The Best Garden Feast in the UK | RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival will be held from 4 to 9 July 2023 at Hampton Court Palace in London. This grand event is a fantastic opportunity to admire magnificent gardens, beautiful flowers, and learn about gardening. The exhibition covers a wide variety of activities designed to meet the interests and needs of different participants.
For gardening enthusiasts, this festival is a rare chance to learn professional gardening skills and knowledge. Each garden in the exhibition showcases different themes and styles. Visitors can enjoy garden design styles from around the world, including classic British gardens, Asian courtyard designs, and modern garden designs.
In addition to the show gardens, the flower marquees and exhibition halls are also highlights of the festival, including some rare or specially valuable horticultural displays. Visitors can also attend a variety of lectures and demonstrations to learn more gardening knowledge and skills.
Furthermore, during the festival, professional gardeners will provide guidance, showing visitors how to grow vegetables and fruits at home. The exhibition also offers many eco-friendly activities, such as demonstrating how to turn waste into fertilizer, how to reduce the use of chemicals in home gardens, and more.
For those who love shopping, this garden festival offers shopping opportunities. Many gardens and exhibition halls provide a variety of gardening supplies, plants, and flowers for participants to purchase. In addition, the exhibition halls feature carefully crafted rural lifestyle magazine handicrafts by local artisans, allowing people to appreciate exquisite handicrafts while shopping.
The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is held at Hampton Court Palace in East Molesey, Surrey. Most visitors choose to travel to the event by rail or road.
Address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU
This is not the postcode for the event car parks. When you reach the local area, follow the AA signs to the event car parks. Hampton Court Palace is easily accessible by train, bus, bicycle, and on foot.
Ditton Gate – Located in the palace grounds. This is closest to the Green Car Park and Hampton Court station.
Long Water Gate – Located at the Black Car Park. Shuttle buses and accessible buses from the Green Car Park and Surbiton station will drop off here.
The nearest railway station to the event is Hampton Court station, but there are also trains to Kingston and Surbiton with a higher frequency. All are operated by South Western Railway.
From Surbiton station – Regular shuttle bus service runs from the station to Long Water Gate, or you can take a public bus (281 / K1 / K2 / K3 / 465) to Kingston, then change to a bus (111 / 216 / 411 / 461) to Hampton Court Green and walk about 15 minutes to Ditton Gate. Total travel time is approximately 30 minutes.
From Kingston station – Take a bus (111 / 216 / 411 / 461) to Hampton Court Green and walk about 15 minutes to Ditton Gate.
From Hampton Court station – Walk about 20 minutes to Ditton Gate and Long Water Gate.
If you are travelling in a small group of 3 to 9 people, you can use the South Western Railway GroupSave discount to save up to 34%.
Park and Ride service
There is an onsite Apps Court Farm Park & Ride service, located on the A3050 (also known as the Red Car Park). The parking fee is £10 per day, payable in cash or by card on the day.
A free shuttle bus will take you to the drop-off point near the foot of Hampton Court Bridge, from where you can walk across the bridge to the flower show.
Bus travel time: 15–20 minutes; walking time: approximately 10–20 minutes.
If you are driving to the event, use KT8 9AU to reach the local area, then follow AA signs and electronic signs to the nearest car park. Please allow enough time for your journey; the organisers strive to keep traffic flowing, but circumstances beyond their control may cause delays. It is recommended to book your parking space in advance via the RHS website, and pay-at-pay machines are available at the entrance of each car park for use on the day.
Two car parks are available:
Black Car Park – Located on the A308 Hampton Court Road (coming from Kingston): 5–10 minutes' walk to Long Water Gate.
Green Car Park – Located on the A308 Hampton Court Road (coming from the M3): 5–20 minutes' walk to Ditton Gate.
Frequent shuttle buses and buses run from the Green Car Park to Long Water Gate. Please ask the nearest steward for the latest schedule. If you have purchased disabled parking, you should go to the Black Car Park. Prepaid parking for all car parks is £16; prepaid accessible parking is £9.
If you are arriving by bus, buses will drop off at Hampton Court Green. To reach the exhibition area, you have two options: Walk – a 15-minute walk through the palace gardens to Ditton Gate. Use the footbridge. Shuttle bus and accessible bus – running from the Green Car Park to the Long Water Gate entrance and back.
Both entrances have bicycle racks.
Pets are allowed (one per person). Pets must be kept on a lead and are not allowed in any indoor café areas. When deciding whether to bring a pet, please carefully consider whether both the pet and the exhibition environment are suitable, especially in hot weather. Please note: If you bring a dog, you must enter through the Long Water Gate entrance.
Mobility scooters and wheelchairs
Visitors can bring their own personal mobility aids, such as wheelchairs or electric scooters, to better explore the exhibition. A limited number of wheelchairs and electric scooters are available for hire on site; visitors can book in advance when purchasing tickets online. Hire fees are £20 for a wheelchair and £40 for an electric scooter. Collection point is at the Long Water Gate entrance.
Whether you are a regular visitor or a first-time attendee, this year's event has many highlights to look forward to. These include the Rose Show Marquee, which will showcase the best British rose growers, including Peter Beales, Harkness, Fryer's, and Ischcroft Roses, plus a special rose garden by David Austin Roses.
The RHS Flower School will return, featuring flower arrangement workshops, a mini flower farm, and celebrity demonstrations, emphasising British flowers. The National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS) will also hold live demonstrations in the NAFAS Flower House.
In the Plant Area, visitors can buy a variety of plants suitable for outdoor planting, from drought-tolerant perennials to summer-flowering bulbs. First-time exhibitor 'In The Garden' will offer a range of indoor plants, while Calamazag Nursery will feature a large display of carnations, becoming this year's RHS Master Grower.
The RHS also announced that Carol Klein will create a garden at this year's exhibition. Inspired by nature, the garden will be divided into six main sections: wetland, woodland, hedgerow, meadow, bog, and coastal hill.
Famous gardening blogger Leigh Johnstone, also known as the 'Bearded Gardener', will create a special 'Love Garden', containing plants donated by nurseries in the flower hall. Be sure to visit to get a free seed packet.
Focus on Flowers: A floral feast will take place in the Flower Hall, which will display plants and flowers from over 90 nurseries. In addition, there are activities such as Plant Heritage, Plant Village, and Gardeners' Tables, where growers will demonstrate techniques. The centre of the hall will feature the RHS 2023 Master Grower Exhibition.
Flowers in Bloom: The RHS Flower School, in collaboration with Flowers from the Farm, celebrates beautiful British flowers and sustainable floristry; the school supports local and seasonal flower growers. At the 'Rose Festival', participants can enjoy new varieties and see roses in every form, savouring the fragrance and wonderful colours.
Gardens for Everyone: The magnificent gardens can be enjoyed in the landscape surrounding Hampton Court Palace. Various themed gardens allow talented designers to transform unique art into a visual feast. The 'Gateway Gardens' will inspire gardening beginners. These gardens use affordable and easy-to-care-for plants to demonstrate simple, low-cost, and achievable planting methods.
Local Gardening: Local communities will actively participate, showcasing their own gardening skills and talents. Participants can interact with groups and learn about gardening information.
Lectures, Demonstrations, and Music: Gain inspiration through lectures, creative demonstrations, and practical workshops on gardening, flower arranging, and well-being. All content and more exciting activities are led by experts and celebrities. Music lovers can enjoy drinks in the music pavilion and listen to wonderful summer music.
Shopper's Paradise: With hundreds of stalls to choose from, the RHS Hampton Court Palace offers a unique shopping experience. Buy new plant varieties in the Plant Village; wonderful creative plants in the Flower Arranging area; delicious food in the Food Market; and exquisite gifts and homewares in the Rural Living area. Small businesses will offer you an excellent shopping experience.
Food Heaven: Participants can enjoy delicious street food here, or sit back and relax with coffee and desserts. In addition, you can browse unique food options at the popular Big Taste Market and choose your favourite cuisine.
Known as 'England's Versailles', Hampton Court Palace is a 500-year-old palace. Located in southwest London, it was built in 1515 and contains 1,280 rooms. With its unique historical charm, splendid interior decoration, and extraordinary garden art, it is a model of British Tudor royal palaces and a must-see cultural attraction in London. The palace was once a residence of the famous British monarch Henry VIII and is one of the most famous palaces from the English Renaissance. It is world-famous for its spectacular architecture and beautiful gardens.
The gardens of Hampton Court Palace cover 60 acres, including one of the world's most famous gardens – the Elizabethan Garden – as well as numerous other exquisite gardens and landscapes, such as a kitchen garden, maze, long walk, and fountains. These gardens attract tens of thousands of visitors every year.
In addition, Hampton Court Palace hosts many events and exhibitions, the most famous of which is the Hampton Court Palace Flower Festival. The Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, held every summer, is one of the UK's largest flower shows, attracting horticulturists and enthusiasts from around the world. The exhibition showcases the latest flower varieties, gardening tools, and garden design concepts, along with a large number of food, handicrafts, and other gardening-related items for sale.
You can visit Hampton Court Palace with a Go City pass. The normal ticket price for Hampton Court Palace is £26.30, but it is free with a Go City pass.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous churches in the UK and one of the most important Christian churches in the world, symbolising the British monarchy and political power. Westminster Abbey has always been the coronation church of the British royal family and is also the venue for royal weddings and funerals. The architecture of the church is Gothic, with magnificent vaults and spires. The interior is richly decorated, including stained glass windows, ornate altars, exquisite statues, and more. Inside the church are many tombs and monuments of historical and cultural figures, such as the literary giant William Shakespeare and Sir Ernest Rutherford. Every year, Westminster Abbey attracts a large number of visitors and pilgrims who come to admire the magnificent architecture, rich historical and cultural heritage, and feel the solemn atmosphere of the British monarchy. At the same time, the church hosts various concerts and religious ceremonies, attracting many music lovers and religious believers.
RHS Garden Wisley
RHS Garden Wisley is one of the main gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), located in Wisley, Surrey. It is one of the most famous gardens in the UK and one of the largest horticultural centres in Europe. The garden contains a wide variety of plants and landscapes, including water features, a Japanese garden, a herb garden, a rose garden, fruit and vegetable gardens, and more. These plants and landscapes are carefully designed and arranged to form a beautiful and harmonious garden. Wisley Garden also has several display houses, such as a glasshouse, a flower show house, an aquatic plant house, etc., showcasing a variety of plants and flowers. In addition, the garden has a children's garden and a farm, providing visitors with more entertainment and educational experiences. Every year, RHS Garden Wisley hosts a variety of events, such as flower shows, concerts, lectures, and workshops, attracting many visitors and gardening enthusiasts. The garden also has several restaurants and cafes, offering food and places to rest.
Royal Observatory Greenwich
The Royal Observatory Greenwich is located in Greenwich, southeast London. It is one of the oldest observatories in the UK and a famous tourist attraction. The observatory contains several exhibition halls and museums, including the Astronomy Museum, the Almanac Museum, the Time Museum, etc., showcasing the history and development of astronomy, navigation, surveying, and other fields. The Royal Observatory Greenwich is not only an important astronomical observation station but also an important witness to the history and technological development of the UK. Its historical and cultural value attracts many visitors and scholars to visit and study, and it is also an important tourist attraction, offering visitors an excellent opportunity to learn about astronomy and British history.
The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is one of London's most popular events. Every year during the event, the gardens of Hampton Court Palace become a colourful sea of flowers, attracting visitors and flower enthusiasts from around the world. In addition to enjoying a wide variety of flowers, shrubs, trees, classic flower beds, and water features, visitors can also participate in flower exhibitions, concerts, handicraft markets, and food stalls. Whether you are a flower lover, a photographer, or simply looking for a place to relax, the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is an event not to be missed. This grand event not only brings visual enjoyment to visitors but also allows people to reconnect with nature, life, and beautiful things, bringing endless joy and emotion.
Travelogue Directory 1. RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Entry/Exit and Arrival Guide 2. Entry/Exit 3. Arrival Guide 4. Highlights of the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 5. Things Not to Miss When Visiting the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 6. Venue – Hampton Court Palace 7. Information on Other Popular London Attractions Hotel Index Strategy Index Ticket Index Website Navigation Travel Index Cruise Index Corporate Travel Index Franchise Cooperation Distribution Alliance Friendly Links Corporate Gift Card Procurement Insurance Agency Agency Cooperation Hotel Partnership Destination and Scenic Area Cooperation More Cooperation About Ctrip About Ctrip Ctrip Highlights Contact Us Careers User Agreement Privacy Policy Business License Security Center Ctrip Content Center Intellectual Property Trip.com Group Algorithm Publication
