The Japanese Pagoda

I’m a member at Kew Gardens, and I have never been up the Pagoda. I go regularly, and I say to myself, maybe one day. Usually, I use the Pagoda to get my bearings when I visit Kew Gardens.

I wasn’t planning on climbing up the Japanese Pagoda on my last trip to Kew Gardens, but the day was bright, warm and sunny. It was too good an experience to miss. They don’t usually open the Pagoda in March, but they’ve been trialling it whilst the Orchid Festival was on. Last entry was 3.30 pm.

The Japanese Pagoda

It’s not even Japanese; William Chambers' trip to China inspired it. He was a leading figure in the Chinoiserie style in Europe.

It was built by Chambers in 1762 as a gift for Princess Augusta. It is 50 metres high, or 10 storeys. It is a striking structure in the Gardens. It is a Grade I listed building.

I can imagine how distinctive it must’ve looked in 1762 because it’s very impressive today.

Why is it known as the Japanese Pagoda if it’s got nothing to do with Japan? It’s probably because it’s located near the Japanese gardens, even though it’s technically closer to the Chinese medicinal plants.

The Original Windows

We were told not to lean out of any open windows and to keep our mobiles and belongings from falling out, as this could cause structural damage and potentially hurt someone below.

Plus, the windows are original. What I love about the Pagoda are the beautiful dragons on each level.

Due to the weather, the original ones were damaged and removed in 1794. There are 80 dragons, but they are not the original. The ones we see today were painstakingly recreated using the original specifications. They were absent for centuries.

Interestingly, over time, the Pagoda fell into disrepair. In 2006, it underwent restoration and reopened in 2018. Right now, opening times are limited on certain days, and they end at 3.30 pm. The Pagoda will reopen full-time in April as the weather improves.

Timed Entry

I bought my ticket at the bottom of the Pagoda. There’s a little reception desk, and it's a card-only payment. It cost

£4.50 on top of the Kew Gardens entrance. Members get a 10% discount.

Thankfully, entry is timed so there’s no two-way traffic of visitors going up and down the spiral staircase.

Otherwise, it would be a nightmare. There were 253 steps from the ground floor to the viewing gallery.

Up The Spiral Staircase

I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone with mobility issues. The staircase is not for the faint-hearted. Even though there are benches on some floors, you don’t have much time to sit for long because you only have 30 minutes from start to finish.

Kew Gardens

It is a large laboratory set in a garden. It covers an impressive 330 acres, and is home to over 50,000 plant species and a range of historic buildings, gardens, woodlands and other natural gems.

It’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, recognised for its contributions to botanical science and for its 18th- to 20th-century garden design.

It wasn’t always this big. The garden was established in 1759 by Princess Augusta. She was the mother of George III. Back then, it was only 9 acres, and it had grown significantly over the years.

Parting Comments

As there weren’t many people in my timed group, we could climb up at a relatively slow pace. It took me 10 minutes to climb up the stairs. I spent a couple of minutes on each floor and headed up to the viewing galley, which has the best views. I could see the Shard from the top.

With over 1.35 million visitors each year, I can see the Pagoda being popular. I would definitely recommend the Japanese Pagoda if you have no mobility issues.

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