The Tour Guides' Guerrilla Survival Plan for Chelsea Flower Show

PRLog (Press Release) - Oct 21, 2009 -
Donna Dawson, owner of www.icangarden.com and www.gardeningtours.com has been taking enthusiastic groups of gardeners on her very popular Chelsea Flower Show tours since 1998.  Veronica Sliva has enjoyed acting as both a tour leader and being a participant. For both of them, the crème de la crème of garden events is the famous Chelsea Flower Show, held annually in May in London, England.  Each year the show attracts 157,000 visitors over 5 days. To get the most out of the Chelsea experience here are a few helpful insiders’ tips to guide your enjoyment of this incredible show, a flower show that every gardener should see at least once!  

The evening before head to a store like Marks & Spencer or Sainsbury’s and pick up some fruit, cheese and crackers and a bottle of water.  Food is expensive at the show and sometimes the lines can be quite long.  A small backpack is very handy, it frees up your hands for taking pictures and you can store what you bring with you in it.   Go over the programme (while you are recharging your camera battery) and pay attention to the layout of the show gardens in relation to the marquee or big tent and also note where the toilets are.  Donna’s tour groups are at the gate at 8 a.m. so they can get some quality time to see the show gardens before the coaches arrive.  Visit the show gardens then the booths in the marquee, then go to the park which is in the same area, find a place to sit and have your snack.  Take the plastic laundry bag in your hotel room in case there are no seats and you have to sit on the grass.  After your rest visit the smaller gardens surrounding the park and when you are done, go through the supplier area on your way out in case you end up with lots of shopping.  When you see a toilet, use it.  If you feel like a cup of coffee or tea try and have them at odd times – not at lunch time – the lines will be shorter.  Wear comfortable shoes, and if need be take your rain hat, not an umbrella.   Remember also that once you are in the grounds you cannot go out and come back again.  You are there for the day so pace your self and take at least a couple of breaks and most of all bring lots of cards for your pictures as you would absolutely hate yourself if you ran out.

There is a wonderful square not far from the show called Sloane Square.  Save enough energy to walk over there and see how the shops have decorated their windows for Chelsea week, and then finish off your day by taking Afternoon Tea at the Botanist – a very unique and very inexpensive afternoon tea in London!  

Donna’s 2010 ‘England’s Finest Gardens & Chelsea Flower Show Tour” is at www.gardeningtours.com   It is already booking and no wonder.  Come along with Veronica and Donna and see why!