A London Wine Expert’s Guide to RHS Chelsea Flower Show: Where to Drink, Eat and Explore During Chelsea Week

Here’s how to navigate Chelsea Flower Show season properly from the gardens worth your time to where to eat, drink and soak up the atmosphere afterwards.

Chelsea during flower show week feels like London at its absolute best.

Flowers spill onto pavements, restaurants suddenly become impossible to book, everyone stays outside slightly longer with a glass of something cold, and for one week only, the whole neighbourhood feels different.

As a London-based wine journalist, Chelsea Flower Show sits in that perfect overlap between wine, food, gardens and hospitality which is probably why I love it so much.

Whether you have tickets to RHS Chelsea Flower Show or simply want to enjoy the atmosphere around it, here’s how I’d recommend doing Chelsea properly.

The Garden I Couldn’t Stop Thinking About

One of the gardens that genuinely stopped me in my tracks this year was the Provence-inspired garden designed by James Basson.

Inspired by southern France, it recreated:

• Ochre landscapes

• Pine woodland

• Wild thyme

• Terracotta tones

What I loved wasn’t simply that it looked beautiful.

It had that quiet Provence feeling that’s difficult to explain but instantly recognisable once you’re standing in it.

The kind of place where you automatically slow your pace.

My advice?

• Don’t try to rush through Chelsea photographing everything

• The gardens you remember are normally the ones you spend time sitting in

Why Wine and Chelsea Flower Show Work So Well Together

One of the nicest moments of the week was spending time with the team from Babylonstoren.

Chelsea Flower Show always creates these unusual overlaps between:

• Gardens

• Hospitality

• Design

• Food

• Wine

On paper it shouldn’t quite work.

Yet somehow it always does.

And yes, there may have been some discreet AI assistance removing a rather unwelcome cold sore from photographs this week. Not every guest deserves Instagram exposure.

The Wine I’ll Be Drinking This Summer

The standout glass of the week?

Babylonstoren rosé made from Mourvèdre.

It was:

• Pale

• Elegant

• Dangerously easy to drink

It felt made for exactly this time of year.

Fresh enough to drink outside in the sunshine, but with enough texture that you’d happily continue through lunch.

You’ll see more from this tasting in my upcoming Platinum Magazine coverage.

Where To Go After RHS Chelsea Flower Show

My biggest piece of advice?

Don’t rush home afterwards.

Chelsea itself becomes part of the experience.

For Classic Chelsea People Watching

• Head towards Sloane Square

• Find somewhere outside with a glass of wine

• Simply watch Chelsea do what Chelsea does best

If You Want To Escape The Crowds Slightly

• Walk towards Duke of York Square• Enjoy a calmer atmosphere only minutes away from the main crowds

Allow Time To Wander

Some of the best parts of Chelsea Flower Show week happen between destinations rather than at them.

Chelsea in Bloom: The Best Free Alternative To RHS Chelsea Flower Show

If you don’t have tickets, Chelsea in Bloom is genuinely one of London’s prettiest free events.

Floral installations appear across:

• King's Road

• Sloane Street

• Pavilion Road

• Sloane Square

• Duke of York Square

My advice?

• Don’t treat it like a checklist

• Walk slowly

• Expect crowds

• Get slightly lost

That’s normally when you discover the installations you remember.

My Favourite Chelsea in Bloom Installation This Year

This year’s theme Out of This World gave everything a slightly surreal energy.

My favourite?

The huge blue floral installation outside Barclays.

It was:

• Bold

• Dramatic

• Completely unexpected in the best possible way

Although fair warning: Chelsea in Bloom is never quiet during Chelsea Flower Show week.

Tips For Visiting RHS Chelsea Flower Show

• Arrive earlier than you think. The crowds build surprisingly quickly

• Book restaurants or drinks ahead. Chelsea becomes very busy during flower show week

• Wear comfortable shoes. You will walk significantly more than you expect

• Leave time after the show. Some of the best parts happen once you leave the gates.

Why Chelsea Flower Show Week Is One Of London’s Best Weeks

Chelsea Flower Show isn’t simply about gardens.

It’s:

• Wine outside in the sunshine

• Beautiful flowers appearing where you least expect them

• Slightly overpriced lunches that somehow feel worth it

• Wandering around Chelsea without much of a plan

And honestly?

That’s probably why I keep going back.

Elizabeth Hawthorthwaite