We spent a four day city break in London where we visited the Chelsea Flower Show, West End and London City.

 

Youtube link to the  JustRetired50Plus Chelsea Flower Show Video:-

https://youtu.be/LpGen45w8Jc

 

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A city break to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London 

For a three or four day city break, London has it all. It is stylish and intimate, yet bursting with life and energy all year round, with luxury hotels, and trendy restaurants, cafes, shops and nightlife as well as a thriving arts and culture scene. There is lots to see and do, London is famed for its nightlife, offering world class theatres, top clubs in the West End and alternative Camden and Brixton scenes.

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The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, is a garden show held for five days in May each year by the Royal Horticultural Society in the grounds of Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London, England. RHS members only are allowed to attend on the Tuesday and Wednesday. The general public are allowed attend on the Thursday to Saturday, with the final 1600hrs bell tolling on the Saturday afternoon to denote the flower sale of all of the exhibits.

Public transport, bicycle or walking are the only recommended modes of transport to get there, such are the attendance levels and centre of London traffic congestion.

 

We have been to London numerous times and each time we discover new places to visit and things to do, but we always tend to stay in the Clapham high street area. It is within easy reach of the centre of London using the underground rail system and also in easy reach of the Gatwick airport via the over ground railway. Clapham itself has become gentrified over the last number of years and it is now a Mecca for restaurants of every type and ethnicity. Our favourite is “the Diary Restaurant” facing Clapham Common.

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A city break to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London

A great way to spend four days in London, in our opinion, would be something along the following:

 

Day 1: Explore any of the wonderful museums and galleries in central London - Our particular favourite are the Science & Natural History Museum and V&A, while ladies will probably prefer Oxford street and Bond Street shopping instead.

 

Day 2: Trip to the Chelsea Flower Show - take the train system to Victoria station and from there get the shuttle to the Flower Show. Or use the tube system to get to Sloane Square on the district and Circle lines and then take a 10 minute stroll to the show. The show itself is a total immersion in all things gardens and floral. There are generally people examples of every eclectic English life style attending the show, so sitting and general people watching is both fun and entertaining at the same time. If you flew in for the event, remember that you have a baggage allowance. It would be so easy to spend spend spend. The “Clos Maggiore Restaurant” in Kings Street is a real treat if you want to spoil yourself.

 

Day 3: Visit Covent Gardens and take in a West End Show - reward yourself with a day browsing around Covent Gardens. Take in any of the excellent West End shows in the evening and soak up the London night life scene thereafter with a well earned stroll and just people watch.

 

Day 4: I suppose all good things come to an end. So its time to pack up. If your flight is in the evening, it should be possible to leave your luggage in a left luggage designated safe  and perhaps, take a trip to Brixton, hit the shops for the last minute gifts, or if you are lucky enough to have been staying in the AirBnB or with relations or friends, just go for the long extended London City bunch and a pint……………..”What’s not to like about that !”

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Our must see recommendation for a city break to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London:-

1. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a must attend for any garden/flower lovers.

2. Take in a West End show.

3. A visit to any of London’s Museums or Galleries 

 

The average cost per person for the 3 night stay is €500.

 

 

“You should travel away from home, to really appreciate the value of what you have at  home, on your return.”

 

“Happiness is found in the journey and rarely in the destination, alone.”