Located in Zone 3 of the London Underground, Kew Bridge Station is served by Overground and District Line trains from Richmond. The station was recently extensively refurbished.
The Q Theatre once stood opposite the station, where actors like Vivien Leigh and Joan Collins staged plays that later became West End hits. Also nearby is the quirky Kew Bridge Steam Museum, featuring a collection of Cornish beam engines.
The history of Kew Bridge Station
The railway station is located close to the Royal Botanic Gardens and London Museum of Water & Steam. It is also just a short distance from the football stadium and Brentford town centre. It is served by trains operated by South West Trains, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.
Initially a ferry ran across the River Thames at this point. The first Kew Bridge was built by Robert Tunstall, a Brentford businessman. It was dedicated to the Dowager Princess of Wales and her son George. It was a toll bridge, charging one penny for pedestrians and a shilling and sixpence for a carriage and driver.
It was replaced in 1782 with a second bridge by Tunstall’s son. This bridge had stone arches at each end with seven timber arches between them. It was a much more elegant structure than the previous bridge but it still had steep gradients on both approaches.
The second bridge lasted only 30 years. By the early 1800s it had become too narrow to cope with traffic, and the engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry was asked to examine the bridge and report on its suitability for widening. He found that it would be impractical to improve the gradients, and advised a replacement. A new station was also required. The WS&SWR had built a station at Kew Green, but the LSWR wanted to build a station at the western curve of the junction railway.
The station’s location
Located on the Hounslow loop line, Kew Bridge station is served by buses route 237; 267; 391 and night bus route N9. It can be easily reached from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in about 32 min.
The station is a short distance from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Gunnersbury Park. It’s also within walking distance of St Paul’s Cathedral, a Grade 1 listed building designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the English Baroque style.
Until 1759, a horse-ferry was the main crossing point across the River Thames near here. The ferries were operated for a century by the Tunstall family, who also owned a nearby limekiln business. The family sold their holdings in 1849, including the station, to the London and South Western Railway Company.
Today, the Grade II-listed large station building, designed by Sir William Tite, is largely unoccupied and disused. Efforts to have it restored are ongoing. In the future, it’s possible that the current resignalling project will allow trains to run between Feltham and Richmond via this junction.
The station is in Travelcard Zone 3, and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains. The entrance to the station is on the north side of the road. It has a steep stair linking the entrance at road level to platform level.
The station’s facilities
Located within the picturesque borough of Brentford in West London, Kew Bridge train station is an essential commuter gateway that offers seamless connectivity to a range of popular destinations. With an extensive selection of trains operating between the enchanting borough and its renowned surroundings, travellers can look forward to an unforgettable experience from start to finish.
Served by the Richmond branch of South Western Railway, this vital railway hub welcomes visitors from all over the country and overseas. Whether you’re looking for reliable train times or affordable Kew Bridge ticket prices, Rome2Rio can help you make your journey easier than ever.
A small number of taxis are available at the station for passengers on a day trip or sightseeing tour. You can find local taxi numbers on our disabled access map, or ask at the welcome desk for assistance. The nearest drop-off point is at the rear of The National Archives and adjacent to the designated accessible parking spaces. Please bring your blue badge.
Most of the station’s passenger traffic is outbound towards central London, but it also welcomes visitors to nearby attractions such as the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and the Duke of Northumberland’s sprawling Gunnersbury Park. Alternatively, you can visit St Paul’s Cathedral, an Anglican cathedral dedicated to Saint Paul the Apostle and designed in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren.
The station’s connections
Kew Bridge railway station is located in Travelcard Zone 3. It is operated by South West Trains and serves the communities of Brentford and Gunnersbury. The majority of the station’s passengers commute to central London, however, it is also used by visitors exploring nearby attractions such as the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, the Duke of Northumberland’s Syon Park and Gunnersbury Estate. The station is also home to the headquarters of Brompton, Britain’s largest bicycle manufacturer.
The station is served by Bus Route 110, which runs hourly to the nearby Richmond town centre. The buses are operated by London United. Alternatively, you can take the Metrobus service 65 to Elizabeth Gate or Lion Gate (see the TfL website for details).
If you are planning to visit Kew Bridge Station, Rome2Rio can help you find all the transport options available to you. Enter your journey details to get a detailed breakdown of your trip, including departure and arrival times. Rome2Rio will then display all matching transport options, making it easy for you to choose the best option.
If you’re travelling to Kew Bridge Station, it is important to book your tickets in advance. This can save you money on your journey, especially if you’re travelling at peak times. You can buy one-way or return tickets online or in the app.
