Walking Among the Canopy

The Treetop Walkway at Kew Gardens lifts you 18 metres above the ground into the canopy of some of the garden's oldest and tallest trees. The 200-metre walkway weaves through the upper branches of oaks, limes, sweet chestnuts and other mature specimens in the Arboretum, giving you a perspective on the trees that is impossible from ground level.

From the walkway, you can see the complex structure of the tree canopy up close. Branches, leaves, lichens and the wildlife that lives at this height are all visible in a way they never are from below. On clear days the views extend well beyond the gardens, taking in the Thames, the Syon House estate across the river, and the London skyline to the east.

Design

The walkway was designed by Marks Barfield Architects and opened in 2008. Marks Barfield are best known as the designers of the London Eye, and there are philosophical similarities between the two projects. Both are about giving people an elevated perspective on a familiar landscape, and both use minimal, elegant engineering to achieve it.

The structure is built from weathering steel, which develops a natural rust-coloured patina over time that helps it blend with the surrounding trees. The walkway is supported by a series of conical steel columns that taper at the base, designed to minimise their footprint on the ground and reduce the impact on tree roots. The design deliberately avoids touching any of the trees directly, instead weaving between them.

The steel mesh floor is perforated, which means you can see the ground 18 metres below your feet. This adds to the sense of height and immersion but can be unsettling for anyone uncomfortable with heights. The mesh also allows rain to pass through, so the walkway does not create dry patches beneath it that might affect the trees.

Seasonal Highlights

The walkway experience changes dramatically with the seasons, and repeat visits are rewarding throughout the year.

In spring, you are at eye level with the fresh leaf growth and can watch the canopy fill in over the course of a few weeks. Birdlife is at its most active, with species nesting and feeding in the branches around you.

Summer brings the full, dense canopy. The walkway feels enclosed by green on all sides, and the shade from the leaves makes it a pleasant walk even on warm days. The views beyond the trees are partially screened by foliage, which creates an intimate, forest-like atmosphere.

Autumn is arguably the best season for the walkway. The surrounding trees turn vivid shades of gold, red and copper, and you are right in the middle of it all. On still days, falling leaves drift past at canopy height, and the low autumn sun filters through the thinning foliage. In winter, the walkway offers a daytime counterpart to the after-dark Christmas lights trail that illuminates the gardens below.

Winter strips the trees back to their skeletal frameworks, revealing the architecture of branches and the wider views beyond. On crisp, clear winter days the panorama across London is at its widest, and you can see landmarks that are hidden by foliage during the warmer months.

Practical Information

The walkway is accessed via a spiral staircase at ground level and there is a lift for wheelchair users and those with mobility difficulties. It is open during normal garden hours and does not require a separate booking or additional payment.

The walkway is fully exposed to the elements, so it can be windy at the top and is closed occasionally during severe weather. There is no shelter along the route, so bring a jacket on unpredictable days.

Allow around 15 to 20 minutes for the walk itself, plus time for the ascent and descent. It is located in the southern part of the gardens in the Arboretum, roughly a 15-minute walk from the main Victoria Gate entrance.