Best Chelsea Flower Show experience

[angstinabaggyjumper]

Every time the Chelsea Flower Show comes around we wish we had the forethought to organise a visit, well this year here I am researching it in December however I can't decide whether it is better to join the RHS so we can go on the Wednesday when it might be quieter or whether to just go with flow on Thursday.
Does anyone have any experience of this or any tips about getting best value for money out of this experience please?

RHS member here. I think the Wednesday is the best day - Tuesday gets busy really early as all the very keen types can't wait (I used to be one of these). Thursday onwards just isn't as nice if you're a keen gardener - busier, slower, some of the displays not quite as perky as they were. I've never done the weekend. Wednesday is perfect and I shouldn't tell you this but if you get there at 8am when the doors open then whatever bit you go to first will be relatively empty.

It does get very busy there, and the food is very very pricey, and you can't buy plants on the spot (other than some exhibitors in the marquee sell tiny plug plants and seeds). But I love it. And have Purbeck ice cream at least twice.

I went on the Wednesday and would recommend it.

We went on Thursday last year and I was disappointed at how busy it was.!

Join the rhs and enjoy the lovely magazine too. I've only been on a Wednesday, it felt plenty busy enough, and I felt like I was seeing the exhibits while they were still fresh.

Thanks for your replies that's pretty much what I suspected, I also get quite claustrophobic in a big crowd so it looks like it's to Wednesday or nothing at all.
Purplewithred yes the price of food was a bit of a shocker £70 each the cheapest pre book for lunch we might be taking sandwiches!

Now I'm befuddled does anyione know can I have a single membership and buy two tickets or do we both have to join in order to go on the Wednesday?

Hampton Court Flower show is lovely I prefer it to Chelsea much less crowded

Single membership means you can buy two members' tickets. There are loads of sandwich places and food stalls there too - everything from fish + chips to wood fired pizzas (check out the food spot by the Artisan gardens) but also pricey for what they are.

If you are going to get claustrophobic aim to be there at 8am when it opens and prepare for it to get very very busy fairly quickly after that.

If you've been before then don't go again everything same except possibly 3 gardens we walked around and saw same again x