Gardens · London
Kew Observatory
In or near Thames Ditton.
Kew Observatory — a garden in england-london, United Kingdom.
Clive Warneford — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2.5 h
- Best time of year
- Spring & summer (Apr–Sep)
- Nearest railway station
- Richmond · 1.2 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Kew Observatory, the nearest railway station is Richmond, which is 1.2 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is TW7 6BD. Entry details are not provided, so please check in advance for any potential fees or accessibility information.
About
Kew Observatory is a garden of interest in england-london, United Kingdom — drawn from open-data sources for visitor reference. See the linked Wikipedia article for the full description.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
The King's Observatory, established in 1769 by King George III, is located in Old Deer Park, Richmond. It features a historical landscape designed by Capability Brown and served various educational and scientific purposes during its history, including the observation of astronomical events.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
The King's Observatory (called for many years the Kew Observatory) is a Grade I listed building in Richmond, London. Now a private dwelling, it formerly housed an astronomical and terrestrial magnetic observatory founded by King George III. The original design by architect Sir William Chambers influenced the architecture of two Irish observatories: Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland, and Dunsink Observatory near Dublin.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The observatory was completed in 1769, in time for King George III's observation of the transit of Venus that occurred on 3 June in that year. It was located close to Richmond Lodge, the country residence of the royal family between 1764 and 1771. In 1842, the by then empty building was taken on by the British Association for the Advancement of Science and became widely known as the Kew Observatory. Francis Ronalds was the inaugural Honorary Director for the next decade and founded the observatory's enduring reputation. Responsibility for the facility was transferred to the Royal Society in 1871. The National Physical Laboratory was established there in 1900 and from 1910 it housed the…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.4689, -0.3147
- District
- Hounslow
- Parish
- Hounslow, unparished area
- Postcode
- TW7 6BD
- Parliamentary constituency
- Brentford and Isleworth
- Nearest railway station
- Richmond — 1.2 km
- Official site
- www.kingsobservatory.co.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q3348489 (CC0)
- wikipedia: King's Observatory (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Sheen Priory
Abbeys & priories · 0.2 km
Sheen Priory
Archaeological sites · 0.2 km
Old Deer Park
Parks · 0.3 km
Three Obelisks on river bank of River Thames
Forts · 0.3 km
Isleworth Ait
Forests & woodlands · 0.4 km
Syon Park Boathouse The Pavilion
Historic houses · 0.4 km
The London Apprentice
Historic pubs · 0.5 km
Mill Bridge And Basin
Historic bridges · 0.6 km
Glossop Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 0.7 km
Richmond Lock and Footbridge
Canal locks · 0.8 km
Bijou Theatre
Theatres · 0.8 km
Meridian Line Marker
Viewpoints · 0.9 km
Nearby
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Isleworth Ait is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.
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Syon Park Boathouse The Pavilion — a Grade I-listed historic house in england-london, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Kew Observatory
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Kew Observatory?
- Kew Observatory is in London, United Kingdom (postcode TW7 6BD), in the parish of Hounslow, unparished area.
- What is Kew Observatory?
- Kew Observatory — a garden in england-london, United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Kew Observatory?
- The nearest railway station is Richmond, about 1.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode TW7 6BD.
- Who owns Kew Observatory?
- Kew Observatory is owned by Crown Estate.
- How do I get to Kew Observatory?
- The nearest railway station is Richmond, about 1.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode TW7 6BD.