Tickets for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show have sold out in record time – but looming Tube strikes threaten major disruption for the thousands heading to the world-famous gardening event next week.
Doors officially open to RHS Chelsea, located on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in south-west London, from Tuesday 19th May until Saturday 23rd May.
While Monday 18th May will see celebrities, VIPs and members of the Royal Family attend press day, Tuesday and Wednesday are member-only days, with Thursday to Saturday open to the general public.
The latest industrial action will see RMT union Tube drivers strike for two 24-hour periods as part of an ongoing dispute with Transport for London (TfL) over working hours.
The worst disruption is expected on Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday morning, Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, impacting visitors travelling to and from the event.
The closest Underground station to RHS Chelsea is Sloane Square, while London Victoria is the nearest mainline station, potentially leaving thousands of visitors vulnerable to delays and overcrowding.
More RHS Chelsea news:
- Chelsea Flower Show 2026 presenters announced – and why Joe Swift is absent
- Chelsea Flower Show 2026: key details
- This whimsical RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden is a must-see for tea lovers
Last week, the RHS said there were only hundreds of its 150,000 tickets left to sell. For the last five years, tickets have still been available when RHS Chelsea has opened to the public, but now all tickets are listed as sold out on AXS, the official ticketing site, making this the earliest sellout since pre-pandemic times.
'RHS Chelsea being a sellout show is great for gardening and the world famous event is our, and horticulture’s, most important fundraiser, enabling the RHS to support and work with thousands of community groups across the UK and provide scientifically backed gardening advice to millions of people,' says Clare Matterson CBE, RHS director general.
'We encourage people not to buy tickets from touts or third parties. Often sold for inflated prices there is no guarantee these are authentic and people risk being turned away at the gate. It's better to visit one of our five beautiful RHS Gardens or buy tickets for our exciting new Flower Shows in Badminton or Sandringham.'
The 2026 Chelsea Flower Show welcomes a new sponsor this year, with Range Rover taking over the reins from The Newt in Somerset.
There will be 30 gardens on display, including the much talked-about RHS and The King’s Foundation Curious Garden designed by Frances Tophill, with help from Sir David Beckham and Alan Titchmarsh CBE. The garden has been designed to celebrate the rich diversity of plants and their impact on our lives.
Meanwhile, the Great Pavilion, the crown jewel of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, will have 83 stunning floral displays to explore.
There is also the return of garden gnomes after the RHS lifted its infamous ban. Celebrities including Cate Blanchett, Dame Mary Berry, Sir Brian May, Baroness Floella Benjamin and Joanna Lumley are among those decorating gnomes to be auctioned off in aid of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening.
- Visit rhs.org.uk for more information on the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026
- Visit tfl.gov.uk for up-to-date information on the upcoming Tube strikes
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