Chelsea Flower SHow

[knot]

anyone been?
we decided to go but have tried to book and the tickets are £36 EACH,
worth it or not?
and anyone know where we can get cheaper tickets if we go?
thanks

[hub2dee]

It is one of (if not the) best flower shows in the world.

If you're looking for inspiration, you'll find it by the bucket load. Also many expert growers if you want particular named species etc.

Horribly busy / crowded but I've been for years and I love it.

Bring a camera !

You can buy tickets cheaper if you are a member of the RHS, I join just to enjoy this discount plus you get their (improving) magazine, and admittance to other more local RHS shows...

Hampton Court Show is less crowded as things are more spaced out and has slightly more 'gardening products' available.

[cupcakes]

I'm going on Friday with a friend. It'll be my first time...
Is there anything I should look out for or do?

[hub2dee]

I've never seen discounted tickets, except a discount which is extended to RHS members. The tickets are pricey, but if flowers / garden design float your boat, you'll be in heaven. If you're more into general gardening, or want to pick up tools / machines etc. I think Hampton Court Show is better.

I've just looked at the RHS Web site and the only tickets available are Thursday and Friday evening, 5:30 - 8 for £16. That might be better for you. You can storm around the whole thing in just over one hour, or stroll around in leisurely circles and take 2 - 3.

Food and drink are expensive, so bring your own.

[cupcakes]

yes - had a look at the catering section of the RHS site and the most informal was the seafood and champagne bar!

[hub2dee]

woops... I kind of got the thread upside down.

Cupcakes: come as early as humanly possible if you have an all day ticket. Attempt to visit the small gardens and show gardens first, perhaps... but it's a bit of a losing battle as it is dreadfully crowded.

I tend to leave the Marquee for later, and basically ignore the tools / supplies section.

Bring your own food and drink if you want to save money. Good shoes if rain is forecast and don't forget your sunhat, camera and film / charged battery !

[cupcakes]

Our tickets are from 3-8pm. Do you think we should leave the popular ones till last or are they going to be jampacked at any point?

[hub2dee]

Are tickets are the same, for tomorrow (or was it 3:30 onwards ?), EVERYTHING will be jam-packed ALL the time !

I imagine the incoming crowd will go for the show gardens first and the marquee last, so you might want to strategically 'reverse' that, but the show gardens are more fun.



Enjoy !

[hub2dee]

Someone gave me a tip today: enter throught the main FRONT gate, by the river rather than the rear gate / bus drop off point to have less queues and be closer to the show gardens !

[cupcakes]

Thank you - that last especially sounds like it could be excellent advice!

[cupcakes]

so how was it?
Any recommendations for must sees?

[hub2dee]

Erm... crowded ?

But brill.

I've been for the last few years, and dw (30 weeks pg) was with me, so I wasn't as 'thorough' as other years.

I thought I'd turn up a bit late for my 3:30 ticket to avoid the queues and we didn't wait to get in but it was still pretty horribly packed. We stayed till chucking out time.

If you've got an all day ticket and want the best views, get there on the dot of 8.

Hopefully the BBC coverage will pick up and give us some great footage of things we missed or where we didn't get the best view etc. I shot off a pile of digital photos though and those are always great to study at leisure.

There is info about each garden on the RHS Web site.

Must admit, this year nothing took my breath away, but it was all to a fantastically high standard.

Enjoy !