Chelsea Flower Show Hospitality Package 2025

 

Event Overview & Schedule

• The Chelsea Flower Show 2026 will run from Tuesday, 19 May through Saturday, 23 May

• Official timings:

  • Tuesday & Wednesday (RHS Members’ Days): 08:00–20:00

  • Thursday & Friday (Public Days): 08:00–20:00

  • Friday evening – Chelsea Late event: 17:30–22:00

  • Saturday (final public day): 08:00–17:30, with plant sell-off beginning around 16:00

• A Charity Gala Preview and press events typically occur on Monday 18 May

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🎟 Best Days to Attend

• Tuesday–Wednesday (Members’ Days): Ideal for a quieter visit with freshly set out gardens and fewer crowds

• Thursday–Friday: Buzzing atmosphere, good for public access and mixing with visitors. Friday evening offers a special Chelsea Late experience with live music, drinks, and a relaxed vibe

• Saturday: Energetic final day; the plant sell-off feature makes it appealing—but expect denser crowds near closing time

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🌸 What to Expect at the Show

• Show Gardens & Floral Marquee: Spectrum of avant‑garde display gardens, artisan and urban gardens, and bold installations by top designers

• Experiential areas & Discovery Zones: Explore plant science, sustainability, art installations, and educational exhibits

• Shopping & food markets: Boutique plant exhibitors, artisan crafts, garden décor, and British food and drink stalls. Some premium hospitality packages include gourmet meals and afternoon tea experiences

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🍷 VIP & Hospitality Packages

Official hospitality offerings such as Spring Meridian, Spring Nocturne, and Queen Elizabeth II Suite are available, offering priority access, exclusive bar & lounge, gourmet dining, and live entertainment Eventmasters Hospitality

• Prices typically range from £559 to £1,149+, depending on package and included services Eventmasters Hospitality

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🚇 Transport & Logistics

• Location: Held within the historic grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in central London (SW3)

• Public transport is recommended: Closest access via Sloane Square Underground (~10–15 minutes’ walk), Victoria station (train & Tube), and bus routes serving Chelsea. Parking is limited and must be pre-booked if available (e.g. Battersea Park park-and-ride)

 

🏆 Key Award Categories & What to Look For

Best in Show — “Garden of the Year”

• 2025 Winner: Cha no Niwa – Japanese Tea Garden, designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara—also awarded Best in Show.
  This garden stood out for its precision, layered planting, traditional ikebana influence, Japanese maples, moss, gravel terraces, and a tea-house crafted from sustainable materials

• These top gardens typically feature strong narratives and immersive design: expect serene, contemplative spaces or bold ecological themes in 2026.

Gold Medal Gardens

Gold medals are typically awarded to around four Main Avenue Show Gardens. 2025 recipients included:

• The Glasshouse Garden (Jo Thompson)

• The Avanade Intelligent Garden (Tom Massey & Je Ahn)

• The King’s Trust Garden: Seeding Success (Joe Perkins)

Look for these hallmarks at the 2026 Show:

• Beautifully composed planting (e.g. scented roses, layered grasses)

• Thoughtful construction and engineering

• Strong storytelling, often linked to ecological, wellbeing, or social themes

Silver-gilt & Other Awards

Also worth spotting:

• Silver‑gilt: Notable gardens in 2025 included Hospice UK: Garden of Compassion (Tom Hoblyn) and The Hospitalfield Arts Garden (Nigel Dunnett), recognised for outstanding construction and emotional resonance

• “All About Plants” category: Seawilding by Ryan McMahon won gold in 2025 for its marine-inspired planting and relocation concept

• Container, Balcony & Small Gardens: Winners such as Navium Marine: Blue Mind Garden (balcony) and Komorebi Garden (container) stand out for compact creativity

Special Awards & Honours

• The Best Construction Award, Environmental Innovation Award, Houseplant Studio of the Year, and other accolades are presented to gardens that demonstrate design excellence or innovation. In 2025, The Pathway Garden (Allon Hoskin & Robert Beaudin) won the Environmental Innovation Award

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🔍 How to Identify Winning Gardens on Your Visit

1. Start at Main Avenue: Always where the biggest Show Gardens stand—major medal winners are located here, closer to the entrance.

2. Review RHS announcements: A winners board or brochure often lists Garden of the Year, Best in Show, and medal categories.

3. Look for standout features:

   • Aesthetic harmony and plant precision (e.g. a Japanese-inspired layout)

   • Interactive or thematic tech use (like AI sensing in Avanade Intelligent Garden)

   • Plants-for-purpose focus (e.g. rescue orchids, seagrass, or climate-adapted species)

   • Rich planting palettes: deep reds, naturalistic grasses, textured stone, water rills instead of ponds

4. Listen to judges or RHS commentary: If there are guided walk-throughs or talks, the judges may highlight award winners.

5. Check the Great Pavilion and Marquee: Plant and floral exhibitors are also awarded—for example, Best Exhibit in the Pavilion in 2025 went to Raymond J Evison Ltd for clematis displays

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🌼 Quick Reference: 2025 Medal Highlights

Award Category	2025 Winners (Garden/Designer)
Garden of the Year (Best in Show)	Cha no Niwa – Japanese Tea Garden (Kazuyuki Ishihara)
Gold – Show Gardens	The Glasshouse Garden, Avanade Intelligent Garden, Seeding Success
Silver‑gilt	Garden of Compassion, Hospitalfield Arts Garden
All About Plants (Gold)	Seawilding (Ryan McMahon)
Balcony/Container (Gold)	Navium Marine: Blue Mind Garden, Komorebi Garden

 

🎯 Planning Tips for 2026

• Visit Main Avenue early in the morning (especially on Members’ Days—Tuesday/Wednesday) to see gold medal gardens with fewer crowds.

• Take notes or photos of gardens that have plaques or signage indicating medal placement—you can cross-reference later with RHS award lists (often posted near the exit or in the Great Pavilion).

• Look for innovation labels—such as interactive displays, sustainability messaging, or ecological themes (likely to correspond with Silver‑gilt or best‑in‑show gardens in 2026).

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✅ Why This Matters for 2026 Visitors

The 2025 show emphasised ecological awareness, artistic expression, technical construction excellence, and powerful narratives. Expect a similar structure for 2026, making it easier to identify the standout medal-winning instalments:

• Bold designs with green or healing narratives (like Cha no Niwa or the Compassion Garden)

• Cutting-edge concepts (AI tech in planting, rewilding themes like Seawilding)

• Elegant floral artistry or meticulous plant displays (as in container or pavilion exhibits)

 

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✅ Quick Summary