For many garden lovers, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the highlight of the gardening year. Held during the third week of May in Chelsea's Royal Hospital grounds, it's billed as the greatest flower show on earth. It 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.
To help you get the most from your visit to the Chelsea Flower Show and other RHS events, 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. List the gardens and exhibitors you don't want to miss. Closer to opening, 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 unpredictable. The temperature at Chelsea can vary between single fingers and the mid-twenties centigrade. It's not uncommon to experience four seasons in a day, so it pays to be prepared. Whilst it's fun to dress smartly for Chelsea - and many people do - 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. Avoid light-coloured footwear and 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 fan could be 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. The Great Pavilion is often quieter first thing when everyone rushes to see the show gardens. The 3.30 pm-8 pm ticket is also a good bet if you don't want to spend a whole day, but you'll be mingling with a lot of 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 usually 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, and people will hover over you until you move on. If you fancy lunch and haven't booked one of the fancy (i.e. expensive) restaurants, aim to eat early to avoid the queues and secure a seat. Aim 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 be an encumbrance 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.
- 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. 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 everything from greenhouses and gardening magazines to lily bulbs and ladders. However, 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.
- 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 non-existent. If you're with someone and think you could 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.
- 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.
For more details about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, visit the RHS website.
