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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Wednesday 8 December 2021

Christmas at Kew - More tickets now available

Fear Christmas might be cancelled again this year? Fear no more! If everything else is shutdown, this event may just survive and be the last one still standing.  

Join us for an exciting light show at Kew Gardens this Christmas as the magical winter trail lights up the evening skies.

Enjoy the after-dark festivities with friends, as you discover sparkling tunnels of light, dancing waterside reflections, and trees drenched in jewel-like colour on your way to the panoramic Palm House light display.  Walk under the stars and have a holly, jolly Christmas as seasonal sounds fill the air. 

Along the route, delicious independent street food vendors will offer tasty festive delights, from hot food and sweet treats to spiced winter warmers and hot chocolate. The detail of F&B stores is posted on the Kew website, click here.  

Kew has just released more tickets for our event date (as of Nov 26), if you would like to attend this event, I would recommend that you book asap.  Failing that,  there may be return tickets if you check the Kew website regularly closer to the event date.  

To attend the event:  please click here to book your ticket.   Book Lion Gate entry at 7pm.  The Lion Gate is 10-15 mins walk along Kew Road from Kew Gardens tube station.  Tickets cost £21.5 plus booking fee. 

Meeting place:  Lion Gate at 6:45pm for meet and greet before we go off at our own pace. 

Whatsapp Group:  It is likely the group will be separated along the path, I suggest we meet up afterwards somewhere towards the end of the path (at Victoria Plaza Cafe and Shops as an initial meeting place.  We may move to another place if Victoria Plaza is too crowded - see F&B map link above).  You are welcome to bring a bottle to share with friends.  I have set up a Whatsapp group for this event so we can co-ordinate on the day.  If you have a ticket and wish to be on it, please email swcsocialATgmailDOTcom with your mobile number, I will add you to the group.   

Additional Information 

Last year, during the height of pandemic when nobody was vaccinated, Christmas at Kew was open and fully booked. They had an one-way walking trail and required mask wearing. I think the chance of cancellation this year will be pretty small.  However,  if you are worried about cancellations due to Covid,  Kew Gardens has a policy of exchange/refund. For more information, please click here.  I would recommend booking with your credit card rather than a debit card as you will have a better consumer rights protection with a credit card.  You can also purchase an insurance protection at the checkout for a small fee. 

Please note if you decide to enter from another gate, you may not find the group easily if they run one-way system as they did last year.

If you come by car, street parking in nearby streets around the Lion Gate is free in the evenings or you can also purchase a parking space provided by Kew when you book your entry ticket.  For details of parking zone, please click here 







7 comments:

Lucilla said...

at least 10 walkers have booked

Lucilla said...

The Kew website now shows 'sold out' for 7pm. If you still wish to join the group, book the slot just before 7pm and wait for the group inside the gate.

Marion said...

Tickets now available for 7pm

Mike A said...

Apparently the number 65 bus stops at the Lion Gate (Kew Bridge to Richmond)

Lucilla said...

Yes, that's correct, No 65 bus runs from Ealing Broadway to Kingston along Kew Road. Is this a walking club or bus club? :)

Lucilla said...

13 assembled at Lion Gate on a w=chilly_but_dry night. 2 others had informed us that they were running late, so n=15. With the Covid restriction lifted, the place felt a lot more commercial than last year, with food & drink stores and shops dotted along the trail - a bit of distraction from the brilliant Xmas lights but, to be fair, added more festive feel to the place. The dramatic laser display with festive music completed the lights show near Victoria Plaza. Some got sprayed by the ‘lucky’ water from the fountain as the cold wind accelerated towards the end. A message from the above perhaps that we will be back to normal Xmas party next year (let’s hope). At Victoria Plaza, some succumbed to the cold weather and left. Six hardy ones remained to share some chocolates, homemade chocolate and cheese cookies, then went to sit down in the café (serving tea and coffee as well as mulled wine) inside the shop. Most opted for less intoxicated varieties. We also shared some photos and videos of the nights on the Whatsapp group. It was really nice to see everyone and Merry Xmas to all.

Mike A said...

🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳

🌲 For those of you who won't be able to go to the "Christmas at Kew" event, there's a few more pictures and videos at https://www.quitenear.me/Kew2021/ you may wish to take peek at 🌲

🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳