Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Fees and Charges

Mr. Maude
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the retail prices for (a) entry and (b) guided tours have been reduced at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew as a result of the December 2008 reduction in value added tax.

Huw Irranca-Davies
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew reviews its prices regularly, using other, similar visitor attractions as a benchmark. Initial plans to raise entry prices by 50 pence for this year have now been deferred, with prices held instead at 2008 levels. This is to reflect the recent reduction in value added tax.

Guided tours at the Royal Botanic Gardens are either free of charge or specifically priced to meet individual customer requirements.