The world famous Chelsea Flower Show is an annual garden design event in London towards the end of May each year. A free alternative is to walk around the streets of Chelsea where the shops compete with each other with the most amazing floral displays. Read on to find the best route for your own self-guided tour of Chelsea in Bloom. You can then vote for The People’s Champion Award via the website.
Read more: Voting for your favourite at Chelsea in Bloom
Walk starting point: Sloane Square
On arrival at Sloane Square tube station, you will experience the hustle and bustle of the hawkers selling tickets to Chelsea Flower show. Everyone visiting the area seemed to be wearing florals and I was very much the odd one out wearing stripes!
Sloane Square is on your right as you come out of the tube station and is the start of our tour. In the square itself, you will find enormous displays. Spend some time here revelling in the atmosphere and enjoying the buzz of the event.
Walk across Sloane Square and cross the road to Sloane Street. Walking up the road, you will want to keep crossing over to take pictures of the floral displays or to take a look at the more intricate details. It is quite a busy road so do take care.
Pavilion Road
Walk up as far as Cadogan Place on the right after the gated Cadogan Gardens. There are very few displays from here so turn back slightly and cross over to walk down Pont Street and left again into Pavilion Road. There are no displays at this end of Pavilion Road but there are some beautiful Chelsea town houses to admire.
The fun begins further down at the pedestrianised end of Pavilion Road where you can also take a break at one of the many cafes. This street full of shops and cafes, all with displays, is perfect for a quick coffee and to do some people watching before continuing on.
Kings Road
Once you have finished soaking up the atmosphere in Pavilion Road, it is time to walk down the Kings Road. I tend to walk down one side of the road until the displays finish, (they start thinning out around the Town Hall) and then walk back up the other side. Sometimes you can enjoy the displays close up but get a different feel for it viewing it from across the road.
Duke of York Square
When you walk back up the Kings Road, you will pass the Saatchi Gallery on your right and the start of the Duke of York Square. You can decide whether to enter the shopping square from this end or the entrance opposite Sloane Square. I would recommend walking further down Kings Road until you see the entrance on your right. This narrow entrance way into the the Duke of York shopping area always has the best display.
Once you have fully explored the Square then you have finished your tour! Don’t forget to cast your vote on the Chelsea in bloom website for the best floral display!
If you want to see some of the floral art on display off the main roads, check out the Chelsea in Bloom map on the website for all participating shops.
Getting to Chelsea in Bloom
Sloane Square Underground Stations brings you right to the start of the Kings Road.
Alternatively it is a lovely walk from Victoria Station through Belgravia which also hosts its own floral displays.
Read more: Best apps to plan your route in London
Chelsea in Bloom Tickets
There are no tickets needed. You are free to walk around the area and visit any of the shops.
Opening Times
The same week as The Chelsea Flower Festival, the third week of May.
Eat and Drink
A variety of restaurants and cafes throughout the whole area. I would especially recommend the pedestrianised area of Pavillion Road and the Duke of York Square.
Toilets
There are toilets in the Peter Jones Department Store. No purchase necessary.
Accessibility
Easy to navigate. The streets are all level but will be busy.
Top Tips
- It doesn’t matter where you start and stop your walk. Take your time and enjoy.
- Wear florals so you feel part of the atmosphere!
- Bring a camera. The displays are amazing and you will want to capture them in all their glory.
