no alt text

Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 06 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Annabelle Thorpe

Glastonbury for garden-lovers, this five-day flower show comes to West London each May, drawing crowds of plant, flower and landscaping enthusiasts to its displays in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Mini, themed gardens might imitate a Japanese garden or create a fairytale setting; stands for landscaping, furniture and accessory companies inspire ideas for your garden at home; and clouds of diverse flower varieties create a rainbow of blooms. The overall feel is Alice in Wonderland meets Gardeners’ World.

Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience

Price from: £107
Minimum age: 5
Age suitable: 13+
Frequency: annually
When: Third week of May
Duration: 5 days

Getting there & doing it

Tickets go on sale in November-December, and they do sell out, so book at least a couple of months in advance.

When to do it

The show usually runs from Tuesday to Saturday on the third week of May; the first two days are only open to Royal Horticultural Society Members, who also enjoy discounts on tickets. Friday and Saturday are the busiest days.

Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Artists Residence London

London, United Kingdom (UK)

An agreeably-priced boutique hotel filled with a dizzying variety of artworks, tucked away in a quiet corner of charming Pimlico. Away from the rush, but with excellent transport into the city centre.

Official star rating:

Sydney House

London, United Kingdom (UK)

A value-for-money Georgian townhouse hotel that offers a pleasingly tranquil feel, set on a refined residential street in the heart of Chelsea.

Official star rating:

Number Sixteen

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Dazzling design and local colour abound at this intimate, under-the-radar bolthole in a convenient, upmarket location.

Official star rating:

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

London, United Kingdom (UK)

A gloriously opulent Edwardian hotel, with Michelin-starred dining, a subterranean spa and a wonderful location overlooking Hyde Park – one of the capital’s most expensive, most luxurious addresses.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

London

Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)

World-class culture, fashion, music, food and history – and a mind-boggling array of bucket list experiences – packed into one extraordinary, incomparable destination. 

Website >
Overview >

Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

British Pullman

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Step back to the golden age of rail travel, touring the British countryside on this glamorous 1920s vintage train while enjoying five-star food and drink.

Best for ages: 18+ | £350 | 4+ hours

Natural History Museum

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Dinosaur skeletons, blue whales and chunks of meteorite set in a Romanesque, cathedral-like building – the world’s biggest and best such museum is a treasure trove of natural history.

Best for ages: 4+ | Free

Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..

Royal Academy of Arts

London, United Kingdom (UK)

An 18th-century mansion of masterpieces sitting pretty on Piccadilly, home to one of Britain’s oldest collections of fine art and regular blockbuster exhibitions.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

Exterior view of front facade with people walking in front
Experience

SEA LIFE London Aquarium

London, United Kingdom (UK)

London’s impressive aquarium, set on the South Bank, home to hundreds of species of fish and a selection of sharks.

Best for ages: Any | £27

Website >
Overview >
Exterior view of the grand building surrounding a large square
Experience

Somerset House

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Famous for its picturesque alfresco ice rink in winter and the Edmund J Safra fountains in the summer, this elegant neoclassical building is also home to an art gallery and upscale restaurant.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

Website >
Overview >