Amongst the constant buzz of excitement, the gasps of awe, the snapping of photography, and the occasional tweeting of birdsong, there is the silent serenity of things growing. Under the canopy of the Great Pavilion, the passion, effort, and expertise of exhibitors is unequivocal. It’s evident in every fragrant bloom, every groundbreaking design, and in every smile. Tucked away from the crowds, delicate flavours, Afternoon Tea, and fine cocktails are served up at Raymond Blanc OBE’s restaurant with precision and flair. At the greatest and most prestigious horticulture event in the world, The Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show, visitors are given the opportunity to learn, mingle, and indulge in their senses. Be prepared to be dazzled.

Hundreds of the world’s top garden designers and expert growers gather annually at London’s royal borough of Chelsea, to exhibit their colourful arrangements, from artisan gardens to cutting-edge sanctuaries. Each year, the RHS’s Chelsea Flower Show attracts garden-lovers and design fans, along with a splash of celebrity and royal visitors. Classic blooms and enchanting sculptures adorn the Great Pavilion. Innovative landscape design and impressive use of space, from the traditional to the trailblazing, guide you through the exhibition. The Chelsea Flower Show sets to inspire each individual visitor with the vast art of horticulture, bringing the expertise to your own home and garden. It’s a quintessential British day out for mixing with prestigious guests, picnicking on the lawn, and clinking champagne glasses – celebrating the joy of horticulture.

The Chelsea Flower Show has been a pillar of the British Social Season since 1913, when the social elite would spend their summer in London, away from their country abodes, to partake in an array of social events. It has since held its reputation for being the year’s key event where London’s High Society wants to be seen. One particularly notable and frequent visitor is HRH the Queen, who is known to be captivated and intrigued by the designs. The Duchess of Cambridge also makes an appearance, and in 2019 helped design one of the gardens.

What brings visitors back every year are the fresh new ideas, with more and more focus on home-grown talent. Since it began, from the moment you enter to the moment you leave, the atmosphere is always lively. Home to some of London’s most affluent residents, Chelsea is London’s chicest neighbourhood. The manicured grounds of the iconic, 300 year old Chelsea Hospital, is the perfect setting for the show. 

The show is an interactive visit. Experts and ambitious growers are ready on set to advise on your own outdoor space and ignite your curiosity. Award-winning artisan gardeners and new designers come each year. The detail in each exhibition is impeccable and unique. There are unimaginable varieties of flowers that they so lovingly cultivate, it’s hard not to share their passion.

For the first time ever this year, the show will be held in September instead of May, which will bring a whole new look with autumnal colours. The sections will still have the same three themes – Show Gardens, Artisan Gardens, and Urban Gardens, but with a different, seasonal focus.

Foodies are spoiled for choice at the show. There is a restaurant dedicated to fresh seafood and champagne, with à-la-carte, sustainable seafood. Then there’s the Caviar House and Prunier Bar for a lighter snack. But the most premium way to spend your time at the show is to buy tickets to the world-renowned chef Raymond Blanc OBE’s restaurant, Jardin Blanc.

From tasting menus to botanical cocktails, Afternoon Tea, and tantalising flavours, Blanc serves up his finest fare. There is the option to meet the chef himself, in a Q&A session where he shares his love for gastronomy and horticulture. Go for breakfast, lunch or four course dinner, where diners can celebrate and dance into an evening of live music and DJ sets. For a luxurious evening of champagne, canapés, and exclusive access to exhibitions, Gala Dinner tickets are also available. Live music carries through the evening and there is a chance to meet expert garden designers.

Whether it’s an eye-catching garden sculpture, the newest craze of house plant, or botanical-inspired jewellery, shopping at the show will surprise you. The exclusive boutique stalls sell everything from fashion to furniture. Fire Pits, water features and the earthy, driftwood animal sculptures from James Doran-Webb give just a few rare ideas for your own home and garden. You won’t go home empty handed.

When great minds, passion and nature align, beauty exudes. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show exhibits just that, from the incredible designs, to the carefully crafted flavours. It’s a day out like no other.