Britain’s best flower festivals
To celebrate the start of Chelsea Flower Show, here are the bloomin’ best events around the country
Every year I mean to organise myself to get Chelsea Flower Show tickets and every year I forget. It’s on my bucket list but that bucket seems to have a hole in it.
But the good news is, there are plenty of flower festivals to visit afterwards, if you miss the big one. Here’s my pick of the best:
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
May 23-27
The biggest of all and one of the most famous flower shows in the world, is of course, Chelsea Flower Show, which kicks off today. The Show Gardens get all the headlines, but the Sanctuary Gardens are all about wellbeing and inspiring spaces. There’s a new All About Plants category, for specialist blooms and a Balcony and Container Garden section for city-dwellers.
There are some tickets left, here.
Blenheim Palace Flower Show
June 23-25
After Chelsea, head west to the Cotswolds for a flower festival in a historic location. The world-famous Blenheim Palace is hosting its popular flower festival late June and has garden displays, floral pavilions, plants to buy and lots of food and drink.
Buy tickets here.
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
July 4 – 9
Next comes Hampton Court Garden Festival, which transforms the lovely Tudor palace into a gardener’s paradise, with Show Gardens, Floral Marquee, local allotments, family entertainment and shopping. It’s a fun day out in a beautiful location.
Buy tickets here.
RHS Flower Show Tatton Park
July 19 – 23
Another RHS event is at Tatton Park, near Manchester. This features walk-through display gardens, Greener Front Gardens for inspo on what to do with your small front garden and Young Designer Gardens for up-and-coming gardeners. There’s also a Plant Village, Floral Marquee and Flower School.
Buy tickets here.
RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show
August 2-6
Another fun flower show takes place in Essex in August at Hyde Hall. There are displays from nurseries, talks and demonstrations and even a plant nursery to look after your purchases while you make the most of the food and drink and craft stalls.
Buy tickets here.
RHS Garden Rosemoor Flower Show
August 18 – 20
In Devon, there’s a wonderful weekend of gardens at RHS Garden Rosemoor. It features displays from nurseries, talks and demonstrations, floral displays and family-friendly activities.
Buy tickets here.
RHS Garden Wisley
September 5-10
Finally, as summer draws to a close, head to RHS Garden Wisley – the enormous flagship RHS garden near Woking in Surrey. It’s all about fabulous blooms and dahlias here – the National Dahlia Society Show’s marquee is not to be missed.
Buy tickets here.
