Iconic London attraction will close for years during £60,000,000 upgrade

The Victorian glasshouse at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew will close to visitors during a major refurbishment in a bid to boost energy efficiency.

Built in the 19th century, Kew’s iconic Palm House in west London attracts millions of visitors each year who come to visit the thousands of rare tropical plants, such as the world’s oldest potted plant.

But the Palm House and its sister glasshouse, the Waterlily House, need urgent repairs after ‘serious signs of deterioration,’ Kew has warned.

Plans are now going ahead for a £60 million upgrade designed to make the buildings more energy efficient by replacing thousands of glass panes and the creaking pipes.

While the Palm House and Waterlily House will close eventually when the works start in 2027, visitors will still be able to see the plants as Kew is erecting a temporary and a new permanent greenhouse.

Inside the Kew’s upgrade plan

Each year, 2.4 million people flock to see the 1,300 plants, which are housed in a balmy 28°C all year round.

The optimal conditions are maintained by the gas-fired boiler system and pipes – once state-of-the-art when the Palm House was built between 1844 and 1848.

But, they have since worn-out.

An application to replace the the heating system, as well as make several other changes and make the Palm House entirely carbon neutral, has been submitted to Richmond borough council.

Other changes outlined in the application are:

• A total of 16,500 glass panes being replaced with high-performance sealed glazing

• Silicone gaskets will be installed to reduce heat loss, while a fully electrified air and water source heat pump system will also be installed

• Rainwater storage will be enlarged and the irrigation system will be upgraded

• The Victorian materials and finishes will be conserved, the Royal Botanic Gardens said

• Sir William Nestfield’s original garden layout will also be restored

Tom Pickering, the head of glasshouse collections at Kew, said: ‘At the heart of this project is the need to protect the extraordinary plant collections housed in the Palm House and Waterlily House.

‘Besides being beautiful, many have cultural, scientific and conservation value, and replacing these collections is unimaginable. Achieving net zero in these historic buildings is an unprecedented task; it’s a complex challenge which must consider the interplay of horticulture, climatic control, engineering, and architecture.’

Before the works can start, Kew is seeking funding for the project at the Grade I-listed buildings to prevent the heritage from being ‘lost forever.’

Richard Deverell, the director of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, said: ‘This is a pivotal moment in the history of Kew. With sustainability at the core of our mission, this project exemplifies our commitment to safeguarding both the environment and cultural heritage.

‘The transformation of the Palm House and Waterlily House into net-zero icons will not only protect irreplaceable plants but serve as a beacon of what sustainable heritage can achieve.’

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