The world’s biggest flower show set in the historic grounds of Hampton Court Palace is a festival to celebrate all things gardening…
World’s largest show
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is the world’s largest annual flower show, stretching over 34 acres.
It is a celebration of gardening set in the historic grounds of Hampton Court Palace within easy reach of central London.
Immersed in inspiration
Recently relaunched as a festival, it attracts artists, performers, chefs and more to the many varied stages and eateries.
And of course visitors can immerse themselves in the inspiration provided by the Show Gardens, the Rose Marquee, Floral Marquee, all while enjoying Champagne along the banks of Long Water.
A potted history
The show was first held in 1990 and created by Historic Royal Palaces and Network Southeast. In 1992 Network Southeast announced it was withdrawing and the RHS was the successful bidder to take over.
The first RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show was held in 1993, and it has gone on to become the world’s largest flower show.
For the first Hampton Court Palace Shows, Network Southeast laid on special trains from Waterloo, and the railway porters all wore carnations in their hats.
Key facts
- It takes 18 months to plan each show, and 200 people to build and dismantle it
- It takes three weeks to build a show garden & two weeks to build a small garden – but just five days to dismantle them
- An average of 140,000 people attend the show every year, and most visitors spend around 5 hours there
- All waste at the show is recycled
- The Floral Marquee is 6,750 square metres, big enough to fit an FA football pitch
- The British Rose Festival was introduced in the second show, in 1991
- The hottest year recorded at the show was in 2015 when temperatures reached 37 degrees
- More flowers are sold per square mile at RHS Hampton than anywhere else in the UK
