The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a five-day garden show held every May in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, with show gardens, a huge floral marquee and specialist growers from across the country. In 2027 it runs from 18 to 22 May, with public days from Thursday 20 May, and tickets go on sale in October 2026.
The show is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the UK's gardening charity, and has been held on this site since 1913. It is small in area but packed: designers build full-size show gardens, nurseries fill the Great Pavilion with plants at their very best, and the whole showground exists for just one week. For garden lovers from abroad it is often the reason to plan a spring trip to London.
You need a ticket bought in advance, and some sessions sell out. If you cannot get one, the free Chelsea in Bloom festival brings floral displays to the shops and streets of Chelsea during show week. This guide covers both, plus the practical rules that catch visitors out, from pushchairs to re-entry.
Chelsea 2027 key facts
- Dates
- Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 May 2027
- RHS members only
- Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 May, 8am-8pm
- Public days
- Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 May, 8am-8pm (closes 5.30pm on Saturday)
- Chelsea Late
- Friday 21 May, 5.30pm-10pm
- Great Plant Sell Off
- Saturday 22 May, 4pm-5.30pm
- Tickets
- On sale in October 2026 through AXS, the RHS's official ticket partner
- Address
- London Gate, Royal Hospital Road, Royal Hospital Chelsea, SW3 4SR
- Nearest Tube
- Sloane Square (District and Circle lines), about 10 minutes' walk
What you see inside the showground
The show fills the grounds of the Royal Hospital, the home of the Chelsea Pensioners, on the north bank of the Thames. It is divided into a few main areas.
- Show Gardens. The large gardens along Main Avenue and Royal Hospital Way are the headline attraction, designed to be judged and seen from the path.
- Smaller gardens and features. Smaller show gardens, balcony and container designs in Ranelagh Gardens, and indoor houseplant studios give ideas you can actually use at home.
- The Great Pavilion. The enormous marquee at the centre holds the nursery exhibits: elaborate displays by specialist nurseries, each devoted to the plants they grow. The growers are there to talk, and the RHS encourages visitors to ask them questions.
- Shopping and food. Stands sell tools, garden furniture, art and gifts, and there are bookable restaurants, afternoon teas and street-food outlets.
The RHS quotes a regular visitor's estimate that it takes around five to seven hours to see all the main Show Gardens, the Great Pavilion and the floral displays. Few people manage everything, so decide in advance what matters most to you. The Show Guide, sold with your ticket and posted before the show, has a map and full exhibitor list; overseas visitors can collect it at the show.
Tickets: when they go on sale and how they work
For 2027 the RHS says tickets go on sale in October 2026. RHS members get the two members-only days and reduced prices; everyone else can visit on the three public days. Ticket prices for 2027 had not been published when we checked in September 2026, so check the official RHS Chelsea page when sales open.
Besides all-day tickets there are later-entry tickets; the RHS mentions tickets with 3.30pm and 5.30pm entry. The RHS says afternoon sessions are particularly popular and can sell out quickly, and it does not run a waiting list. If your date sells out, tickets may reappear on the official AXS Resale platform closer to the show.
| Rule | What the RHS says |
|---|---|
| Where to buy | Only tickets bought through AXS or AXS Resale are valid for entry |
| Delivery | AXS Mobile ID app (recommended) or an emailed PDF e-ticket; sent at least two weeks before the show |
| Refunds | Strict no-refund policy; exchanges to another day are possible through AXS |
| Ticket insurance | Optional at checkout, 10% of the booking cost |
| Transfers | Tickets can be transferred to someone else in the AXS app |
| Children | Children aged five and over need a full-price ticket and must be with an adult |
| Re-entry | None: once you leave the showground you cannot come back in |
A Chelsea ticket from a random website may not get you in. The RHS states that only AXS and AXS Resale tickets are valid. Tickets offered on other sites or social media may be fake or cancelled, and there are no refunds, so buy only through the official route linked from the RHS page.
Picking your day and time
According to the RHS, Saturday tends to be the busiest day, and the quieter times are early in the morning or after 3pm. Arriving at 8am gives you the Show Gardens before the crowds build along Main Avenue, which is also when the light is softer for photographs.
Saturday has a special attraction despite the crowds: the Great Plant Sell Off from 4pm to 5.30pm, when exhibitors sell plants from their displays as the show closes. If you are flying home, remember that live plants and soil are subject to import rules in most countries, so check your own country's rules before buying.
On Friday evening, Chelsea Late (5.30pm to 10pm) combines a last look at the gardens with music, food and drink in Ranelagh Gardens. The gardens close at 8pm when the party begins, and you cannot bring your own food or drink to the Late.
Who can go: children, prams and dogs
Chelsea is not designed with young children in mind, and the RHS rules reflect that. Children aged five and over need a full-price ticket and an accompanying adult. Prams, pushchairs and buggies are not allowed in the showground; there is a storage area at London Gate. The RHS says babies under one are allowed but discouraged because of the crowded environment. If you plan to bring a toddler, read the RHS show FAQs first.
Only guide and assistance dogs are admitted. For a flower-filled family day that suits small children better, our guide to Kew Gardens or London with kids has alternatives.
Access for disabled visitors
Most of the show is on hard surfaces. On Wednesday and Friday the RHS offers early access at 7.30am for disabled visitors, and one carer is admitted free with a disabled visitor if requested when booking (call AXS on 0333 300 3015). Wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be hired in advance in limited numbers, and a mobility bus runs from the Battersea Park car park to Bull Ring Gate. Our accessible London guide covers the rest of the city.
Getting to the Royal Hospital
Visitor parking is in Battersea Park, across the river, not at the showground, and driving into central London is rarely worth it. Public transport is the easy option:
- Tube: Sloane Square station (District and Circle lines) is about 10 minutes' walk from the show.
- Rail: London Victoria is the closest main line station. See our guide to London's railway stations.
- Bus: Routes 11, 137, 211, 360, 170, 44 and 452 stop closest to the showground; routes 19, 22, 319 and C1 stop at Sloane Square. The RHS notes that route 360 does not use the Bull Ring Gate stop during show week.
- River: Uber Boat by Thames Clippers stops at Cadogan Pier (RB6, weekday peak times only) and at Battersea Power Station (seven days a week). The pier is about 15 minutes' walk from the show. Our guide to the river bus explains fares.
- Car: Parking in Battersea Park must be pre-booked with your tickets and includes a shuttle bus. Battersea Park is inside the ULEZ.
Chelsea in Bloom: the free alternative
Chelsea in Bloom is a floral art festival in the streets around the show, produced by the Cadogan estate in association with the RHS. It is free, needs no ticket, and describes itself as London's largest free-to-attend festival of flowers. Shops, restaurants and hotels decorate their fronts with fresh-flower displays on a yearly theme and compete for awards judged by an expert panel, while the public votes for a People's Champion.
In 2026 it ran from Monday 18 to Sunday 24 May, with more than 145 participating businesses and six large installations around Sloane Square, Sloane Street, Pavilion Road, the King's Road and Duke of York Square. Tours could be booked at an information point in Sloane Square. The 2027 dates had not been announced when we checked; follow the Chelsea in Bloom website.
Start at Sloane Square or Knightsbridge station and walk. It combines naturally with an afternoon in the area: our Chelsea neighbourhood guide covers the King's Road, and our page on London's department stores includes the big names nearby in Knightsbridge.
Chelsea in Bloom runs into the weekend. In 2026 the street displays stayed up until Sunday 24 May. If you missed out on show tickets, a Sunday walk from Sloane Square along the King's Road still gives you a real taste of show week at no cost.
What to wear and bring
The show is outdoors and goes ahead in most weather. The Met Office long-term averages for Heathrow (1991-2020) give May a mean daily maximum of 18.4°C and a minimum of 9.1°C, with at least 1 mm of rain on about eight days of the month. A sunny afternoon can feel warm among the crowds, and a shower can turn cold quickly.
- Sturdy, comfortable shoes. The RHS stresses the amount of walking around the show and to and from transport.
- A light waterproof rather than an umbrella. This is the RHS's own advice: umbrellas are awkward in crowded paths.
- Sunglasses and layers. Easy to carry when the sun comes out.
- A card, not cash. Only card payments are accepted for tickets, catering and show guides. There is a cashpoint, but withdrawals are charged.
- A picnic, if you like. Picnics are allowed on normal show days, but not at Chelsea Late.
There is a free cloakroom where you can leave shopping. Visitors go through security searches at the entrance, so allow time and keep bags small.
Planning a May trip around the show
Show week falls in the second half of May. In 2027 the spring bank holiday is Monday 31 May, the week after the show, and London schools have their half-term holiday from 31 May to 4 June 2027. Show week itself is therefore outside the school holiday, although hotels in Chelsea and nearby are in demand. Our guide to the best areas to stay compares options, and South Kensington or Victoria are both convenient for the Royal Hospital.
Garden lovers can build a whole week around it. Kew is at its spring best in May, the Hampton Court Palace gardens are a train ride away, and the Columbia Road Flower Market in east London runs on Sunday mornings. For afternoon tea after a long day on your feet, see our guide to afternoon tea in London. Our month guide to London in May lists what else is on, and the events section covers the rest of the year.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Chelsea Flower Show in 2027?
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2027 runs from Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 May. Tuesday and Wednesday are for RHS members only; the public days are Thursday 20 to Saturday 22 May, from 8am, with an early close at 5.30pm on the Saturday.
When do Chelsea Flower Show tickets go on sale?
The RHS says tickets for 2027 go on sale in October 2026. They are sold only through AXS, the official ticketing partner. Afternoon sessions are popular and can sell out quickly, so book as soon as you know your date.
Can you buy Chelsea Flower Show tickets on the day?
Tickets must be bought in advance, and the RHS warns that dates can sell out. There is no waiting list, but returned tickets sometimes appear on the official AXS Resale platform closer to the show.
Can children go to the Chelsea Flower Show?
Children aged five and over can attend with a valid full-price ticket and an accompanying adult. Pushchairs and prams are not allowed inside, and the RHS says babies under one are allowed but discouraged.
Is Chelsea in Bloom free?
Yes. Chelsea in Bloom is a free street festival of floral displays on shop fronts and in public spaces around Sloane Square, Sloane Street and the King's Road. It runs during show week; in 2026 the dates were 18 to 24 May.
Sources
- Royal Horticultural Society - RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2027 (checked September 2026)
- Royal Horticultural Society - Plan your visit (checked September 2026)
- Royal Horticultural Society - Show FAQs (checked September 2026)
- Royal Horticultural Society - Top tips for your day out (checked September 2026)
- Royal Horticultural Society - Accessibility at Chelsea (checked September 2026)
- Cadogan - Chelsea in Bloom (checked September 2026)
- London Borough of Hounslow - School term dates (checked September 2026)
- Met Office - Heathrow climate averages 1991-2020 (checked September 2026)