Chelsea Flower Show 2010 – Tips – A Survivor’s Guide
The World’s Greatest Flower Show
Where: London UK
The World’s greatest Flower Show – The Chelsea Flower Show 2010 opens in London on Tuesday the 25th of May.
Chelsea is the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) flaghip event and is the main event in the horticultural calendar. It is also the annual showcase of the best garden designs in Britain.
This year it sold the last available ticket eleven days before the opening date – the earliest since visitor numbers were capped in 1988 to 157,000. Last year tickets sold out two days before the show opened.
Plan Your Day in Advance
Opening Times:
May 25-28: 8am-8pm
May 29: 8am-5.30pm; sell off 4pm
The Show takes place in the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea:
Royal Hospital,
Royal Hospital Road,
London SW3 4SL
020 7649 1885
The best way to enjoy your visit to the show is to do some good planning for your day in advance. This will give you a huge advantage and help avoid lots of unnecessary issues.
Useful Information Visitors to the Chelsea Flower Show
Babies and Children under Five are not allowed into the show. They would not enjoy the show – and neither would you. No pushchairs or prams are allowed.
Animals: No animals are allowed into the show except for Guide Dogs.
Luggage: There is a left-luggage area at the showground (the position of this will be marked on your official catalogue) – but it is best to travel light.
Security: Visitors will be subject to security searches.
Tickets: Buy your tickets as soon as possible – the number of tickets is limited and they sell out very fast. (Sold Out for 2010)
Transport: Getting There
The RHS recommends that visitors travel to the show by public transport. The show is located within the Transport for London congestion zone
Your Route to the RoyalHospital at Chelsea
(Not because you may need to see a doctor – the RHS Flower Show is held at the RoyalHospital in Chelsea.)
There are Two Entrances to the Show Grounds
Decide how you will be getting to the show and where you will be approaching it from so you can plan your route.
1)The main public entrance is the Bull-Ring Gate on the Chelsea Embankment.
2) London Gate, which is off Hospital Road
Getting There by Rail:
- The Nearest Underground Station is Sloan Square – on the District and Circle Lines (1/5 of a mile or ½ a km from the grounds – a 10 minute walk. As with many of the big events in London all you have to do to find your way is to follow the crowds.
- The Nearest Mainline Station is Victoria – 1 mile away (1.6km) This is a fairly long walk, especially at the end of your day, but there is a Shuttle Bus to and from the showgrounds. For information on rail services, use the National Rail journey planner
- or call 08457 484950.
London General are operating a shuttle bus service between London Victoria (Hudson’s Place) and the Chelsea Flower Show 2010 (Barrack Gate, Chelsea Bridge Road) from 7:30am to 8pm each day (6:30pm Saturday).
Fares for Adults are £3.50/return; £2.50/single
Concessions (Senior Citizen/Child and holders of valid travelcards) are £3.00/return; £2.00/single
- The nearest Bus Routes are along Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea Bridge Road and Pimlico Road. Many other buses stop around Sloan Square.
- Bus numbers 11, 137, 211, 170, 360 and 452 stop closest to the showground.
- Bus numbers 19, 22, 319 and C1 stop at Sloane Square.
- Taxis can come right up to the Bull Ring and London gates, but if there is a lot of congestion on the roads you can ask to be dropped off at Sloan Square.
- Courtesy Buses run to and from Battersea Park – you may be able to find parking here, but get here early and don’t be surprised to find it filling up fast.
- Wheelchair Users or Visually Handicapped: Your show ticket covers the admission of a companion
- Cycling: Bicycle racks are available in Burton’s Court opposite the London Gate entrance.
- Car Parking: Public parking, including for orange/blue badge holders, is available in BatterseaPark on a first come, first served basis. You may be able to find parking here, but get here early and don’t be surprised to find it filling up fast. There are more than 2000 spaces available from Tuesday to Friday, but on Saturday fewer spaces are available due to other public events in BatterseaPark.
- Wandsworth Council parking charges apply: the standard tariff is £1.80 per hour, with a maximum stay allowed of four hours. Please note that there are no reduced rates for disabled visitors.
- BatterseaPark is located outside the Transport for London congestion zone and is approximately 20 minutes’ walk from the show.
- Courtesy Buses run to and from BatterseaPark: a park & ride service is available; buses, including a mobility bus, operate at frequent intervals between BatterseaPark and the showground’s Bull Ring Gate entrance.
- FOR GROUPS:
Coach companies must apply for a police set down/pick up permit in advance. To apply, e-mail details of the number of coaches, the day(s) of attendance, name and address to chelseacoaches@rhs.org.uk.
Coach parking
Parking for coaches is available at the following locations:
BatterseaPark, London SW11 4NJ (entrance via Albert Gate on Albert Bridge Road)
Tel: 020 8871 7128 (advance bookings only) Tariff: £30 per day (price correct at time of publication) Please note: coach parking is not available in BatterseaPark on Saturday 29 May.
Seagrave Road, near Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre, London SW5
Tel: 0871 871 9809 for details and pricing
Be Prepared…
Be Prepared in how you Dress
Temperatures can be extreme so take flexible clothing along so you can peel off the layers or whip out a waterproof…
Rain – it may rain heavily but using an umbrella in crowded areas is not ideal so consider taking along a waterproof hat and a raincoat instead.
Sun – the sun can also sometimes be surprisingly hot at the show so take protective sunscreen lotion and a wide-brimmed hat in case;.
Shoes – always wear sensible, comfortable shoes as you will be on your feet a lot . Flat, waterproof soles are the best as the surfaces can be uneven and after a heavy rain the ground can get muddy.
Be Clever – Arrive Before the Larg Crowds – get here as early as you can to try to avoid the largest crowds (and leave before they do as well).
TIPS FOR THE DAY:
When You Arrive at the Showground
Buy the official Chelsea Flower Show catalogue as soon as you enter the grounds, or even before. Read it carefully as it may save you time later.
The guide has a list of cafes. Restaurants and Champagne Bars under the Services section and gives the location on the map, opening times and the type of meal etc offered there.
The map on the back of the catalogue will show you where to find the restaurants, public toilets etc. It also gives details of official meeting places for visitors, the lost-property counter, how to find Lost Children and where to find First Aid Posts.
Free Gardening Advice: The RHS provides a free Gardening Advice Service to visitors to the show – details of where to find this are listed on the guide under the Services section.
Re-check the show’s opening times so you can plan your visit to get the most out of the day.
Your ticket does not allow you to leave the grounds and return- If you are going to be there at a mealtime plan to eat in the grounds.
Bank: There is a bank at the grounds – you will be able to change foreign currency or top up your purse. It will be shown on the map on the catalogue as well as being listed in the “Services” section. Ideally, draw your money before you get to the show to avoid queues but remember to keep your purse safe in the crowds.
Eating:
Get your food early. Plan your lunch early to avoid the busiest crowds at the various catering outlets.
Self-Catering: You can take a picnic for yourself and a little picnic blanket to sit on if you don’t intend to use one of the restaurants. Find your comfortable spot under a tree or wherever before everyone else starts looking around for somewhere to be at lunchtime. Take a flask of tea or coffee so you can have your own refreshment break on tap.
Don’t leave anything till the last minute – weaving your way through the crowds can take a surprisingly long time.
Visit the toilet outside of the lunchtime rush – the queues may be uncomfortably long.
Take it easy – the day can be very tiring with so much to see and do – you are here to enjoy yourself so take it easy and pace your day well. Stop to admire the views or have some refreshment while you recharge your batteries.
Try to leave before the main crowds – buses and taxis and the train stations get very overcrowded by the sudden extra demand at closing time.
Exits from the showground are well-signposted in the grounds and are marked on the map at the back of your Catalogue, as well as being listed in the Services section.
Buying Plants
If you want to buy plants at the show – Plants can only be bought at the sell-off at the end of the final day of the show, but be prepared – it is like the first day of the January sales but the plants are heavier.
You may have to carry your plants for a long time because of the heavy congestion with everyone leaving the grounds at the same time. Take your own heavyweight plastic sack, or a collapsible trolley to carry your purchases.