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Chelsea Flower Show 2022: full schedule, how to buy tickets and the best day to visit

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 when dates tickets transport advice best day to go where to eat stay hotels restaurants schedule - Jamie Lorriman
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 when dates tickets transport advice best day to go where to eat stay hotels restaurants schedule - Jamie Lorriman

This year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show is now well underway, after returning to its normal May slot after a two-year hiatus.

In 2020, the pandemic meant the show was held virtually, and even when it returned in 2021, it was held in September, so this year is likely to be better than ever.

Whether you are new to the Chelsea Flower Show or a regular attendee, this is all the latest information you need, from how to get hold of tickets, to the best places to eat once you are in.

When is the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022?

This year, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has returned to its usual springtime slot - it began on Tuesday 24 May and will run until Saturday 28 May.

The show opens 8am-8pm during the week, with an additional late entry on Friday between 5.30pm and 10pm. On Saturday, visitors are welcome between 8am and 5.30pm.

Typically from 4pm on the last day of the Chelsea Flower Show, the famed plant sell-off begins (so it’s a good time to hang around if you hope to pick up a bargain).

Can I buy tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show?

Tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show are currently available to purchase here for both RHS members and members of the public.

The first two days of the show (Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25) are always reserved for RHS members only. All-day tickets for RHS members on these days cost £90.85. Find out more about RHS membership here.

The show then becomes open for non members (and members too). All-day tickets for the public on these days are £85.85, while RHS members pay a reduced price of £68.85.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 when dates tickets transport advice best day to go where to eat stay hotels restaurants
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 when dates tickets transport advice best day to go where to eat stay hotels restaurants

When is the best day to go?

Some people prefer to attend the Chelsea Flower Show on the opening day or early in the week, to get a first look at the gardens while the displays are fresh, and to discuss and share their experiences on social media while the hype surrounding the show is in full swing.

For others, it is preferable to avoid the initial rush and enjoy the show at leisure when the most-talked about displays will be less crowded.

Others prefer to attend on the last day, when many of the plants are sold off before the show officially closes.

Show guides can be bought for £14.50 (including postage) which will be mailed to you one week before the show.

Where is the Chelsea Flower Show 2022?

The location of the Chelsea Flower Show is Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, SW3 4SR.

It has been held in the grounds of Royal Hospital Chelsea every year of its 108-year history since 1913, apart from gaps during the two World Wars and amid the peak of the pandemic.

How do I get to the Chelsea Flower Show?

Victoria is the nearest railway station and it's only a 15-minute walk to the grounds from there. There will be shuttle buses to the showground from Battersea Park and Victoria Station.

Alternatively, the nearest tube station is Sloane Square, served by the District and Circle lines. If you wish to drive, you can pre-book parking with your tickets.

If you would prefer to travel by bus, bus numbers 11, 137, 211, 360, 170, 44 and 452 stop closest to the showground, while bus numbers 19, 22, 319 and C1 stop at Sloane Square.

It is also possible to cycle to the show. Cycle racks are available at Burton’s Court Car Park, opposite the London Gate entrance (SW3 4SR).

You can even arrive by river with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers to Cadogan Pier (a pleasant 15-minute stroll away) or Battersea Power Station.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 when dates tickets transport advice best day to go where to eat stay hotels restaurants - Jamie Lorriman
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 when dates tickets transport advice best day to go where to eat stay hotels restaurants - Jamie Lorriman

Where to eat at the Chelsea Flower Show

There are plenty of ways to dine at the Chelsea Flower Show and no shortage of food and drink on offer for those who have built up an appetite admiring the displays.

There are cafes, food courts and picnic areas, and it is also possible to book a range of hospitality experiences, brunches, lunches and afternoon teas on site when you book your tickets.

Jardin Blanc with Raymond Blanc has an enchanting atmosphere. Packages are available, including four-course dinners, live music, long lunches, champagne and a complimentary open bar. The Ranelagh Restaurant, meanwhile, is a “quintessentially English” restaurant offering a four-course package from £98.

The Champagne and Seafood Restaurant is another Chelsea favourite for sustainable seafood platters, with walk-ins as well as pre-booked tables available.

Elsewhere, the Chelsea Brunch offers a formal a la carte brunch with champagne, and finally, The Drawing Room in collaboration with The Dorchester is not to be missed, with its floral-inspired Champagne breakfast, afternoon tea and drop-in bar bites.

Of course, there are many restaurants, pubs and bars surrounding the site which you may also wish to go to. The nearby King's Road and Sloane Square offer dozens of restaurants, with two of the most popular being The Ivy at 195-197 King's Road and Colbert at Sloane Square.

The best hotels closest to the Chelsea Flower Show

There are plenty of hotels close to the Chelsea Flower Show.

San Domenico House is a small boutique hotel 0.5 miles away. Our Telegraph hotel reviewer describes it as a “peaceful and private sanctum”.

A more “playful, contemporary” stay is The Artist Residence London, 0.6 miles away from the show in Pimlico. It’s a 19th-century pub reinvented as a hip hotel, with café and cocktail bar.

Within a similar striking distance is 11 Cadogan Gardens, London’s only Relais & Châteaux hotel, and the peaceful Lime Tree hotel, which occupies two Georgian townhouses.

Of course, The Goring is a firm favourite with Chelsea Flower Show goers, with its red-liveried footmen, gardens and Michelin-starred dining, and the Knightsbridge Hotel is just a mile away.

This article has been updated with the latest information for the Chelsea Flower Show 2022.