Chelsea Flower Show

Wife and I were there on Thursday. It was packed solid by 11 am. We got there at 9:00 and and lots of people there, but we could still walk around. By noon, there were no open seats at the food places. The line for the women’s bathroom was 50 women long. It was a like walking in Venice when 3 cruise ship show up.
also, it was hot! This week, London is experiencing a heat wave.
But we were able to see most/all of it in one day.
But this was a bucket list item for my wife, and were are glad we attended.

I’ve been twice. After the first time, many years ago now, I vowed never to return. I found it very busy and more about being seen than having any actual interest in gardening.

Two years ago I got the opportunity to work as a volunteer on one of the show gardens, which had been developed with a charity I am involved with. That was a wonderful experience engaging with lots of interesting people with a genuine engagement with the garden. But that experience is obviously not open to most people.

Clearly many hundreds of people really enjoy the show or it wouldn’t be as busy as it is. But I would personally suggest another RHS show would be better.

I've only been once, but yes, it was VERY crowded. In American terms, it was like the Magic Kingdom on July 4. But as an avid gardener, it was at the top of my horticultural bucket list, and im so glad I went. I arrived at opening and as above, it didn't seem to get really crowded til late morning. Fortunately I visited the show gardens first, while you could still see them easily. And saved my shopping til the end ( the watercolor paintings still hang on my bedroom wall).

If I ever get the chance I would love to visit some of the other RHS Gardenn shows and festivals - especially the one at Hampton Court.

There are garden party tours that are available during the time of the Chelsea Flower Show. Maybe some one on this site has gone to some and can let the rest of us know whether it is worth looking into them.

I've been a couple of times in recent years, and we're planning to go again next year. I enjoyed the atmosphere, but yes, extremely crowded.

We didn't go this year, but we did head to Chelsea last week to enjoy the garden and floral displays around rhe shops - one of rhe shopkeepers told us Thursdays are usually quieter.

On a gardening note, we also visited Sissinghurst- that was beautiful.

I’ve been twice.

Both times we joined the RHS and went on members Day. I strongly recommend that.

I went the first time because my mother wanted to go, and I had no desire to go and ended up spending eight hours there. I loved it. It was great fun

My suggestion is to get in line at about seven or eight in the morning be among the first people and go directly to the show gardens and then tour the rest of the place.

it’s Disneyland with flowers would be a good way to describe it

I’m seriously thinking about going again in another couple of years because it just has so many great memories

We went in 2022 and really enjoyed it. Yes it is crowded, but it’s ticketed so there is a limit to how many people they allow in. I’ve heard if you go during a weekday it’s less crowded (we went on a Saturday).

The Saturday does get busy especially in the afternoon when the plant see off stars but I think it’s pretty much the same during the week. We were there in 2024 on both the Tuesday and Wednesday and it was very busy both days.

My husband and I just returned from London and went to the Chelsea Garden show on the 20th, members day. It turned out to be a good decision. The membership not only allows you to visit before the public, but you also get access to get gardening advice throughout the year. In talking to some of the vendors at the show, they mentioned that there are less people at members day as the show wants members to have a good experience.

As a member, we arrived about 8:30 and there were no lines to get in. We stayed to 3:30 p.m. It became progressively more crowded as the day progressed. However, we were able to get seats at noon for lunch, bathroom lines were short, and we had access to many of the garden representatives to ask questions. My friend went on the 22nd and she said it was a madhouse, long lines for the bathrooms, crowds, and it was difficult to see all the gardens.

After the show, we went to Chelsea in Bloom. I would recommend if you want to see Chelsea in Bloom go early in the morning before the Chelsea Garden show. In the late afternoon, it was packed and there was a very long line to get to the tube at Sloane Square.

I went two years ago on a Friday. It was super crowded, but I didn’t have any problems seeing anything. It was a wonderful experience.

I will say food and drink at the show is very expensive.

I’ve been to Chelsea several times. The plants are perfection. I started looking for damaged leaves or flowers that weren’t properly formed and the like. I could not find one, and in the end I was looking quite hard.

It does get very busy. We aimed to arrive around opening time (8 am ??) and see the show gardens first. Food and drink was expensive and, as I recall, there was no re-entry to the show once you had left.