Graham Ross shares his best tips to make the most out of the Chelsea flower show.
Photo - Oli Scarff/Gettyimages.com
- Get at least 10 hours sleep the night before and come prepared for a long day. It’s a shame to have to leave early because of fatigue.
- Buy a RHS Chelsea catalogue at the gate. This is a valuable planner to help you get bearings.
- Stick with your Ross Tours leader for the first hour for some exclusives like getting into Australian exhibit and meeting some Chelsea icons.
- Next go straight to the Show Gardens as they get very busy after about 10.30am.
- Before you tackle the Great Pavilion spend five minutes ticking the programme for your personal Must See exhibits.
- Visit the commercial stands on Eastern Avenue last to avoid having to carry bulky or heavy items all day.
- Don’t miss this Artisan Gardens, which are always good and are often overlooked. They are found on the other side of Ranelagh Gardens where there are
hundreds of seats – also good to know.
- Don’t bother bringing water, there are plenty of stalls (including those selling Pimms!) but bring a couple of snack bars to keep up your energy.
- Have a regular cuppa break every two hours and plan an early or late lunch to avoid queues.
- It IS an endurance test, so push through the 3 o’clock wilt for a fabulous afternoon.