The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a great day out – it's the opportunity to find inspiration in the big-budget show gardens created by top designers, discover new plants from the country’s leading nurseries, quaff a glass or two of champagne and partake in some serious retail therapy. It attracts huge crowds, with many travelling especially from overseas.
If you're lucky enough to have a ticket this year, don't let the excitement let you forget the essentials - those little, simple, obvious considerations that are easily forgotten, but will help to make your day at Chelsea run as smoothly as possible.
The Gardens Illustrated team has created a list of Chelsea Flower Show visiting essentials, which will mean you can focus on the gardens and plants all day.
Become an RHS member for discounted tickets and members-only access.
10 tips for visiting the Chelsea Flower Show
Do your research before you go
The flower show will feature 13 show gardens in 2026 - nine large and four small. Gone are the days when the show gardens had a big reveal - while some designers like to keep their ideas under wraps, many share the progress of their show gardens, and the stories behind them, on social media.
Discover more about the gardens at Chelsea 2026
- First details of the gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show 2026: discover who is designing what
- RHS announces five All About Plants gardens for Chelsea Flower Show 2026
- Chelsea Flower Show 2026: balcony and container gardens announced
Keeping an eye on social media and watching the extensive BBC coverage before you go can give you a flavour of the gardens and can help you discover thoughtful design details that you might otherwise miss.
And of course, be sure to sign up to the daily Gardens Illustrated Chelsea newsletter, which brings you all the latest news, and listen to the our new Chelsea podcast, Talking Chelsea, which gives lots of behind-the-scenes insight, with interviews with designers, growers, pundits and celebrities.
The medals are announced early on Tuesday and the Best in Show garden is announced mid-morning, so if you hang around the show main gardens at this time and keep an eye on the TV cameras, you might just see the filmed presentation – which last year was a real treat when Kazuyuki Ishihara won.
Go early or late if you can
While the number of tickets are capped each day, there's no denying that Chelsea can feel pretty crowded, particularly on Main Avenue, where crowds can be several people deep in front of the show gardens. If you possibly can, get there early - the gates open at 8am – and make a beeline for what you want to see the most before the crowds arrive. Or go after 3pm, when many of the coach parties or people who have travelled long distances have gone home. You'll still have plenty of time to enjoy the show, as gates don't close until 8pm.
Tuesday and Wednesday are reserved for RHS Members. Saturday tends to be the busiest day.
Don't forget to walk down the side of each of the main show gardens - the gardens are designed to be viewed from every angle, so you may spot something you might have missed, and the crowds are often a little more sparse there.
A show guide is available to buy and it's well worth it, as however well you think you know the showground, there will always be things that you miss. It's particularly handy in the Pavilion, which has several entrances and exits – easy to get lost in and to miss certain stands.
It's sold out for this year, but Chelsea Late on Friday 22 May offers a chance to explore the showground from 5.30pm, followed by music from 8pm in Ranelagh Gardens, hosted by DJ and Broadcaster Jo Whiley.
Dress up - but wear comfy shoes (and be prepared for all weathers)
By all means wear a gorgeous dress – but wear comfortable shoes. It's a big show ground with lots to see, and whether you have a half or full day ticket you will want to make the most of your time at the show. This means lots of walking. Trainers and sneakers, or even Chelsea boots, are a better option than sandals. Many TV presenters where heels or sandals for their recording slots, but resort to more comfortable shoes when running around the showground. Take inspiration from designer and presenter Arit Anderson, whose Chelsea outfits are legendary. She often pairs dresses and skirts with funky trainers.
Chelsea week can often be a mixed bag weather-wise, starting off with high temperatures and bright sun, and ending with low temperatures and rain, or vice versa. It's not unusual to experience four seasons in one day. Check the weather forecast before you go and pack accordingly.
Apart from the Great Pavilion, there aren’t many options for sheltering from bad weather, but if the sun is shining, there are trees to offer shade for hot heads. A waterproof jacket or coat can work better than an umbrella among the crowds. Sunscreen and a hat are, of course, essential.
You're going to need to take a bag, so think functionality and comfort here, too. While you’re walking around the show, you'll be bombarded with leaflets and tempted by the various stalls selling lovely garden items. Although cloth tote bags are lovely to look at and convenient to use, when filled, they can become uncomfortable to carry. And if you want to take photos or write notes, you'll need your hands free for taking photos. A rucksac or a shoulder bag can be a good solution - but keep it as small as possible to avoid bumping into other show visitors with it.
Don't forget the balcony and container gardens
The Balcony and Container gardens, on Ranelagh Avenue provide masses of inspiration for smaller gardens and containers.
In 2026, there will be nine small-space gardens - five container gardens and four balcony gardens.
The category is all about helping emerging designers get to Chelsea. The intention behind the designs is to offer ideas and inspiration for people with limited space and resources and to demonstrate how smaller spaces can assist in the conservation of local wildlife at home, while also highlighting how a garden, however small, can be good for our health.
Check out the trade stands for planting inspiration
Even if you're not in the market for a fancy greenhouse or outdoor kitchen, trade stands now often employ garden designers to create their displays, which means that they almost rival the show gardens in terms of innovative planting. As a result, they can be a great source of inspiration for small garden ideas and container gardening. Last year, the Alitex stand (above) was designed in conjunction with Fibrex Nurseries, who supplied pelargoniums for the display, and Cath Kidston's toiletries range, C. Atherley, giving bags of inspiration for styling a greenhouse or conservatory.
Take notes
Whether it’s your first time, last time or hundredth time, the Chelsea Flower Show is a delight for the eyes and packed with inspo. A camera or smartphone allows you to capture your best moments at the show and to also keep a picture diary of all your favourite plants. Don't forget to take a picture of the accompanying plant label to help you keep track of all those plant names.
Take a water bottle and snacks – and plan what you're doing about lunch
Whatever the weather, a good-sized bottle of water is a must, especially if the weather is hot. The RHS is trying to eliminate all single use plastics at the show, so many vendors will sell cans or cartons of water, but the best option is just to bring your own refillable water bottle or cannister. There are now free water bottle refill points throughout the showground.
There are plenty of places to eat on-site from coffee bars and ice cream stands to cafes, street food and premium dining.
If you want a posh, sit-down lunch or a fancy afternoon tea, check out the Ranelagh Restaurant, The Sloane Restaurant, The Promenade at the Chelsea Flower Show by the Dorchester, or the Spring Garden, and be sure to book via the RHS website before you go, to avoid lengthy queues. You look at sample menus before you book, too.
The Courtyard in Ranelagh Gardens is the street food area, offering everything from cheese toasties to falafel, lobster buns, burgers, Vietnamese and Indian street food and even an Ottolenghi stand.
Queues can be lengthy everywhere, and all of the outlets are pricey, so it's a good idea to keep a few nibbles in your bag in case hunger strikes. Picnicking is allowed, but bear in mind that you could sitting on grass, as benches are quickly snapped up.
Bear in mind that if you leave the showground, you cannot come back in, so you can't go off site for lunch if you want to come back.
Prepare for the 'Chelsea cough' – and wear shades against the glare
Usually the plane trees on Eastern Avenue of the showground provide clouds of pollen in May that at peak flowering time can famously become a bit of an irritant, giving rise to the undesirable 'Chelsea cough'. Having a sweet to suck helps quell the throat tickle. If you are prone to hayfever, you might want to take an antihistamine ahead of hitting the show, too.
If it has been dry, Chelsea can be dusty after all that construction work, so it's a good idea to protect your eyes from swirling dust if the wind gets up. Sunglasses can also help protect your eyes from the tree pollen, and also the glare of the metal walkways by the show gardens, which can get very bright in bright sun.
Bag a bargain
While the Great Pavilion represents the beating heart of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where the top nurseries in the UK and from further afield exhibit their pristine plants, it's worth bearing in mind that very few plants are sold there because of strict space limitations – there is no room for stock that can be sold to the public. You can however, of course, place orders. On Saturday plants are sold off from 4pm, so you could grab yourself a bargain.
Chelsea is a great opportunity to take advantage of special offers on big ticket items such as greenhouses – many of the trade stands and nurseries offer special deals on purchases made at the show. Head to the Gardens Illustrated stand on Eastern Avenue and – may we suggest – take a look at our Chelsea-exclusive subscription offer.
Visit Chelsea in Bloom
Before or after your visit to the show – and even if you don't have a ticket at all – be sure to wander the streets of Chelsea to enjoy Chelsea in Bloom, the world-class floral art show and London’s largest free flower festival. It celebrates its 21st anniversary this year, transforming the streets of Chelsea with beautiful displays of fresh flowers. In 2025, the festival welcomed a record-breaking 1.58m visitors.
This year, more than 125 brands, including Jessica McCormack, Smythson, RIXO and Trinny London will take part, alongside complimentary walking tours and rickshaw rides.
The theme for 2026 is ‘Out of this World’, and will see Chelsea transformed into an intergalactic wonderland with spectacular floral displays inspired by the allure of space travel, astrology and spiritual symbolism.
There will be a zodiac-inspired floral constellation at Sloane Square, a UFO installation hovering above Pavilion Road, a 4m mythical dragon and Pegasus on Sloane Street and a giant floral globe on the King’s Road, celebrating David Attenborough’s 100th birthday.
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