My Chelsea Flower Show Survival Guide

The Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show is the highlight of the gardening year in Great Britain. Held during the third week of May in London, in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, it's billed as the greatest flower show on earth. The Chelsea Flower Show, or 'Chelsea' as it's known in horticultural circles, showcases the talent of the leading growers and designers of the moment. Prestigious, it most certainly is, but with full-day tickets costing over £100 each, it can be an expensive day out once you factor in travel, refreshments and inevitable spontaneous purchases. This guide will help you squeeze the maximum value and enjoyment out of your visit.

When is it on?

The 112th RHS Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by The Newt in Somerset, starts on Tuesday, 20th May 2025 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, SW3 4SR. What3Words ///parent.arena.spider will get you to the main entrance, known as the London Gate (A on the map below).

Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st are reserved exclusively for RHS Members when the show is open from 8 am to 8 pm. On Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd, the general public is welcome from 8am to 8 pm, with a special late event on Friday until 10 pm. On Saturday, the show opens at 8 am, with the infamous sell-off beginning at 4 pm. Pick up a prize-winning plant, but do have a plan to get it home. The show closes at 5.30 pm.

For tickets, visit the RHS website.

To help you get the most from your visit to the Chelsea Flower Show, here are my ten top tips:

Plan your visit - The RHS website is brimming with information, if a little slow to load. Here, you can purchase a show guide in advance, download a site map and learn more about the show gardens. I recommend listing the gardens and exhibitors you want to see most. Closer to opening day, the BBC's extensive coverage highlights all the key exhibits. Tickets go on sale up to a year in advance, and those for the RHS members-only days on Tuesday and Wednesday sell out first. If you plan to push the boat out and book a table at one of Chelsea's onsite restaurants, you'll need to do that on the day tickets are released, or you will miss out.
Dress appropriately - Although it's almost summer, May's weather can be capricious. The temperature can vary between single digits and the high-twenties centigrade. It's not uncommon to experience four seasons in a day, so it pays to be prepared for anything. Whilst it's fun to dress smartly for Chelsea - and many people make the effort - make sure you have stout shoes, a waterproof coat if rain is forecast, and a hat and sunscreen if it's bright. Layers are always a good idea, but umbrellas are useless as it's too crowded to put them up politely. Avoid open-toed footwear and light-coloured trousers on wet days as the pulverised bark-mulch used to reinforce walkways will stain them - it's not an ombre look you'll wish to cultivate! On warm days, the Great Pavilion can be oppressively humid so a hand-held fan is a blessing. Take a fold-away bag if you plan on collecting a show guide and making purchases.
Avoid the crowds - This is easier said than done! Arrive early - before the gates open at 8 am - and make a beeline for your 'must see' gardens or exhibits before a crowd develops. 8am can be the best time to see the show gardens on Main Avenue. Alternatively, wait until after 5 pm, when the coach parties depart, and the light is lower in the sky. This is a good time to take photographs. The Great Pavilion is often quieter first thing in the morning when everyone rushes to see the show gardens. The 3.30 pm-8 pm ticket is a good bet if you don't want to spend a whole day, but you'll mingle with many corporate guests as the evening wears on. The show is vast, so if you can't get a good view of your favourite show garden, go and see something else before returning later.
Bring your own - Take a bottle of water with you - there are refilling points around the grounds. Picnics are permitted: look out for the organised folk with traditional hampers securing their positions around the bandstand early in the day. Carrying a blanket will allow you to sit on the grass, as the number of benches is minimal. If you find a seat and appear not to be eating, people will hover over you until you move on, which is fair, but mildly intimidating! If you fancy lunch and haven't booked one of the on-site (i.e. expensive) restaurants, aim to eat early to avoid the queues and secure a seat. Head for the woodland glade area within Ranelagh Gardens, which is slightly more secluded and informal, but be prepared to play the whole 'loiter and lunge' game if you want to sit at a table. If you leave the showground, you cannot come back in, so going out for lunch isn't an option.
Ditch the baggage. Use the cloakroom near the exit for large bags and coats. Being hands-free makes the whole day far more pleasurable - I cannot stress this enough, as it's a mistake I make every year. A small bag that feels as light as a feather when you leave home will feel like it's filled with bricks by the end of your visit. If you can't travel light, take a small trolley case, leave it in the cloakroom and keep popping things in it at intervals. Toilet facilities are generally good, but queues do form at busy times of the day, especially for ladies, but also for gentlemen. Please don't leave it until the last minute and get caught short! The toilets are well-appointed and supplied with premium toiletries.
Be patient - If you're anxious to see a show garden and the crowd is ten deep, be patient and wait your turn to get a good view. People tend to take their fill and move on, so you'll get to the front surprisingly quickly. If you're after the perfect snap of your favourite garden, consider approaching it from different angles and watch out for gaudy RHS banners that will get in the way of your shot. Don't be afraid to ask questions of the exhibitors and volunteer helpers - that's what they are there for. The trend is for detailed information about show gardens to be offered via a QR code rather than printed leaflets - I am not convinced this is everyone's cup of tea, but it does save paper.
Take advantage of special offers - If you want or need something for your garden, many trade stands and nurseries offer special deals on purchases made at the show - it helps them recover the considerable cost of being there. You'll find deals on everything from greenhouses and gardening magazines to lily bulbs and ladders. However, this is not the show to pick up cheap and cheerful mementoes - most exhibitors are at the premium end of the scale with prices to match. Because of strict space limitations, very few plants are sold at the show, so don't take a trolley unless it's Saturday, when some plants are sold off. Many nurseries, for example, those offering roses, acers and hostas, will take advanced orders at the show and send your purchases later.
Stay connected - The sheer volume of people visiting the Chelsea Flower Show at any time means that phone and wifi signals can be weak or frequently non-existent. There is no public wifi. If you're enjoying the show with someone and think you might get separated, agree on a meeting place before you start exploring. Unless you're going to be taking lots of photographs, it's best to put your mobile phone away and enjoy the moment. There is nowhere to charge a phone, so bring a battery pack if you need a boost during the day or on the journey home. If you're expecting an important call, let the caller know you might be out of reach and not to panic.
Beware of the infamous Chelsea Cough - A persistent tickle in the throat is caused by showers of irritant fibres that rain down from the plane trees towering over the show gardens. The fibres cause a physical irritation, not an allergic reaction, so hayfever tablets won't make a difference. Wear a face covering if you want to avoid it, although the effects are short-lived. There are lots of flowers at Chelsea - surprise, surprise - and these attract bees, so if you are sensitive to pollen or stings, take sensible precautions.
Grab the best seat in the house. If you can't visit the Chelsea Flower Show in person or prefer not to, the BBC's coverage is a brilliant alternative. It reveals vantage points and insights you might not get as a visitor. Except for the license fee, it's free and available on demand.