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Whether you’re a veteran of the show or visiting for the first time, the <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RHS Chelsea Flower Show</a> (19-23 May) is always a delight, taking over the grounds of Royal Hospital Chelsea with show-stopping gardens, celebrity talks and plenty of Pimms. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/floristry-great-pavion.jpg" alt="RHS Chelsea Flower Show " class="wp-image-92372" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">RHS Chelsea Flower Show&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>



And this year promises to be a stellar one with a new sponsor, Range Rover (they&#8217;ll have an installation you can check out) and a whopping 37 gardens to browse, including show gardens, sanctuary gardens and (waving the flag for flat dwellers), balcony&nbsp;and container garden inspo. 



Top of our must-see list is the <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/gardens/2026/heliotropic-carousel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heliotropic Carousel</a> garden, which rotates to maximise (or reduce) exposure to sunlight &#8211; much like Muddy on holiday. We&#8217;re also looking forward to checking out the lush <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/gardens/2026/tate-britain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tate Britain</a> garden, landscaped to merge art, nature and community, and we&#8217;re also hearing good things about the magical <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/gardens/2026/eden-project" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eden Project: Bring Me Sunshine</a> garden &#8211; inspired by regeneration and the youngsters of Morecambe Bay, where a £100 million new Eden Project has recently been granted planning permission. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="989" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-09.33.31-989x1024.png" alt="Laura Stoddart " class="wp-image-11092" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-09.33.31-989x1024.png 989w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-09.33.31-290x300.png 290w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-09.33.31-768x795.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-09.33.31-1484x1536.png 1484w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-16-at-09.33.31.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 989px) 100vw, 989px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Laura Stoddart&#8217;s tulips collection</figcaption></figure>



Alongside the gardens, there&#8217;s are dozens of interesting exhibitor stands to wander around too, from outdoor furniture to seeds, toiletries, sculptures and gardening gear. Catching our eye this year are <a href="https://laurastoddart.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Laura Stoddart&#8217;s</a> botanical stationery and homewares (far easier to take home on the tube than a giant sculpture) and <a href="https://happycabbagelondon.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Happy Cabbage London</a> for the most gorgeous summer dresses and nightwear. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/05/Dorchester-afternoon-tea-940x627-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="Dorchester afternoon tea " class="wp-image-11094" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/05/Dorchester-afternoon-tea-940x627-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/05/Dorchester-afternoon-tea-940x627-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/05/Dorchester-afternoon-tea-940x627-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/05/Dorchester-afternoon-tea-940x627-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Dorchester Afternoon Tea</figcaption></figure>



It’s a fair old hike around the show, so give yourself at least four hours plus time to visit the stands. Food-wise there&#8217;s a wide choice for all budgets, including new Tapas by José Pizarro (£69.50pp) at the <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/food-drink/menus/sloane-restaurant-menus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sloane Restaurant</a> and <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/food-drink/menus/promenard-dorchester-menu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dorchester Afternoon Tea</a> (£110pp) at The Promenade. 



There’s no dress code, but when Muddy visited last year it became clear that if you rock a floral dress, sun hat and flats or wide-legged trousers, T-shirt and trainers, you’re not going to look out of place. Our top tip? Visit on the final day and grab a botanical bargain at the Big Plant Sell-Off – an opportunity to grab the very best plants for an absolute steal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chelsea-in-bloom">CHELSEA IN BLOOM</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="633" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/05/016R62B2324mzskin-1024x633.jpg" alt="Mz King " class="wp-image-21300" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/05/016R62B2324mzskin-1024x633.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/05/016R62B2324mzskin-300x185.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/05/016R62B2324mzskin-768x475.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/05/016R62B2324mzskin.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Even if you&#8217;re not going to the show this year, you can still get a floral fix in the borough (and Instagram opps) at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chelseainbloom.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chelsea in Bloom</a>&nbsp;(18 – 24 May), produced by Cadogan, in association with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Each year the borough’s retailers, hotels and restaurants go blooming crazy competing in the themed annual floral art comp (and London’s largest free flower festival). This year&#8217;s theme is Out of This World, so we’re very much looking forward to walking the CIB route (Sloane Street, Pavilion Road, Duke of York Square and the King&#8217;s Road) to see the fabulous floral designs. 



And the flower displays aren&#8217;t the only reason you should visit SW3, because there are also some amazing shopping opps and brilliant workshops as part of the Chelsea in Bloom celebrations. For example, there&#8217;s a 15-minute Out Of This World experience at Dermalogica, a Mystical Astrology evening at Free People (20 May), Sarah Chapman Energy &amp; Glow Experience (21 May) and floral cocktails with edible flowers at Sticks &#8216;n&#8217; Sushi. See the full guide to what&#8217;s on <a href="https://www.chelseainbloom.co.uk/whats-on/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-don-t-miss-nbsp">DON’T MISS…&nbsp;</h2>



To end your green-fingered day out west, why not a wander around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Chelsea Physic Garden</a>&nbsp;on Royal Hospital Road? It&#8217;s an oasis tucked away beside the River Thames and home to thousands of edible, medicinal and historical plants.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-getting-there">GETTING THERE</h2>



Unless you’re lucky enough to live in a swanky Chelsea townhouse (we wish), the best way to reach the show is by tube – hop off at Sloane Square Station – a 10-min stroll away. If you’re planing on driving, there’s a shuttle bus running between the show and (pre-booked) public parking at Battersea Park.&nbsp;



The <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RHS Chelsea Flower Show</a> runs from 19-23 May at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, SW3 4SR.

Everything you need to know: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026

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