Hey Topbird, good tip with the comfy shoes, I imagine it's a lot of standing around too!
Obelixx. I'm going on a members only day to Chelsea for 8.30am. Do you know if it is worth seeing certain areas in that morning time before 3.30 when it gets busier?
First, the show gardens, big and small. Then the floral pavilion so you can absorb the colours and perfumes and get up close to some of the most popular exhibits and also chat with the nurserymen and women as they're very happy to answer questions and hand out plant lists and/or catalogues so you can order plants if desired.
The only plants you can buy at Chelsea are some lily bulbs on the lily stand and seeds on some nursery displays and at the seed stalls in the shopping street.
There are also people selling decorative stuff including a chap who sells rusty iron peony supports which are also great for herbaceous clems but he sells out quite quickly so get in quick and ask him to keep them for you.
After that relax and see the show gardens again later on as the light changes and casts different shadows. It's a full day so take the time to relax and sit a while.
On a practical note, there's a Felco stand where you can get spare parts for your secateurs and they'll fix them if you bring them. Stands selling gloves at good deals, wellies, hand tools, clothing and so on.
Make sure you take your camera to help you remember memorable plants and combinations and gardens and, maybe, the odd gardening hero.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Been an ordinary member since 1989 and think it has evolved in leaps and bounds in terms of communication with members - improvements to magazine - plus projects and schemes and research to improve garden skills and knowledge throughout the community. Great stuff.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Thanks for the helpful tips, Obelixx. I'm going to Chelsea for the first time this year, on Wednesday.
It would be really helpful to be able to get the show guide in advance, to plan the day, but it only seems to be available during the show. It's really hard to get any information on whether a plan of the showground exists.
I'm guessing that 12 hours isn't going to be long enough... (Incidentally, I think it opens at 8, not 8.30.)
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Any advice, please, on which gate is the one to go in by? I'll be arriving at Sloane Square tube station and walking from there. There appear to be 2 gates, London Gate on Royal Hospital Road at the NW corner of the show ground, which is nearer to Sloane Square, and Bull Ring Gate at the S side on Chelsea Embankment.
Are both these gates used as entrances, please? And are there any others?
Thanks in advance.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Just follow the crowds out of the station and down the road to the main entrance by the Chelsea Hospital. There are police to guide people and help cross the roads.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Natbat, if you have even a whiff of hayfever or a similar allergy, take antihistamines with you. There are plane trees there and then of course lots of plants in flower.
Liriodendron, you'll definitely be fine just following the crowds.
Ring them for availablility. If you google it , there are lots of touts advertising tickets which may not be valid, at up to £1000.
Chelsea tickets
The prices below are for information only and do not indicate availability. Please check by calling 0844 3387502 (calls are charged at 7p per minute) before making any travel plans. Tickets are limited and RHS membership does not guarantee a ticket at member rate.
Posts
I like the more in-depth afternoon tv programmes as opposed to the evening ones.
Hey Topbird, good tip with the comfy shoes, I imagine it's a lot of standing around too!
Obelixx. I'm going on a members only day to Chelsea for 8.30am. Do you know if it is worth seeing certain areas in that morning time before 3.30 when it gets busier?
First, the show gardens, big and small. Then the floral pavilion so you can absorb the colours and perfumes and get up close to some of the most popular exhibits and also chat with the nurserymen and women as they're very happy to answer questions and hand out plant lists and/or catalogues so you can order plants if desired.
The only plants you can buy at Chelsea are some lily bulbs on the lily stand and seeds on some nursery displays and at the seed stalls in the shopping street.
There are also people selling decorative stuff including a chap who sells rusty iron peony supports which are also great for herbaceous clems but he sells out quite quickly so get in quick and ask him to keep them for you.
After that relax and see the show gardens again later on as the light changes and casts different shadows. It's a full day so take the time to relax and sit a while.
On a practical note, there's a Felco stand where you can get spare parts for your secateurs and they'll fix them if you bring them. Stands selling gloves at good deals, wellies, hand tools, clothing and so on.
Make sure you take your camera to help you remember memorable plants and combinations and gardens and, maybe, the odd gardening hero.
Been an ordinary member since 1989 and think it has evolved in leaps and bounds in terms of communication with members - improvements to magazine - plus projects and schemes and research to improve garden skills and knowledge throughout the community. Great stuff.
Thanks for the helpful tips, Obelixx.
I'm going to Chelsea for the first time this year, on Wednesday.
It would be really helpful to be able to get the show guide in advance, to plan the day, but it only seems to be available during the show. It's really hard to get any information on whether a plan of the showground exists.
I'm guessing that 12 hours isn't going to be long enough... (Incidentally, I think it opens at 8, not 8.30.)
Northerner requires help...
Any advice, please, on which gate is the one to go in by? I'll be arriving at Sloane Square tube station and walking from there. There appear to be 2 gates, London Gate on Royal Hospital Road at the NW corner of the show ground, which is nearer to Sloane Square, and Bull Ring Gate at the S side on Chelsea Embankment.
Are both these gates used as entrances, please? And are there any others?
Thanks in advance.
Just follow the crowds out of the station and down the road to the main entrance by the Chelsea Hospital. There are police to guide people and help cross the roads.
That's great thank, Obelixx.
Natbat, if you have even a whiff of hayfever or a similar allergy, take antihistamines with you. There are plane trees there and then of course lots of plants in flower.
Liriodendron, you'll definitely be fine just following the crowds.
Darren 636 if you want tickets RHS were saying there were some still available.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/tickets
Ring them for availablility. If you google it , there are lots of touts advertising tickets which may not be valid, at up to £1000.
Chelsea tickets
The prices below are for information only and do not indicate availability. Please check by calling 0844 3387502 (calls are charged at 7p per minute) before making any travel plans. Tickets are limited and RHS membership does not guarantee a ticket at member rate.