to check with Kew Gardens directly for the most up-to-date accessibility information.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
No, entry to the Waterlily House is included with your general admission ticket to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
The Waterlily House has seasonal opening hours and is not open year-round. It's crucial to check the official Kew Gardens website for current opening dates and times before your visit.
The giant Amazon waterlilies (Victoria amazonica) are typically at their most impressive from August through September.
While you can't touch the giant lily pads, you can get very close to them. The Mimosa pudica, or 'sensitive plant,' nearby offers a fun, interactive experience where you can gently touch its leaves.
📸 📸 Photography
The reflective, inky-black pond is a prime spot for capturing stunning reflections of the lush greenery. The close-up views of the giant lily pads are also incredibly photogenic.
Yes, photography is generally allowed inside the Waterlily House. However, always be mindful of other visitors and avoid using flash if it might disturb them or the plants.
Given the often dim, humid interior, a camera with good low-light performance or a tripod can be helpful. Experiment with aperture to get sharp details on the lily pads and reflections.
🎫 🌿 Onsite Experience
Besides the star attraction, you'll find a variety of tropical aquatic plants, ferns, and papyrus. The Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant) is also a popular feature.
It can get busy, especially during peak season (August-September) and on weekends. Visiting on a weekday morning is often recommended to avoid the largest crowds.
The Waterlily House is a tropical glasshouse, so expect warm and humid conditions. It's designed to replicate the natural habitat of the giant waterlilies.
While there aren't typically frogs, you might spot a toad.
For Different Travelers
Tailored advice for your travel style
👨👩👧 Families with Kids
While the house is small, it’s manageable for little legs. The warm, humid environment might be a bit much for very young children on a hot day, so keep that in mind. It’s a perfect, contained stop within a larger visit to Kew Gardens, offering a memorable and educational moment for the whole family.
📸 Photography Enthusiasts
+1 Experiment with different angles and compositions to highlight the textures and patterns of the plants. Be prepared for lower light conditions inside the glasshouse, which can be challenging but also rewarding for creating atmospheric images. Consider bringing a tripod for sharper shots in dimmer light. The vibrant greens and the unique shapes of the flora offer endless creative possibilities.
🌿 Botany Buffs
The historical context of the 1852 glasshouse adds another layer of interest, highlighting Victorian horticultural achievements. Beyond the main attraction, the collection of tropical aquatic plants, ferns, and papyrus offers a rich display. The presence of the Mimosa pudica provides an opportunity to observe plant responses to stimuli. It’s a concentrated dose of botanical wonder in a historically significant setting.
Deep Dives
In-depth insights and expert knowledge
The Marvel of Victoria Amazonica
+1The sheer scale of these lily pads is astonishing, with some reaching up to three meters in diameter. Their undersides are a complex network of ribs, providing structural support. When in bloom, the flowers are equally impressive, opening at night and emitting a strong fragrance, though they only last for a single day, adding to their ephemeral beauty.
Visitors are often struck by the sheer size and the unique appearance of these aquatic giants. The house's design, with its central, deep pond and surrounding lush vegetation, creates an immersive experience that transports you to a tropical wetland. It’s a testament to Victorian horticultural ambition and a living display of nature’s grandeur.
Victorian Horticultural Ingenuity
+1The house features a large, circular pond, meticulously maintained to showcase the waterlilies. The inky-black water, dyed weekly, serves a dual purpose: it enhances the visual impact of the lily pads and flowers, and it helps to absorb solar heat, contributing to the warm microclimate within the glasshouse. This attention to detail highlights the scientific and aesthetic considerations of Victorian botanists.
Visiting the Waterlily House offers a glimpse into the history of botanical exploration and the development of specialized horticultural structures. It stands as a charming and historically significant part of Kew Gardens, demonstrating how these spaces were created to bring the wonders of the natural world to the public.
A Photographer's Paradise
+1Capturing the sheer scale of the giant lily pads is another photographic challenge and reward. Getting low angles can emphasize their size and texture, while close-ups reveal intricate details. The interplay of light filtering through the glass and the dense greenery creates a soft, diffused light that is ideal for plant photography.
Beyond the main attraction, the hanging plants and intricate details within the glasshouse provide ample opportunities for macro shots and capturing the overall atmospheric feel. The warm, humid environment, while perhaps less comfortable for the photographer, contributes to the vibrant, almost otherworldly look of the plants.
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