Chelsea Flower Show Tickets Guide

Here’s our Chelsea Flower Show guide: we tell you what to see, where to eat, what to wear, and most importantly, what’s horticulturally on-trend.

There’s nowhere quite like the Chelsea Flower Show 2022 With so many colours and patterns on display – and we’re not just talking the gardens – it’s a visual feast.

With the chance to admire both innovative gardening ideas and show-stopping creativity, the RHS is the pinnacle of garden design. It’s an opportunity for Londoners to drink and talk; see and be seen, and for horticulturalists from all over the country to gather.

With so much on show, it can all be rather daunting, so here’s our guide on how to buy Chelsea Flower tickets and what the show has to offer.

Chelsea Flower Show Dates

Chelsea flower show hospitality
Chelsea flower show hospitality

When is the Chelsea Flower Show? Chelsea Flower Show 2022 now runs from the 24 to the 28th May. Tickets always sell out to the gardening event of the year buy yours now.

Best Day To Go To The Chelsea Flower Show

The opening day is Monday when the show is opened for the Queen’s visit but the public cannot get in. The first two days are the best days to attend which are members VIP days when the general public cannot get in, we can obtain tickets for these days. The public days are more crowded and very busy, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Finding your way around

For the uninitiated, navigating the biggest and best flower show in the UK can be overwhelming. With over 500 exhibitors from around the world, it’s worth picking up a Chelsea Flower Show map and doing a little advance planning — though there’s much to be said for stumbling across some of the RHS’ more intimate displays.

When you enter through the London Gate on Royal Hospital Road, you’ll first come to the Eastern Avenue, spanning the length of the show. Flanked by trader on trader, wander along the avenue and have a look at the crafts and goods are on sale, with offerings ranging from artisan soaps to bespoke wellies to hand-crafted garden and home ornaments.

From here, you can make your way around the exhibits: to the left are the Ranelagh Gardens, where the Artisan and Fresh Gardens are situated, and to the right are the Show Garden and Grand Pavilion, which is where the real pomp and excitement awaits.

Who’s in Season?

Where past Flower Show design winners mingle with new talent. Don’t miss multi-award-winning designer gardens. Inspired by who knows what but the creative genius is a sight to behold. The Chelsea Flower Show is the Worlds greatest horticultural festival.

What’s blooming in The Great Pavilion

Moving on from the huge range of show gardens towards The Great Pavilion, this is where you’ll find all the Chelsea garden show best bits: from pot art to garden sculpture, and invites to competitive nurserymen and women to judge and be judged in the huge 12,000 metres squared Pavilion.

The most eye-catching display, without a doubt, will be the centrepiece of the exhibition. You’ve never seen a garden like this before.

What to wear at the Chelsea Flower Show?

Wondering about the Chelsea Flower Show dress code? If you’re having troubling deciding what to wear, clothes tend to be on the smart side: for women, summer dresses (especially floral prints), tailored trousers and smart jackets are ideas. Men tend to opt for light trousers, shirts and jackets (comfortable shoes a must).

Or if you want to dress the part you can opt for Prince Harry’s fleece, shirt and jeans combination to be a true seasoned professional.

The weather this year looks to be a little damp (good for flowers, less good for guests) so we’d recommend wrapping up warm and waterproof.

Chelsea Flower Show food and drink: where to eat?

Where to Eat at the show. With plenty of places to eat, Chelsea doesn’t limit your gastronomical options. Be sure to buy your Chelsea Flower Show Tickets now. Bring a picnic and immerse yourself in the great outdoors at the Picnic Pavilion, a special area for dedicated al-fresco diners, or if you’ve had enough of the rain, why not while away the afternoon in one of the restaurants Chelsea Flower Show has on-site?

The Rock Bank Restaurant (menu here) operates a full service if Pimm’s and strawberries aren’t enough to sate you, or there’s the Bandstand Restaurant, to name but a few of the dozens of food vendors operating during the show.

Best restaurants near to the show:

If you’d rather avoid the queues, we don’t blame you: The Royal Hospital is conveniently located close to Sloane Square tube station and there are hundreds of good places to eat near Chelsea Flower Show. Nearby restaurants have risen to the occasion by offering RHS-inspired displays and special menus: why not head to Rabbit Restaurant’s Edible Garden and try their Chelsea Flower Show menu?

If you’re keen to try the best restaurants in the area, we’d recommend the new Polpo on Duke of York Square. Or venture a little further afield and enjoy the new Ivy Chelsea Garden or Worlds End Market, both of which are on the King’s Road, and are firm local favourites. Or Gordon Ramsay, hot on the heels of his latest venture Maze Grill Park Walk, has opened up another branch just minutes from the Chelsea Flower Show: Maze Grill, Royal Hospital Road.