Great Pagoda — Attraction in London

We're the idiots?

Let me set the scene. We had no intention of walking up the Pagoda but after discussing how we would set it out as a house, my girlfriend and I decided to pay for 2 tickets. I've decided it is best to leave this review as a transcript of our interaction when buying tickets. Setting the scene: We are directed to the ticket desk by the friendly woman outside. We walk up to the ticket desk where there man behind is in conversation with another person. He ends the conversation and looks in our direction.

Us: Two tickets please.

(Man types on the screen and then nonchalantly waves at the card machine.)

We pay.

Receipt and tickets prints. The guy makes a deal out of this. Perish the thought of having to operate the till at work.

Hands tickets over.

Us: Thank you (At this point the man has still not said a work).

We go to walk up the stairs.

Him (He speaks! Although like I said, he was having a conversation as we arrived so we already knew that.): You can't go up yet.

We look at him, a bit miffed by not being able to walk about something we have just paid for: Why?

Him: Your tickets are for 3:30pm.

(Not sure how we were meant to know that.)

Me (not knowing the time as it's a Sunday afternoon and also now quite irritated by this fool): Fine, we'll just take a refund then.

Him (Looking at us like we're idiots): It's only 3 minutes away. There is a queue outside. (No one is in the queue and it's not busy).

After 3 minutes a friendly woman lets us walk up.

The End

Let me get this straight, at no point did you speak to us until we tried to ascend, you didn't vocalise the ticket price, you didn't say "£9 please", you didn't say "thank you", you didn't tell us there were allocated times, and yet when we try and enter you look at us like we're idiots for not knowing the exact time. If you're too good to work in the beautiful Pagoda at Kew gardens, go and get a job somewhere else, preferably away from the public.

Great views though and Kew gardens...

We looked foward to going into the Great Pagoda, but it's really more impressive on the outside than it is inside. Me and my wife climbed to the top and said, in unison, "Is that it?!!".

You need to book for an access slot, but curiously, the online system showed the pagoda as being fully booked when we enquired at the information desk, whereas the ticket office gave us a time without any problem. When we got to the pagoda the staff there said it was a very quiet day - go figure, lol!

There were a number of guides ready to answer questions, although they looked uncomfortable in the period dress that they were wearing - this clothing choice seemed unnecessary and even a bit odd, but they did know their stuff. BTW, the Great Pagoda is managed not by Kew Gardens, but by the Historic Royal Palaces (along with the Tower of London etc...), and you pay a charge to them, over and above the Kew entrance fee.

The climb up the circular staircase isn't too taxing, being broken into levels (NB, no disabled access), and the views over the site are great. Having said that, there isn't much to see inside the building, it's very bare - I would have liked there to be much more in the way of reading matter...

The Pagoda, designed by Sir William Chambers and completed in 1762, beautifully encapsulates the charm of East Asian architecture that inspired its creation. It is adorned with 80 wooden dragons as symbols of strength.

Climbing the spiral wooden stairs with 253 steps to the top of this historic, 10-story, 263 years old structure, standing nearly 50 meters tall, was a rewarding experience. The panoramic views of London from such a unique vantage point are undoubtedly breathtaking.

What a memorable experience to share with my 10 year old son, who was keen on climbing the stairs!! It was engaging for him as he looked through the windows to spot various London landmarks.

If you have only short time or older people or children under the age of 5, skip it and go for tree top adventure instead which has lift too.

Tickets cost £4.50 per adult with some discount for Kew members. Great Pagoda is in the Kew Gardens and entry tickets to Kew Gardens is...