Don't let the excitement of a ticket for the Chelsea Flower Show let you forget the essentials - those little, simple, obvious bits and pieces that will help to make your day at Chelsea run as smoothly as possible.
The Gardens Illustrated team got together to create a list of items we think are Chelsea Flower Show visiting essentials, which will mean you can focus on the gardens and plants all day.
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10 essentials for the Chelsea Flower Show
Comfy shoes
These are definitely top of the list. It's a big show ground with lots to see, and whether you have a half or full day ticket you will want to make the most of your time at the show, and this means lots of walking. Sturdy, sensible, waterproof shoes are a must.
Have you seen our recommendations for the Chelsea boot?
A decent sized bag
Again, think functionality and comfort here. While you’re walking around the show, you will be bombarded with leaflets and tempted by the various stalls selling lovely garden items. Although cloth tote bags are lovely to look at and convenient to use, when filled, they can become pretty uncomfortable for the shoulders. We suggest a decent-sized rucksack so your hands can be free for taking photos. Which brings us to the next item…
Camera
Whether it’s your first time, last time or hundredth time, the Chelsea Flower Show is a delight for the eyes. A camera, whether a fancy DSLR or the one on your smartphone, allows you to capture your best moments at the show and to also keep a picture diary of all your favourite plants. Don't forget to take a picture of the accompanying plant label to help you keep track of all those plant names. It's so easy to get snap happy these days too, when even phones can take such great quality photos. Plus there's less to carry...
Water
Whatever the weather, a good-sized bottle of water is a must. Keep hydrated and you'll avoid getting a headache. The RHS is trying to eliminate all single use plastics at the show so many vendors will sell cans or cartons of water, but the best option is just to bring your own refillable water bottle or cannister. There are free water bottle refill points throughout the showground.
Snacks
There are plenty of places to eat on site but the queues can be lengthy at peak times. It’s a good idea to keep a few nibbles in your bag so you can keep your energy levels up throughout the day.
Tissues
When the wind picks up, it can tickle even the hardiest of noses and eyes, so it’s a good idea to have a cotton hanky or packet of tissues nearby for if and when any sneezing starts.
Boiled sweets
Usually the plane trees on Eastern Avenue of the showground provide clouds of pollen in May that at peak flowering time can famously become a bit of an irritant, giving rise to the undesirable 'Chelsea cough'. Having a sweet to suck helps quell the throat tickle. If you are prone to hayfever, you might want to take an antihistamine ahead of hitting the show too.
Notepad
The Chelsea Flower Show is a pretty inspiring event. Make sure you have a notepad - whether an OG paper one or an app on your phone - so you can note down any planting ideas or thoughts for garden designs.
And do head to the Gardens Illustrated stand on Eastern Avenue and chat to us about our findings and – dare we suggest – take a look at our Chelsea-exclusive subscription offer?
If it’s hot
Hat, sunglasses and sun cream are a must.
Here are our favourite sun hats
If it’s wet
Light waterproof jacket and/or a folding umbrella.
These items are fairly weather dependent, but with our track record of British weather, we'd recommend packing them all. Apart from the Great Pavilion, there aren’t many options for sheltering from bad weather, however if the sun is shining, there are plenty of trees to offer shade for hot heads. Check the weather forecast before you go and pack accordingly.
Have a wonderful Chelsea Flower Show and don't forget to follow Gardens Illustrated on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news from the show!
For all our coverage, head to our Chelsea Flower Show hub page.
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