RHS Flower Shows: Chelsea vs Hampton Court
As tickets go on sale in October for the popular RHS Flower Shows at Chelsea (traditionally held in May) and Hampton Court (traditionally held in July), I wanted to write about attending both events this year in case, like me, you’re wondering which one to attend - or whether to attend both!
Whilst RHS Chelsea is no doubt the more well known of the two, it is also significantly more expensive and harder to get tickets for, however it also holds the glamour and grandeur of such a large historic event with great aplomb. With it’s prestigious awards, renowned garden designers and connections to royalty, it certainly feels like a significant date in the gardening calendar.
Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), sat in the Netflix Bridgerton Garden, RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024
If you would like to find out more about RHS Chelsea Flower Show, see my blog post on it here: RHS Chelsea Flower Show Press Day 2024 Highlights.
The flower show at Hampton Court must not be overlooked however, as it is also a wonderful day out, showcasing an abundance of colour in the beautiful gardens on display, with many charming and wonderful aspects to the show giving it a more relaxed feel.
Every year, the iconic RHS letters are given over to a different designer both at Chelsea and Hampton. This was my favourite at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, 2024.
The Gardens:
The show gardens at RHS Chelsea themselves are exquisitely beautiful, conceptual and ambitious, which in turn, makes them unachievable for us mere budget, space and time poor mortals. However, it’s like the couture of the fashion world, or the Arch Digest of the interiors world, just because we can’t have an NY apartment like Lily Allen, doesn’t mean we can’t stop and marvel at it for a moment!
The RHS Hampton on the other hand, is a much more relaxed affair, maybe slightly lacking in the glamour of Chelsea, but the show gardens are just as spectacular in their own more rustic and perhaps, achievable, way. There is a lot more space which helps it to feel less crowded than Chelsea, giving you better access to the gardens themselves, but do wear comfortable shoes, as you will be covering a lot of steps to see everything.
Food and Shopping:
The food and stalls at RHS Chelsea are also probably a little more substantial, with lots of choice on offer, but be sure to go with plenty in your wallet - a friend got stung for £16 for a small glass of Pimms! At Hampton Court the stalls, whilst still plentiful are more spread out, making browsing a somewhat more pleasant experience and it’s interesting to note having talked to a few sellers who do both events, that they often make a lot more money at RHS Hampton Court than at Chelsea.
Vibes:
Although I love a good garden, I also love these events for the general vibe which at Chelsea is particularly fun. The floral dresses and brightly coloured trainers, botanical inspired suits and colourful bow ties, hats and fascinators and if you’re lucky, a celeb spot or two, make it such a great day out for people watching and just soaking up the general celebration of creativity, imagination and colour.
Dress Code:
When it comes to fashion, if, you’re wondering what to wear as a first time visitor, don’t be fooled by all the images of celebrities in dresses and heels. Whilst there is a lot of that which does go on, on the general admission days, the style is slightly more relaxed - there is still a lot of colour and individuality on display but do also remember, both events are essentially in a field and if it’s been wet - there will be some areas quite muddy from all the footfall! Basically, don’t do what I did on my first visit and wear a floor length summer dress, as it soaked up all the mud!
People do tend to dress up more at Chelsea than they do at Hampton, but there isn’t really a dress code at either. I don’t get out ‘kid free’ much, so any excuse to pop on a nice dress is welcomed. I would say whatever goes now: If you want to be vibrant, flamboyant and go all out, you certainly won’t be the only one, but equally if you just want to be comfy, that would be fine too!
Setting:
At RHS Hampton, you also gain entry into the Hampton Court Palace gardens which provide a lovely quiet place to take a picnic if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the show. The gardens are beautiful but vast so it may depend on how much energy you have after seeing the show, to really take advantage of the glorious setting. One thing you cannot miss, however, is the stunning walkway between show sites at RHS Hampton that goes over the river looking up to the Palace. We were lucky enough to get there super early (before general opening times) whilst the sun was still rising and it took our breath away.
Gardens at Hampton Court Palace which are available to have a look around during RHS Hampton Court Flower Show.
Travel:
Being in central London, RHS Chelsea Flower Show is easy to access via public transport, with so many train links to central, you can pop on the tube to Sloane Square Station and enjoy a ten minute walk from there through some beautiful residential streets with spectacular houses and enviable front pocket garden displays. Hampton Court is easy to get to via car and offers free parking (some adjacent to the show, some requires a shuttle bus) which is much appreciated when so many other ticketed events sting you for parking too.
In Summary:
RHS Chelsea Flower Show:
Exquisite aspirational show gardens
World renowned garden designers
Glamourous historic event
Great vibe and place for people watching
Embraces creativity, flamboyance and style
Good public transport links
Can be crowded around the gardens
Lots of food, drink and shopping available
Chelsea in Bloom
RHS Hampton Court Flower Show:
Show gardens are inspirational and colourful ‘gardener’s’ gardens
Gardens are more natural and relaxed, less structural and conceptual
More spread out so it’s less crowded with greater access to the show gardens
Relaxed vibe and less ‘dressy’
Stunning setting and access to Hampton Court gardens
Food, drinks and shopping available
Easy free parking available
The Potting Shed in the Money Saving Garden by Anya Lautenbach ('The Garden Fairy') at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2024
I hope this has helped show some of the pros and cons of each event. I for one cannot decide which I prefer, so will probably try and attend both again. I visit with a friend and it’s not just about the gardens of course, but having a full day to catch up in such beautiful settings is a joy in itself and it’s a tradition I’d love to continue.
If you’ve been to either, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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