This year’s Chelsea Flower Show has been criticized as “disappointing” and inundated with influencers, prompting calls for the event’s organizers to consider a redesign.
Renowned globally, the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) prestigious exhibition draws over 150,000 attendees and captivates millions more through television broadcasts.
This week, however, visitors have taken to social media platform X to voice their frustrations about the overwhelming crowds, which they claim hindered their ability to appreciate the floral displays.
One visitor recounted the lack of effective crowd management, noting instances of people needing wheelchairs due to fatigue and some even fainting because of the heat.
Another attendee remarked, “I just returned from the Chelsea Flower Show—it was packed! It was scorching and there were no places to sit. The absence of large signs made navigation difficult, especially at the main entrances, and the map and brochure cost an additional £18!”
The show welcomed celebrities, royalty, and influencers on Monday before opening its doors to the general public from Tuesday through Saturday.
Garden enthusiasts have had enough of influencers and celebrities taking centre stage over the flowers at the Chelsea Flower Show
Attendees called for a limit on the number of people who could go as they said they were swamped in crowds
Tickets can cost around £107, with a show guide and map available for an additional £18.
One garden enthusiast complained the show had become ‘elitist’ and lost the focus on what made it special in the first place.
While another said: ‘It’s a circus! We want to see the gardens, the designers and the exhibitors who put so much effort into their work, not the celebrities who only go there to be seen.’
Nature influencer Sarah Parry took to X to complain about the ‘awful’ state of affairs at the show.
She said: ‘Not my usual tweet but I want a little rant. I got gifted 2 tickets to the Chelsea Flower Show so went with a friend yesterday.
‘We paid for an overnight stay in a hotel, train fares and food. I can honestly say it was AWFUL.
‘It was unbelievably busy with huge numbers of people making it impossible to walk – we were just shoved along by the crowd.
‘I couldn’t see any of the show gardens because the fight to see them was 5 people deep. Even if you did get to the front you were being pressured to move on.
‘We gave up after 3 hours and went to the Chelsea Physic Garden along the road which was a much welcome oasis of calm.
‘The organisers of the show should be ashamed of themselves. Visitor numbers need limiting and I feel so sorry for anyone for whom this was a first-time, long-awaited visit.’
Another X user shared Ms Parry’s misgivings, saying that her ‘sense of disappointment was monumental when I discovered the meagre eight gardens and handful of balcony gardens in the vast beautiful grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital.
‘Instead of a cacophony of flowers there was a cacophony of stalls and floral attire selling toot to the masses blocking the sparse gardens from sight.’
She went on: ‘Just try not to get caught on camera, upstaging an influencer’s carefully curated shot.
Celebrities descended on the scene in Monday’s private showing. The King, Sir David Beckham, Grayson Perry, Kim Cattrall, Dominic West, Brian May, Bill Bailey, Aisling Bea and Judi Dench all came
This years show was branded ‘awful’ by critics who said they were ‘shoved along’ by huge crowds and bobbing and weaving to avoid pictures
‘I’m sure this is fun on preview day when riff raff like myself aren’t permitted entry but it’s still lacking…well, gardens!’
She called for a limit on the number of visitors allowed at the show and said the ‘endless posturing was at odds with what should have been a natural and inspiring experience.’
There were 36 gardens at the show in total and awards were handed out the very best of them.
The RHS Chelsea Garden of the Year was The Campaign to Protect Rural England Garden: ‘On the Edge’ designed by Sarah Eberle
The RHS Chelsea Small Garden of the Year was Addleshaw Goddard: Flourish in the City designed by Joe and Laura Carey.
But despite the beauty, attendees were not happy with how crowded it was, which also appeared to be a problem the year before.
Another disgruntled showgoer said: ‘Went last year for the 1st time as gifted tickets…..NEVER AGAIN!!!! Far too many people, you couldn’t get anywhere near the displays and were just herded around like cattle. AWFUL.’
One Chelsea resident said: ‘This year has been the worst ever. We don’t begrudge the event itself but without a doubt, the organisers have oversold tickets this year.
‘Earlier I tried to do some chores around the Kings’ Road & it was impossible. So many crowds spilling into the road itself as the tourists keep bottlenecking the pavement trying to take photos of the shop fronts.
‘It was actually dangerous as vehicles kept having to swerve. It’s dreadful & something needs to be done.’
The show has become more about celebrities and ‘being seen’ there instead of the flowers and their designers, critics said. Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe were seen together at the show in the trio’s first public appearance since they were announced as Strictly Come Dancing Judges
One commenter even said there was a man hit by a car in The King’s Road and had to be rushed off in an ambulance, closing the traffic for hours.
One more spoke out against the crowds saying: ‘We were in Chelsea on Wednesday and it was hideous, so busy on the King’s Road & as you say people blocking the pavements taking photos of the shop front flowers.
‘I had no idea it was that busy, we literally walked down from World’s End and just kept walking far too busy to enjoy.’
The Daily Mail has contacted the RHS for a comment.
