It was great! (I was avoiding the cameras as Sophy suggested! - though we were directly opposite Alan Titmarsh as they were filming his segment on a Japanese- influenced garden....)
Got there about 10.30 and had managed to see most of the gardens by lunchtime. Although there are crowds around all the gardens as you would expect, if you are patient and wait a minute or two, people move on and it is quite easy to get to the front of the crowd and get a clear view... did feel a bit like being at a popular art exhibition!
Saw quite a few of the BBC presenters as they were being ushered around to do their slots....
It was interesting that some of the gardens I liked on the TV and website didn't look so good (imo) in RL - and vice versa. E.g I really liked the planting in the QVC garden and didn't think it looked that impressive on the internet...
Main tips are -
Definitely wear comfortable shoes. My legs haven't ached this much since I was pregnant! Mind you that was partly due to having to stand all the way in on the train and tube even though we waited till after rush hour.
Also take the smallest bag you can get away with - much easier to get through the crowds if you are not worrying about bashing someone. If you want to pick up brochures, garden plans, etc a few of the stands are giving away paper bags (Marshalls and Savills) you can stick them in.
Take something like a plastic bag to sit on while having lunch. It is nigh on impossible to get a seat - the only thing I felt could have been done better. The queues for toilets move really quickly - very well organised.
Most of the designers of the show gardens are far too grand to actually be there but most of the ones from the small gardens are and are happy to chat about their gardens. The exception was the garden done by Leeds Council - they were really interesting to talk to, gave a great insight into how they made it look like a mature garden in the space of a few days.
Some of the small gardens are away from the main area in Ranelagh Gardens and not easy to spot on the map I had - so don't miss those.
have to go now but will add more if I think of anything...