RHS Reviews 252

Chelsea Flower Show May 2023
Overpriced, overcrowded and far too commercilalised. Extremely disappointed as had been wanting to go all my life.

I go to Hampton court flower show every year, but this will be my last. Got off the train only to find there are no boats to transport you this year so walked a long way with the kids along the river and winding through hampton court just to get to the entrance. Once in It felt more like a trade show than a flower show and it was so over crowded. We spent all day shuffling behind people or queueing in the pouring rain for food and drinks then eating the food in the rain sat on wet grass as there was nowhere to sit or shelter. The food queues were huge and the staff seemed really overwhelmed. We bought burgers only to then be up all night with the worst food poisoning I've ever had. Really disappointing and expensive day out

Parking is good but all a long ride from the show Green car park was a 45 minute bus transfer.
As for the show the show Gardens where poor at best.
And all thee catering is now done by one supplier KURB so you could not even get a sit down brekfast. It was more street food.
Pimes was £14 a pint making Glastonbury seam cheep.
Would we go again NO not even if it was free to park and get in. The map was useless and unhelpful at best. It's now just a disorganised shopping experience.
This was our 3rd and last visit.

Hampton Court Festival 2023.

Arrived by coach on the 7th July The coach park is about 3/4 mile from the entrance. I am 80 and was tired from the walk and the heat when I arrived at the entrance. I did not take water because of the weight. After a 25 minute queue in the sun to get under some shade and a snack and a £2 bottle of water stayed there for an hour, decided that I couldn't face the heat and the crowds so went and sat under the trees by the water for 2 hours and did not see one garden, my wife found me a £2 small tin of water. Then walked the long distance back to the coach. Made to feel very much like a second or third class citizen. Waste of money.
RHS - Health and Safety issue. On hot days like this provide free bottled water - not just a tap where you have to queue in the sun.

It didn't bode well when we queued in traffic for 2 hours to travel 3 miles to reach the parking area. It was a steaming hot day, there were hordes of people, long queues in full sun for food, drinks, loos. Signage was poor which i suppose is because RHS wanted us to pay £10 for their guide and site plan, having already paid £37 each for entry and £16 for parking! The floral marquee was so crowded it was a relief to escape it. There were some areas under trees to shelter from the heat but insufficient shaded seating. Too many people crammed onto the site......an example of corporate greed. Altogether an unpleasant experience and we left after 2 hours and won't return.

Hampton Palace Garden Festival
2.5 hours in a queue to get into the show.
So not really a day ticket left. Weather was bad but no real effort from organisers to cater for this eventuality. No shelters provided, would have bought cheap ponchos if they were available. Food provision was not enough since everything even a drink you had to queue for and they were long queues. Not enough seating provided just for someone to catch their breath and then move on. Food outlets were all very heavy food what on earth happened to sandwiches? Everything but. We live two hours away so had stayed overnight and so the cost was prohibitive for what was little better than a regional flower show. Felt the organisation was a little lazy and did not consider the people attending at all. Won’t be going again!

I last visit then RHS Hampton Court show some 10 years ago.
What a difference today, eye watering ticket prices, in excess of £47 each plus £16 to park a vehicle is truly outrageous for what one gets.
Its actually quite small, effectively a few small gardens , one rose tent and one plant tent, the rest is dedicated to garden furniture and extensive tat from China that has pervaded every garden centre.
Choice of refreshments very poor, mainly consisting of food vans.
Save your money and spend the £100s saved at a nursery- far more pleasure than this overpriced, ill thought out disaster.

Hampton Court Flower Show 2023. I imagined this was still what it is all about - flowers. But no just a few flower exhibitors surrounded by food trucks, accesories even specialist whiskies. Also queues for sub standard pricy food. Snd I haven't mentioned the 3 hour queues just to get into the car park. Dreadful experience.

My first visit to the Hampton Court Flower Show was such a disappointment - never again! Far too crowded to appreciate anything properly and a lack of shady places available given the crowds. Full of stalls trying to flog stuff which makes the entrance price poor value . I expected to see much more in terms of show gardens and less retail. It was so hot we had to leave early. Huge queues for food and drink . Not fun .

More of a lifestyle show than a garden show now to be honest.

I won't be going again while it's taking this approach

RHS Hampton Court visit this year was so disappointing compared to other years. The poor weather didn’t help but that’s obviously not their fault! The show seems smaller. The incredible queues just to get an overpriced coffee (nearing an hour to order and then collect plus £4.40 for a latte!). People crammed into the tents due to the weather but dragging their annoying trolleys with them. We arrived at 11:30 and had left by 4pm. Usually we’d stay all day loving it. Not this year.

After many years of visiting the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show (now known as ‘festival’), I can safely say 2023 will be our last. There’s little left of the glorious former flower show, and no restaurants or places to sit and have a drink. Instead, there are big corporate stands, street food caravans, huge crowds and even bigger queues. For everything! There are a few garden displays and a large tent with flowers and plants for sale. But the charm and ambience of previous years has completely gone. One of our party described it as a ‘hellhole’ when we left after an hour. An almighty rip off for £38 a ticket and a very expensive mistake. I’m not sure what the RHS are aiming for or what their vision is, but I hope they read this and the reviews on Tripadvisor.

Just returned from the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show (Festival). Admittedly the RHS cannot control the weather but they can the overall organisation which was poor. Staff seemed totally disinterested. Road signage was very poor and the road traffic management around Hampton Court and the approach to Hampton Court non existent. The exit process mid afternoon wasn’t that much better. Suggest the RHS re think the management of their show as clearly there are a number of shortfalls that need improving for next years event. Maybe time to consider if Hampton Court is the best location for future use or will the proposed ULEZ extension cut down on the volume of vehicle traffic?

The RHS is a good and worthwhile charity but the back office is evidently understaffed and they will lose custom as a result. Emails go unanswered, telephone lines provide a several minute blurb then fail to connect you to a person to take your call or simply state that there's no-one available to take the call - this is at 9.30am. I was simply hoping to ask whether members could take a guest to their members only days at Hampton Court.
I shan't bother rejoining! I wonder how many others they have lost

I have visited RHS Bridgewater on several occasions and have recently become an RHS member. Whilst the garden visits have all been lovely I have now decided to take my own packed lunch and drink as each time I visit queues for the main cafe and the smaller drink/cake outlets
have unacceptable queues. It simply spoils the day when you have to queue for very long periods of time to get a coffee or buy lunch. When I visited last week I over heard someone who had queued for some considerable time say "that was a waste of time, they are not doing sandwiches today"! There is either not enough capacity or serving staff are very slow.

I eventually received my order from RHS. For over £10 per plant I expected something more than a 2cm tall seedling. Absolute rip-off. Buy from a nursery instead, one where you can see what you're spending your hard-earned money on. Very very disappointed, I chose to shop with RHS because I thought they would be ethical and give value for money - it seems not.

I am very disappointed with RHS. Ordered a named Rose for a 90th birthday gift online. The rose arrived 2 days before birthday party, it was in poor condition, the buds were never going to open and the rose was covered in aphids. It was too late to send it back for a replacement so had to buy something else. I would expect more from the RHS.

2nd visit
Just as poor as last August
Too few blue badge spaces-couldnt get one
The area next to the entrance could be used to create more
Too few loos
The ones near the chimney are so small it's impossible for someone coming out of not to touch those queuing
Cafe still awful despite every review complaining about it
Has to queue
25 minutes just get thru the entrance another 20 to get coffee,5 minutes for the loo
So a third of our time was spent in queues
Again had to go to a pub for lunch
And there's more colour in my Dad's garden
Won't be going again
Oh and they don't answer the phone

Disappointing response by the RHS who I contacted to ask if I was able to a) either have a refund or transfer my Chelsea show tickets and b) to pause my membership/ cancel due to an unexpected serious illness - this is in stark contrast to other companies who have been very understanding, helpful and flexible . Having lodged a complaint have not been contacted.

Chelsea Flower Show 2023
Been to the Chelsea Flower Show today, absolute diabolical rip off £33 for 2 Pimm’s - plastic beakers full of ice this is just outrageous, didn't realise until the notification came through on my card app later. my fault for not checking the price thought I would be paying an unreasonable price but! It was bad enough you could hardly move for the number of people at the show through over selling! We won't be going again.