Searches for how to get to Chelsea Flower Show are usually about the Tube, but the show is a short journey from most of central London, so the real question is how to avoid the crowds and carry what you buy. This page explains the public options and when a chauffeur is easier.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show: what it is and when it runs
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the Royal Horticultural Society’s showpiece, held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in south-west London. It is known for its show gardens, floral displays in the Great Pavilion and plants sold on the last afternoon. The RHS lists the 2027 show as 18 to 22 May 2027, with members’ days on 18 and 19 May and public days from 20 to 22 May, on its Chelsea Flower Show page. Check that page for opening times and ticket details, because they are set each year.
The RHS does not publish a formal dress code that we know of. Most visitors wear smart-casual clothes and, above all, comfortable shoes, because you walk a lot on hard paths and sometimes mud.
How to get to Chelsea Flower Show by Tube, bus and on foot
The show address is London Gate, Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4SR. The RHS provides a local area map on its website with the entrances and recommended routes, so download it before you travel.
- Tube. Sloane Square on the District and Circle lines is the usual station, followed by a walk of around 15 minutes along Royal Hospital Road. Use the TfL journey planner on the day to check service changes.
- Bus. Several routes serve the King’s Road and Chelsea Bridge Road. TfL’s bus maps show which stops are closest on the day.
- Rail. If you arrive at Victoria, Waterloo or another main station, you can switch to the Tube or take a taxi for the last part.
- Walking. From Sloane Square or Pimlico the walk is flat and easy.
Parking near the Royal Hospital is limited and the area is residential, so we do not recommend driving yourself. Check the RHS website for what it says about visitor parking for the year.
Why Chelsea is hard in the middle of the day
The show is in a tight part of London, and the crowd peaks in the late morning. The Tube platform at Sloane Square and the pavement outside can be congested. If you have bought plants or are carrying bags, the walk back becomes the least enjoyable part of the day.
Chelsea Flower Show by chauffeur: how it works
With hourly hire, the car and chauffeur are yours for the hours you book. The chauffeur collects you from home, a hotel or an office and drives to the drop-off area closest to your entrance. Where the RHS publishes drop-off points for taxis and private hire, we use them; otherwise we plan the nearest safe point and agree it with you beforehand.
The chauffeur waits while you are at the show. When you are ready to leave, you call and the car meets you at the agreed point, so you do not have to hail a taxi in the crowd with a plant under your arm. The Range Rover and V-Class have the most room for purchases.
What a Chelsea chauffeur costs
Chelsea is inside London, so the London hourly rate applies: £60 an hour in an E-Class, £75 in an S-Class or V-Class and £95 in a Range Rover, VAT included, with a 4-hour minimum.
For a visit to the show we estimate 4.5 hours (10 minutes each way plus four hours at the show): £270 in an E-Class, £338 in an S-Class or V-Class and £428 in a Range Rover. This is the price of the whole car, not per person, and it is agreed before you book. If you plan a longer day, with lunch before or dinner after, extra time is charged at the same hourly rate and we will confirm the total first. The full table is on our prices page.
Which car for Chelsea
The E-Class or BMW 5 Series and the S-Class or BMW 7 Series take up to 3 passengers. The Range Rover takes up to 4 and has the largest boot space for plants. The V-Class or VW Transporter takes up to 8, which suits a garden club or a family. A Mercedes Sprinter minibus carries up to 16 and is quoted on request; see coach and minibus hire.
Chelsea with other London summer events
Chelsea is the first big event of the season. The same service works for Wimbledon tennis and Royal Ascot, and our chauffeur service in London page explains hourly hire in general.
If you are arriving from Heathrow, the show is 16 miles away, about 35 minutes without traffic. We can collect you at the airport and take you to the hotel or the show; see our Heathrow airport transfer page. The first hour of waiting on airport pick-ups is free.
How to book your Chelsea Flower Show chauffeur
- Use the form below or our contact page with your date, pick-up address and how many people are travelling.
- Tell us whether you want a return from the same place, and whether you expect to buy plants.
- We send a fixed price, VAT included.
- Your chauffeur arrives at the agreed time and waits during the show.
Using the car before and after the show
Many visitors turn the day into more than a visit to the show. Because the car stays with you, you can start with breakfast in Chelsea or Knightsbridge, go to the show, and finish with dinner elsewhere in London, all under the same booking. The hours are charged at the hourly rate, so tell us the plan and we will work out how many to book.
If you are bringing guests who are not used to London, a chauffeur also means nobody needs to work out the Tube. The Royal Hospital is only 2 miles from Trafalgar Square, so pick-ups from the West End, Mayfair or the City are short and add little to the total.
Tips for the day
Book your tickets early, as the RHS sells them for specific days and times. Wear comfortable shoes and take a waterproof. Visit the Great Pavilion early or late in the day when it is quieter, and keep your plant purchases until you are ready to leave. And tell your chauffeur roughly when you would like to be collected; you can adjust it on the day.
Last updated 22 October 2026.
