The closest tube stations are Sloane Square (Zone 1, District and Circle lines) and South Kensington (a 15-minute walk). Surprising fact: The tube station itself gets a special flower show makeover. They plant thousands of blooms inside the station. It smells like a funeral for a very well-liked goddess. But it also means you can’t breathe, because the humidity is now at 100%.
From Sloane Square, you walk past a pub called The Duke of Wellington. Don’t stop for a pint before you enter. You’ll lose your will to live when you see the queue. The queue to get in stretches around the block and is populated by people who have already named their prize-winning petunias.
Beyond the Main Show: The “Green Zone” Lie
The map shows a “Green Zone” that sounds peaceful. It’s not. It’s full of people buying £200 trowels and arguing about soil pH. You will also find the Great Pavilion, which is the size of a small country. Inside, you’ll see a perfect orchid that looks like it’s plotting world domination.
Chelsea Flower Show RHS Showground Location Map
There is also a Floral Marquee, where you will be elbowed by a granny who wants to smell a dahlia. She has earned that right. She has been queuing since 6 AM. Let her have her sniff.
