I’m a seasoned Chelsea campaigner with 30 years’ experience. And I don’t use the term “campaigner” lightly, for a day at Chelsea demands planning, stamina and guile in equal measure. The following tips will hopefully make your day easier and more enjoyable – because Chelsea can be exhausting, but it is also huge fun.
Getting there
The Chelsea Flower Show is sandwiched between The Embankment and Royal Hospital Road. The London Gate, on Royal Hospital Road, is a short walk from Sloane Square underground station on the District and Circle Lines. The shops in the area celebrate the flower show by decorating their frontages, and this spectacle should not be missed. Restaurants and coffee shops are in abundance around Sloane Square, and there’s a buzz of excitement in the air.
Victoria coach and train stations are a short walk away and you can get a bus from there. If walking from Victoria, head for the London Gate. It’s nearer than the Bull Ring Gate on The Embankment. Most taxis (if you can find one) will deliver you to the grander gate by the river however.
Ditch the glamour and travel light
Presenter Sophie Raworth can be seen sprinting round the showground in trainers when off camera, and you need to be wearing your comfiest footwear too. Strappy sandals and high heels will make the day a punishing experience and, in any case, no one will be able to see your feet.
The British weather is notoriously unpredictable, but umbrellas are not Chelsea-friendly unless you’re statuesque enough to rise above the throng. Go for a rain hat or a light packable mac instead.
Your bag will be searched at the gate, another reason to limit yourself to essentials. The most vital is a refillable water bottle which can be topped up in several places. Take sun cream and sunglasses, and a notepad and pen – far easier than a phone for taking notes in crowded spaces. The plane trees make everyone cough so, if you’re susceptible, bring some antihistamine tablets and tissues. Finally, declare your banana at the gate, otherwise you may be accused of carrying a gun! This happened to me once, but I did end up making close friends with a sniffer dog.
Make the most of your ticket
There are two types of ticket. All-day tickets give you access for 12 hours, from 8am to 8pm (8am to 5.30pm on the Saturday), and afternoon tickets run from 3.30pm until 8pm. It’s worth knowing that the busiest time is between 3.30pm and 6pm, when visitors overlap. This is a good time to take a break, and there are more seats in the bandstand area than anywhere else.
If you have an all-day ticket, it’s worthwhile getting to the show early if you can. Head straight to Main Avenue, where the eight major show gardens can be found. Don’t miss Tom Stuart-Smith’s garden celebrating almost 100 years of the National Gardens Scheme. It’s a fond farewell this year to Crocus, Stuart-Smith’s constructors, after 24 glorious years and 33 well-deserved gold medals. They will be sadly missed.
Ann-Marie Powell, one of the most lovable and talented women in gardening, is making a long-overdue return to Main Avenue with her wildlife-themed Octavia Hill garden, in conjunction with Blue Diamond and The National Trust. Many of the show gardens will be relocated after the show; Powell’s is off to Bridgemere in Cheshire, an RHS partner garden. Maggie’s Centre at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, will receive Stuart-Smith’s.
If you’ve got an evening ticket from 3.30pm onwards, the last two hours of the show, between 6pm and 8pm, are generally far quieter, so it’s a good idea to leave your garden viewing until then if possible. You’ll enjoy them more, because mellow evening light flatters the planting.
Start your visit with the Great Pavilion and don’t miss exotic and colourful highlights such as the South African flora on Leon Kluge’s exhibit (GPB028), and the tropical Caribbean flora of Tobago (GPF090) and Barbados (GPD065).
Traditional gardeners with a love of British flora shouldn’t miss Raymond Evison’s clematis (GPE070), beautifully staged by the man himself. The roses by David Austin (GPC046), Harkness (GPE071) and Peter Beales (GPF089) are always sensational as well, and you’ll find a mixture of sweet peas and dahlias on Darren Everest’s stand (GPC039). Your nose will lead you to Harts’s lilies (GPD052).
The award for the most colourful people should be given to Craig House Cacti (GPF095). They arrive in homemade cactus-inspired suits year after year and the visitors love it. These (and other regulars) make Chelsea special. The Plant of the Year and the six All About Plants gardens are also must-sees in the great pavilion.
If you love cut flowers, you’ll enjoy Creative Spaces in the great pavilion, and the more intimate Floral Creations. The theme is colour and many of the arrangements will feature British blooms. There will be fierce competition when it comes to the RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year.
If the gardens and pavilions are both busy, head off to the bandstand and picnic area. You’ll find lots of different types of food, provided by artisan makers, and hot and cold drinks, from a variety of teas and coffees to something a little stronger – Pimm’s is a popular choice. This is the best place to chill, or kill a little time, and get something to eat. You can also find food on Western Avenue. These are the two main areas for casual food, although you may be able to book the Ranelagh Restaurant and the Seafood Restaurant.
How to view the show gardens when it’s busy
Main Avenue is people-packed, but you don’t have to look at the gardens from the front. Slide down the sides instead and you’ll still get a great view, because the larger gardens are designed to be seen from every angle. Use Eastern Avenue (at the back of the gardens) as your main thoroughfare, because there are regularly spaced links to Main Avenue that will allow you to avoid the crush. Lots of lovely trade stands can be found on Eastern Avenue, including Betsy and Els’s laser-cut flowers straight out of a country garden. This is the place for seeds, tools, secateurs, soaps and fashion.
The quietest routes
Royal Hospital Way, where you’ll get a good view of the Royal Hospital, is also a quieter thoroughfare, and there are eight sanctuary gardens this year. Western Avenue is also quieter and you can cut through the floral marquee as well.
What to do if you get lost
There’s a meeting point up by London Gate and you’ll pass it if you come in that way – on the left. Make an arrangement to meet there if you get separated.
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