Gardening events and shows for 2023

From the glamour and excitement of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to the laid-back charm of the Great Comp Summer Show, our round up of this year’s best flower shows, festivals and events.

We'll be updating this article through the year so be sure to check back for what's new. Bookmark it for quick and easy re-finding!

So let's make some plans and make the most of what's going on. Here's what you've got to look forward to for 2023:

Gardens Illustrated events and show guide 2023

MAY

19 May - 30 September: Staged Nature

An exhibition of nature on and off stage at Glyndebourne, featuring an unseen animation from David Hockney. Ticket-holders for Glyndebourne Festival (19 May - 27 August) will have access as well as those visiting on open days in September. It will also be available online.

Location Glyndebourne, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 5UU
Web glyndebourne.com

30 May - 2 July: Tree Listening

Visit Exbury Gardens to find out what happens beneath the bark of trees. The Tree Listening Project installation, using highly sensitive microphones, will allow visitors to hear the sounds of water and air moving in the xylem of trees.

Tickets £15 garden admission
Location Exbury Gardens, The Estate Office, Exbury, Southampton, Hampshire SO45 1AZ
Web exbury.co.uk

JUNE

8 June: Botanical Painting Workshop with Katie Lenegan

Learn botanical watercolour skills immersed in the heart of Daylesford's Market Garden.

Open 10am - 4pm
Tickets From £135
Location Daylesford Farm, Daylesford near Kingham, Cotswolds, GL56 0YG
Web daylesford.com

8 June: British Flowers Week

British Flowers Week returns to the Garden Museum for five days of sustainable floral installations, including work from Bex Partridge.

Open 10am - 5pm
Tickets Admission £14
Location Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7LB.
Web gardenmuseum.org.uk

8 - 27 June: Garden Tours with a two-course lunch

Join a senior member of the gardening team at Gravetye Manor for a tour of the gardens followed by a two-course lunch in the private dining room. Dates on 8 June, 15 June, 22 June and 27 June.

Open 10.15am
Tickets £90
Location Gravetye Manor, Vowels Lane, West Hoathy, Sussex RH19 4LJ
Web gravetyemanor.com

9 - 11 June: Planted Country

Hosted at Stourhead, Planted Country will feature three days of nature-based design talks and installations.

Open 10am - 5pm
Tickets £7 in advance, £12 on the door, free for National Trust members.
Location Stourhead, near Mere, Wiltshire BA12 6QD
Web planted-community.co.uk

10 June: Royal Windsor Flower Show

Flower show raising funds for the charitable work of the Royal Windsor Rose & Horticultural Society.

Open 10am - 6pm
Tickets £20
Location Windsor Great Park, SL4 2BS
Web rwhs.com

11 June: Elkstone Village Gardens Open Day

Visit many open gardens and enjoy refreshments including teas and ice creams.

Open 2-6pm
Tickets £5
Location Elkstone, Gloucestershire
Web elkstonevillage.com

11 June: Greenrooms Houseplant Market

Returning to Propyard in Bristol, the region's best botanical brands will be in attendance.

Open 10am-5pm
Tickets Free entry
Location The Crane Room, Propyard, Bristol, BS2 0SE
Web greenroomsmarket.com

11 June: Visit Chiswick House and Gardens on London Open Gardens Weekend

London Open Gardens ticket holders will be able to visit the 17th century kitchen garden and glasshouse. Tickets allow entry to over 100 gardens.

Open 11am - 3.3pm
Tickets £20 (for 117 gardens to visit)
Location Chiswick House and Garden
Web londongardenstrust.org

12 - 18 June: 130 Years of Planting Excellence

Visitors can pre-book access to the Elizabethan Mansion House and view the significant horticultural archive which unlocks the exciting history of the notable rare and unusual plants at Borde Hill.

Open 10.30 am - 12.15pm and 1.30 - 3.15pm
Tickets £16
Location Borde Hill, Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1XP
Web bordehill.co.uk

15 June: Yeo Valley Organic Garden Workshop

The theme of this Organic Garden Workshop is 'Garden Detox' where you will learn to live in peace and harmony with all the insects in your garden.

Open 10am - 12.30pm
Tickets £38
Location Yeo Valley Organic Garden, Blagdon, BS40 7YE.
Web yeovalley.co.uk

15 - 18 June: BBC Gardeners' World Live

Gardens inspiration, stands, exhibits and expert advice.

Open 9am - 6pm, Sunday 9am - 5pm
Tickets From £25
Location NEC, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT
Web bbcgardenersworldlive.com

16 - 18 June: Handmade in Oxford

150 makers will be exhibiting their wares at Waterperry Gardens for the third edition of Handmade in Oxford.

Location Waterperry Gardens, Oxford OX33 1LA
Web handmadeinbritain.co.uk

21 June: 5x15 talk

The final and only live event from Kew's 5x15 programme, in which RBG Kew's director of science will reveal the wonders of biodiversity and our role in protecting it.

Open 7 - 9pm
Tickets TBC
Web kew.org

21 June: Midsummer Magic - An evening tour of the gardens with Pimms

Join the gardening team at Cowper & Newton museum for an evening tour of the 18th century garden with a glass of Pimms.

Open 7 - 9pm
Tickets £10 - to book email info@cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk or call 01234 711 516
Web cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk

21 June - 10 September: Jean Cooke - Ungardening

Visit the Garden Museum for the first ever exhibition of Jean Cooke's (1927 - 2008) garden paintings. Cooke was not a conventional gardener and once listed "ungardening" as her hobby. Discover rarely seen works by a historically underrated artist.

Open 10am-5pm
Tickets £14
Web gardenmuseum.org.uk

23 June: Garden Roses Day

Celebrate summer at Dorset Walled Garden when the roses will be in full flower with a tablescaping demonstration, lunch and a flower arranging workshop.

Open 10am - 4pm
Tickets £165
Location Dorset Walled Garden, Upper Sydling House, Up Sydling, Dorchester, DT2 9PH.
Web dorsetwalledgarden.co.uk

25 June: Mindful Gardening

Sue Jeffries will guide you through the practice of Mindful Gardening. You will develop a personal plan to. help you continue to practice mindful gardening at home.

Open 10am - 12.30pm or 1.30pm - 4pm
Tickets From £35
Location RHS Garden Bridgewater, Occupation Road off Leigh Road, Worsley, Salford, Greater Manchester M28 2LJ.
Web rhs.org.uk

23 - 25 June: Blenheim Palace Flower Show

Shop from exhibitors for plants and arts and crafts in the setting of Blenheim palace.

Open TBC
Tickets TBC
Location Blenheim Palace. Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PP
Web blenheimflowershow.co.uk

30 June - 2 July: Jekka's HerbFest

Celebration of herbs with talks, gardening workshops and cookery demonstrations from experts headed up by Jekka McVicar.

Open 9.30am - 4.30pm
Tickets £45
Location Jekka's Herb Farm, Rose Cottage, Shellards Lane, Alveston, Bristol BS35 3SY.
Web jekkas.com

JULY

1 -2 July: Wellington Open Gardens

Private gardens will be open to raise money for charity.

Open 11am - 4pm
Tickets From £11.55
Location Wellington Town Council, Wellington, TF1 1LX
Web eventbrite.co.uk

4 - 9 July: RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

Shop for plants from specialist nurseries and be inspired by gardens.

Open 10am - 6.30pm, Sunday 10am - 5.30pm
Tickets From £28.85
Location Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU
Web rhs.org.uk

6 July: Summer Jazz Night in Kelmarsh Gardens

An evening of Jazz at Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens with the Duice Jazz Band.

Open 12pm - 9pm
Tickets £20
Location Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens, Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire NN6 9LY
Web kelmarsh.com

7 July - 17 September: Rooted

A summer programme of art installations at Wakehurst inspired by trees.

Open 10am - 6pm
Tickets Free with garden entry
Location Wakehurst, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, Sussex, RH17 6TN
Web kew.org

8 July: Sussex Gin Festival

The UK’s Biggest Gin Festival returns to Borde Hill for 2023 with exciting new bars, zones and stages, including a craft beer garden and a new Gin Boulevard.

Open 5.30 - 9pm
Tickets £15
Location Borde Hill, Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1XP
Web bordehill.co.uk

13 - 16 July: Charleston Festival of the Garden

Four days of talks, demonstrations and entertainment bringing together pioneering gardeners, designers, writers, artists and activists. Day and festival tickets available.

Open TBC
Tickets TBC
Location Charleston, Firle, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 6LL.
Web charleston.org.uk

15 & 16 July: Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show

Inspiring garden designs, horticulture talks, sculpture artists, nurseries, garden tools, furniture and crafts.

Open 9.45 am - 4.30pm
Tickets From £12.50
Location Ladies Field, Belvoir Castle, Grantham, NG32 1PE
Web belvoircastleflowerandgardenshow.co.uk

19 - 23 July: RHS Flower Show Tatton Park

Floral displays set in magnificent parkland.

Open 10am - 5pm
Tickets From £29.85
Location Tatton Park, Mereheath Lane, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN
Web rhs.org.uk

23 - 25 July: Stitch in Bloom: Botanical Embellishment Workshop

Join textile artist Lora Avedian on this three day course to learn how to create floral embellishments using embroidery and fabric manipulation techniques.

Open 10.30am - 4pm
Tickets £370
Location Botanical Brasserie Restaurant Courtyard, Kew Gardens, Richmond, London TW9 3AE
Web kew.org

31 July - 24 September: The Sculpture Garden at Ashridge House

Ashridge gardens are playing host to a sculpture exhibition for the first time. The Sculpture Garden is a celebration of contemporary and traditional art featuring internationally acclaimed artists such as Diane Maclean FRSS, Giles Penny ARBS and Jenny Pickford. Set within 190 acres of Grade II* registered grounds that incorporate formal gardens and fairy-tale woodland, the exhibition is an opportunity to go on a journey of discovery.

Open 9am-5pm
Tickets £12
Location Ashridge House, Ashridge, Hertfordshire, HP4 1NS
Web ashridgehouse.org.uk

AUGUST

2 - 6 August: RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show

Specialist plant nurseries, expert tips and mouth-watering food.

Open TBC
Tickets TBC
Location RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8A
Web rhs.org.uk

4 - 13 August: Visit Shropshire Petal Fields

Shropshire Petals have joined forces with Shropshire Festivals to allow visitors to come to their flower fields to see delphiniums, sunflowers, cornflowers and other wildflowers in full bloom.

Open TBC
Tickets £8.95
Location Shropshire Petal Fields, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 9BD
Web shropshirefestivals.co.uk

12 & 13 August: The Great Comp Summer Show

Specialist plant nurseries, artists and crafts people.

Open TBC
Tickets TBC
Location Great Comp Garden, Comp Lane, Platt near Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 8QS
Web greatcompgarden.co.uk

18 - 20 August: RHS Garden Rosemoor Flower Show

Specialist plant nurseries, floral displays, demonstrations and live music.

Open TBC
Tickets TBC
Location RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH
Web rhs.org.uk

SEPTEMBER

3 September: Sussex Prairie Late Summer Plant Fair

Specialist plant nurseries.

Open 12-5pm
Tickets £10
Location Sussex Prairie Garden, Morlands Farm, Wheatsheaf Road, nr Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9AT.
Web sussexprairies.co.uk

5 - 10 September: RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show

Specialist plant nurseries, floral displays, demonstrations and exhibitors.

Open TBC
Tickets TBC
Location RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB
Web rhs.org.uk

7 September: 'In Conversation' Chatsworth and Chiswick

Part of the 15th Chiswick Book Festival, a conversation between garden writer and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh and Rosie Fyles, head of gardens at Chiswick House.

Open 6pm
Tickets £15
Location Garden Pavilion, at Chiswick House and Gardens
Web chiswickbookfestival.net

9 September: Arranging with Dahlias workshop

Spend the morning picking dahlias from the Pod & Pip cutting garden and mastering the art of working with dahlias to make a beautiful arrangement. All materials and coffee and cake provided.

Open 10am-12pm
Tickets £75
Location Pod & Pip, Ebble House, Stratford Tony, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4AT
Web podandpip.co.uk

11 September: Autumn Block Printing Workshop

Join Speronella Marsh from Hare's Tale for a block printing workshop at Daylesford Farm.

Open 10am-4pm
Tickets £175
Location Daylesford Farm, Daylesford near Kingham, Cotswolds, GL56 0YG
Web daylesford.com

15 - 17 September: Harrogate Autumn Flower Show

Inspiration from show gardens, a plant nursery pavilion, floral art, garden shopping, expert advice and live entertainment.

Open TBC
Tickets TBC
Location Newby Hall & Gardens, Estate Office, Newby Hall, Ripton, North Yorkshire HG4 5AE
Web flowershow.org.uk

22 -24 September: Malvern Autumn Show

Flower show, shopping and giant veg growing displays.

Open 9am - 6pm
Tickets From £20
Location Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6NW
Web malvernautumn.co.uk

28 September - 1 October: Orticolario

Show located on the shores of north Italy's Lake Como highlighting gardens, plants and craftsmanship.

Location Villa Erba, Largo Luchino Visconti 4, 22012 Cernobbio, Italy.
Web orticolario.it

OCTOBER

5 & 7 October: Hydrangea Wreath Workshop

Learn to make a hydrangea wreath for home styling in autumn. Includes tips on drying hydrangeas, all materials and refreshments.

Open 10am-12pm
Tickets £65
Location Pod & Pip, Ebble House, Stratford Tony, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4AT
Web podandpip.co.uk

16, 17 & 18 October: An Introduction to Garden Design

Students will be given first-hand insights into the founding principles of spatial design, the art and craft of planting design, drawing techniques and designing with a range of hard materials.

Open 10am-4pm
Tickets £550+VAT
Location Yorkshire School of Garden Design
Web ysgd.co.uk

Dates and prices correct at time of publication. Please check details for each show prior to travelling.