The RHS Chelsea Flower Show

For five days in late May each year, the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, London, are transformed into a floral spectacle with the staging of the annual Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show.

Renowned as the world’s most prestigious garden exhibition, the Chelsea Flower Show features the latest horticultural trends and displays excellence in garden design.

Described as ‘the Mount Everest of the gardening world for horticulturists’, landscape designers from around the globe compete for the chance to showcase their creations at the event that has been running for nearly a century.

A major drawcard of the show are the six large (220m²) and prestigious show gardens along Main Avenue designed by the world’s top designers, who all vie for a coveted Chelsea medal. Medals awarded are Gold, Silver-gilt, Silver and Bronze. The show garden determined by the judges as the finest display wins the hotly contested ‘Best in Show’ award. The Royal Horticultural Society, in conjunction with the BBC, also runs a competition for the ‘People’s Choice Award’.  

In summary:

• Five days each May: 24-28 May 2011
• 4.5 hectares of colourful floral and plant displays
• 600 exhibitors, including 25 show gardens
• 157,000 visitors (excluding complimentary and press passes)
• Consistently a ‘sell-out’ event
• 1,500 international media representatives
• British royal family patrons
• Celebrity guests
• Tens of millions of media viewers worldwide