I’d never been to a flower show, so my mum and I decided to do RHS Hampton Court this year. They’ve changed the name to “Garden Festival” from “flower show”. Tickets are £35 if you’re not an RHS member, but the whole experience left me feeling it wasn’t good value for money.
The show gardens were lovely, but they were barely 20% of what was there. The rest was like a trade fair mixed with a garden centre. Stalls stalls stalls. Some garden focused, but a lot of it stuff like handmade soap, cashmere shawls, hats etc. Street food hosted by Kerb (we brought a picnic and were glad we did to avoid the lines and the cost).
It’s a good place to go for inspiration if you’ve got thousands to drop on an exceedingly lovely greenhouse or a showstopper sculpture. But at the end of the day, you’re paying to go to the shops. There weren’t even freebies like you might expect at a trade show- other than a sample pot of chocolate spread.
What’s your experience of flower shows? Is it worth it for the inspiration and exposure to vendors you wouldn’t otherwise know about?
Tim-Sanchez
I think you have to be *very* into gardening to get value from it. If you just like looking at gardens or want some inspiration then you’re better off just visiting gardens normally, not at festivals.
Careless_Dingo2794
Tbh you’re better off going to RHS wisley (the flagship garden) on a weekday and having a wonder around, than any of the trade show nonsense. When there’s an event on it’s always crazy busy and somewhat disappointing.
Oh also, although not allowed (unethical life tip), you can easily borrow a family/friends rhs membership card to get in free. They have no realistic way to check the card is yours on a busy day at the tills.
Total-Combination-47
We went to Tatton a while back and thought the same.
organic_soursop
It’s still find it 100% better than Chelsea.
I’m done with Chelsea- they squeeze in so many people, it’s noisy cramped, expensive, and again stalls and stupidly priced food. Add in the cost of travel/hotel and never again. Not even for free.
Hampton Court there is room to breathe but the gardens aren’t as high quality. Final day is brilliant with the crazy bargains.
ExpressAffect3262
Damn, I live in Leominster and thought this was on about Hampton Court Castle at first ha
Heresus
Agreed, I’ve worked a few of these and the show gardens this year weren’t as good as in previous years. Hoping for a bit better at tatton in a couple of weeks.
SherlockScones3
Had the same disappointing experience at the Chelsea one. Except that probably had the added bonus of being packed to the gills!
The stalls were nice, but the footprint ratio compared to the actual gardens was terrible.
tropicanadef
Had a similar experience at Chelsea this year (also my first show). An overpriced garden centre for the rich essentially. We had a good time overall but I won’t be in a rush to go back.
IIgardener1II
National Garden Scheme – yellow book – are great. Beautiful gardens, money goes to charity, sometimes plants for sale and/or tea and cakes. I’m sure you’ll find some in your area.
JMM85JMM
This is how these shows are. We go to Tatton Park each year and it’s similar. It is overpriced for sure, but we usually enjoy walking around and seeing the different grades, plant stores and food stores.
You have to think of it a bit like a plant festival.
11 Comments
I’d never been to a flower show, so my mum and I decided to do RHS Hampton Court this year. They’ve changed the name to “Garden Festival” from “flower show”. Tickets are £35 if you’re not an RHS member, but the whole experience left me feeling it wasn’t good value for money.
The show gardens were lovely, but they were barely 20% of what was there. The rest was like a trade fair mixed with a garden centre. Stalls stalls stalls. Some garden focused, but a lot of it stuff like handmade soap, cashmere shawls, hats etc. Street food hosted by Kerb (we brought a picnic and were glad we did to avoid the lines and the cost).
It’s a good place to go for inspiration if you’ve got thousands to drop on an exceedingly lovely greenhouse or a showstopper sculpture. But at the end of the day, you’re paying to go to the shops. There weren’t even freebies like you might expect at a trade show- other than a sample pot of chocolate spread.
What’s your experience of flower shows? Is it worth it for the inspiration and exposure to vendors you wouldn’t otherwise know about?
I think you have to be *very* into gardening to get value from it. If you just like looking at gardens or want some inspiration then you’re better off just visiting gardens normally, not at festivals.
Tbh you’re better off going to RHS wisley (the flagship garden) on a weekday and having a wonder around, than any of the trade show nonsense. When there’s an event on it’s always crazy busy and somewhat disappointing.
Oh also, although not allowed (unethical life tip), you can easily borrow a family/friends rhs membership card to get in free. They have no realistic way to check the card is yours on a busy day at the tills.
We went to Tatton a while back and thought the same.
It’s still find it 100% better than Chelsea.
I’m done with Chelsea- they squeeze in so many people, it’s noisy cramped, expensive, and again stalls and stupidly priced food.
Add in the cost of travel/hotel and never again. Not even for free.
Hampton Court there is room to breathe but the gardens aren’t as high quality. Final day is brilliant with the crazy bargains.
Damn, I live in Leominster and thought this was on about Hampton Court Castle at first ha
Agreed, I’ve worked a few of these and the show gardens this year weren’t as good as in previous years. Hoping for a bit better at tatton in a couple of weeks.
Had the same disappointing experience at the Chelsea one. Except that probably had the added bonus of being packed to the gills!
The stalls were nice, but the footprint ratio compared to the actual gardens was terrible.
Had a similar experience at Chelsea this year (also my first show). An overpriced garden centre for the rich essentially. We had a good time overall but I won’t be in a rush to go back.
National Garden Scheme – yellow book – are great. Beautiful gardens, money goes to charity, sometimes plants for sale and/or tea and cakes. I’m sure you’ll find some in your area.
This is how these shows are. We go to Tatton Park each year and it’s similar. It is overpriced for sure, but we usually enjoy walking around and seeing the different grades, plant stores and food stores.
You have to think of it a bit like a plant festival.