Hotels near Chelsea Flower Show

The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, SW3 4SR
Nearest Tube: Sloane Square

Every year, thousands of amateur and professional gardeners descend on the Royal Hospital Chelsea for the annual 5 day Chelsea Flower Show. Organised by the Royal Horticultural Society, this event is attended by people from all over the world and hotels in the area are usually fully booked. From trendy sculptures to traditional roses, this show has it all. The center of Chelsea Flower Show show is the Great Pavilion where competitors vie for top honours. The Show Gardens host many designs from the worlds top gardeners all with different themes to fuel your thoughts. There are also many sellers of gardening accessories both traditional and innovative. All tickets for this event have to be pre purchased. The nearest underground station is at Sloane Square station (District and Circle lines) and is a 10-minute walk from the show. For the duration of the show, there is special bus service running from Victoria Station.

Every year in May since 1913, the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital have played host to the Chelsea Flower Show and this paradise of colour and creativity is must on any garden, plant or flower enthusiast's calendar of events to attend in London.

Hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society since 1862, this flower, plant and garden show was originally named the Royal Horticultural Society's Spring Show, held in neighbouring district Kensington. It then moved to the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital in 1913, renamed the Chelsea Flower Show and it has been held here ever since. Approximately 157,000 people visit the 5 day show every year - however the first 2 days are solely for members of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Around 600 international and national exhibitors from countries such as France, Italy, Australia, Jamaica and India, display their work every year at the show with garden designers using the five days to showcase their skills and creativity - and only the best of the best are chosen to exhibit their spectacular designs. From rural courtyard gardens to specifically designed city gardens, the creativity and expertise on show at this world famous event is the finest in the world, providing inspiration for home owners and horticulturalists alike.

The Great Pavilion is the centre stage and it is truly amazing. Over 100 leading nurseries and floral exhibitors present their work in this giant space of colour, for which they have prepared for months in advance. The latest gardening equipment, accessories and products will be available to purchase, there will be flower arranging demonstrations in the Floristry Marquee and the Lifelong Learning displays provide a wealth of information for those wanting to learn more about the science of horticulture.

Tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show must be purchased in advance and public ticket prices for Thursday, Friday and Saturday range between £17 and £39. The show opens daily at 8am, closing at 8pm (Saturday at 5.30pm). The sell-off of display plants begins at 4pm on Saturday. Children under 5 years are not permitted.

As always, travelling on public transport is strongly advised. Sloane Square tube station (District and Circle lines) is only a 10 minute walk to the showground and there are numerous bus routes servicing the area. There will also be a special bus service running every day between Victoria Station (mainline trains) and the showground from 7am to 8pm (6pm Saturday). If you are travelling by car, there is limited and expensive parking available in Battersea Park which is approximately 25 minutes walking distance away.

Other places of interest to visit in the area include Kings Road with all its fabulous shops, cafes, bars and restaurants and South Kensington's ´museum-land´ is only a 15 minute walk away (or one stop after Sloane Square on the tube) and here you can explore the V & A Museum, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum.

Hotel accommodation in Chelsea is quite restricted. Chelsea is located in the south west of central London and is not an accepted mass tourist area being mainly upmarket residential. Close by is Victoria, South Kensington, Fulham and Earls Court all of which offer many hotels of all standards.

Gloucester Road is one only 2 stops from Sloane Square and 3 stops from Victoria so access to the Flower Show from around this area is simple. Notable hotels very close to Gloucester Road include the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, the Montana Hotel and Harrington Hall Hotel.

Earls Court underground on the same line is just one stop further along and here you can look at the Ibis Hotel Earls Court.

Fulham, also quite close, offers La Reserve Hotel hotel which also has car parking and in Chelsea there is the 5 star Conrad Hotel located at Chelsea Harbour with views over the marina.

The Victoria line also runs in only one stop to Green Park and here you can look at the Park Lane Mews Hotel which for its amazing location offers great rates or indeed if money is plentiful Park Lane hotels such as the Dorchester Hotel.