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Getting close to..CHELSEA
Me not attending but will be watching on TV really enjoy all the programmes
There is a garden Chelsea starting next Monday evening on TV about the amateur gardener competing for a show garden space
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I'm going for the first time this year on the Thursday. Very excited indeed. Also going to Hampton Court. I've booked the day off work specially and am trying to work out the best bag/bags to take for all the goodies I'll no doubt be tempted by. Maybe all us GW forum peeps should wear some badge or something so that we can say "hi" to each other
Gillian, the most important thing is, SENSIBLE SHOES. And brace yourself for crowds, crowds and more crowds.
I gave up on Chelsea years ago because they just sell too many tickets.
I cant stand crowds and being jostled, so I don't go.
I watch it on TV
I would go if I could get tickets for that champagne preview that the rich and famous who know nought about gardening seem to get free tickets for.
I really think the RHS should allocate some tickets for that to long time members. How about a draw for people who have been members for more than 20 years?
I will definitely wear sensible shoes and I'll be taking my own lunch so that I don't have to queue for ages and pay a fortune for food. There's a bus that picks me up from my village bus-stop and drops me back so it'll be easy getting there. The only other big show I've been to is the GW Live at Bham - went a couple of times and really enjoyed it.
Every year with my (late) Mother for over 20 years we were going to Chelsea, never went same with my Husband, went a couple of years ago, never again. It was expensive in spite of my RHS membership., didnt help it was pouring with rain. But I have dogs, and a big garden, so that wasnt the biggest problem, I accepted that. We were trying to look at items in the tents and people in High Viz jackets were making us move along, so we didnt get to see, a lot of the people at the stalls were unhelpful, rude, disintered in speaking to us. Been to Hampton Court many times much better all round.
Chelsea - went once and it was very busy.
Hampton Court - was better than Chelsea.
GW Live - thought it was the best of the three. Lots of indoor and outdoor things to see. Bought lots of plants on the day.
Remember to wear comfortable footwear, and also take a trundle for your purchases.
Have never been tempted by Chelsea - it's often cold and wet and everybody moans about the crowds and not being able to see things. If I'm paying that much money I like to be able to take my time, examine the best gardens in detail, take photos etc. I am also short so trying to see things in big crowds doesn't really work.
Hampton Court is lovely (if a little tiring - it's a BIG site) and the show gardens are very good. Less keen on GW although it is less formal and a bit more fun.
Even with good weather I would not be tempted back to Chelsea, and I waited over 30 years to go.
Interesting to learn of different opinions on the big garden shows. As I live in the north west I have only been to the RHS Tatton show - just the once. Had the same experience as some of you are commenting here - crowded, expensive, tiring.... Had thought that one year I would venture to Chelsea and/or Hampton Court, but would have to overcome my dislike of crowds and queues :-/ I won't be going this year so will make a date with my TV for the week - really enjoy the coverage and probably get to see more and better informed than being there.
We went to Chelsea on RHS members day, imagining it would be quieter, in wasnt, even with the rain. Hampton Court is so big, it never feels crowded, it is a much better layout all round. Forget tiring, you spend the day, sit on the grass and rest. You can have a little trip on the river bus which is fun. Last time we did go on Members Day, mid week, but previous years before we joined the RHS were never horribly busy. I also felt that at Chelsea, there was a lot of items for sale (ridiculously expensive) and not a lot to do with gardening. Plants for sale were very reasonable at Hampton Court. Went on the train, shame we didnt take the car, but it is a long drive from here.