Follies · London
Temple of Arethusa
In or near Tyburn.
Temple of Arethusa — Folly or eyecatcher.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 20 min–45 min
- Nearest railway station
- Kew Gardens · 0.4 km
- Paid entry
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the Temple of Arethusa, you can take the train to Kew Gardens station, which is 0.4 km away. Admission is free. The postcode for sat-nav is TW9 3AB.
About
Temple of Arethusa is a folly in London — built more for the eye than for any practical purpose, and a reminder of the British landscape's appetite for the eccentric. It sits within the Richmond Park parliamentary constituency. The nearest railway station is Kew Gardens, about 0.4 km away. Postcode area TW9.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2026
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
Details This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 05/10/2017 TQ 1876 10/2 ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS KEW Temple of Arethusa (Formerly listed as Temple of Arethusa, ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS) 10.1.50 II 1758. Sir William Chambers. A small Greek temple portico with two Ionic columns and two outer Ionic pillars. Pedimented with muted cornice and key pattern frieze. Listing NGR: TQ1880876908 Legacy The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Legacy System number: 434377 Legacy System: LBS
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Official information
The Kew Explorer is a land train that offers a gentle way to explore the Kew Gardens, showcasing its diverse living collection. The route includes several notable sites within the UNESCO World Heritage site, allowing visitors to enjoy the gardens comfortably.
Place summary
The Temple of Arethusa is a folly located in Richmond upon Thames, London, postcode TW9. This structure is noted for its classical design, contributing to the area's historical landscape.
AI-generated from the structured facts on this page (operator, designation, listing, era). Not a substitute for visiting.
- Coordinates
- 51.4787, -0.2908
- District
- Richmond upon Thames
- Parish
- Richmond upon Thames, unparished area
- Postcode
- TW9 3AB
- Parliamentary constituency
- Richmond Park
- Nearest railway station
- Kew Gardens — 0.4 km
- Opening
- Daily from 11am
- Official site
- www.kew.org
Sources
- osm: w555456345 (ODbL)
- commons: Temple of Arethusa, Kew Gardens 01.JPG (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Temple of Arethusa?
- Temple of Arethusa is in London, United Kingdom (postcode TW9 3AB), in the parish of Richmond upon Thames, unparished area.
- What is Temple of Arethusa?
- Temple of Arethusa — Folly or eyecatcher.
- How do I get to Temple of Arethusa?
- The nearest railway station is Kew Gardens, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode TW9 3AB.
- Is Temple of Arethusa a listed building?
- Temple of Arethusa is officially recognised as Grade II listed building listed.
- Is Temple of Arethusa free to visit?
- Yes, Temple of Arethusa is free to enter.
- How do I get to Temple of Arethusa?
- The nearest railway station is Kew Gardens, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode TW9 3AB.