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Chelsea Flower Show

The Chelsea Flower Show is the gardening Mecca of Europe. Some of the greatest exponents of the art exhibit imaginative garden designs over an 11-acre site at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, creating a floral wonderland for the public to explore.

Visitors can roam through show gardens, small gardens and over 100 floral exhibitors in the Great Pavilion, some of the finest examples of horticultural excellence in the world. Since its inception in 1913, the show has been at the forefront of horticultural development. Dozens of model gardens form the prime attraction, reflecting the changing enthusiasms of gardeners, from topiary through to rock gardens and wildflowers. The show continues a long tradition of pushing boundaries - the very first one exhibited a Japanese Bonsai long before they became a staple of Ikea.

Every year, the world's top horticulturalists award the creators of the best-executed gardens with the coveted RHS Gold Medal. There are also plenty of shopping opportunities for the amateur, from conservatories, greenhouses, mowers and gardening equipment to furniture and statues. All flower arrangements are on sale on the last day of the show.

The quality of this splendid visual display is certainly a given, yet sadly, the British weather is not. The organisers therefore advise that all visitors come prepared with lightweight, waterproof macs or anoraks. On the other hand, the 20,000 glasses of Pimms, 8000 bottles of champagne or 110,000 cups of tea and coffee sold during the show are another way to keep warm. For further details, please visit the Royal Horticultural Society website. Early booking is strongly advised to avoid disappointment.