Kew Gardens is introducing a £1 ticket in a bid to become more accessible to people on low incomes.
A visit to the 300 acre gardens in southwest London can cost almost £50 for a family of four but the new offer gives a cut-price alternative to people on Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
The gardens - which includes 14,000 trees, art galleries, exhibitions, playgrounds and glasshouses full of rare plants - issued a manifesto for change last year stating it wanted to be “accessible to a wide range of audiences”.
Richard Deverell, Director of the Royal Botanic gardens, Kew said: “We are really delighted to be able to offer more people a chance to experience the wonder of Kew and Wakehurst.
“We know what a wonderful thing it can be to enjoy a day out in nature and to explore the many corners of our gardens, take a picnic, listen to the beat of the wildlife and learn about the fascinating origins of some of our plants, many of which are extinct or threatened in the wild. I sincerely hope lots of people hear about this, avail of the offer and spread the word. Everyone is welcome.”
Kew is also introducing a £9 Young Person’s ticket for 16-24-year-olds and discounts for groups and visitors after 4pm in summertime.
The offer also applies to its sister site Wakehurst in Sussex.
The Royal Botanic Gardens were created in 1759 by Prince Frederick and Princess Augusta and made public in the 1898 by Queen Victoria.
It was recognised as a UNESCO World heritage site in 2003.
