This week is a big one for the English summer social season. Wimbledon started yesterday, Henley begins tomorrow, and today holds a special opening of its own: the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. This annual flower show attracts 150,000 visitors and covers a vast area next to the famous royal palace in London. It’s the world’s largest flower show, and I got a sneak peek. Here’s what’s in store…

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

The Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival (formerly called the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show) is a lot like London’s Chelsea Flower Show, only bigger and slightly farther from the city center.

With show gardens, shops, cafes, and more, it’s a great place to spend a day out near the UK capital. Each year the festival features different gardens and themes, so it’s worth going back again and again to get London garden ideas and inspiration.

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Flower Urn

World Gardens

This year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival has a dedicated World Gardens section with different corners of the globe represented through special show gardens.

Featured destinations include Turkey, the Aegean, Normandy, Sri Lanka, and the USA. As a travel blogger, I naturally started my visit here.

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show Shop

The U.S. ambassador was present in the Boston garden, and I managed to snap a few photos of him as he spoke to the press.

Matthew Barzun at the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

Next door, I got a chance to catch up with James Priest, the head gardner at Monet’s garden in Giverny. He designed the Normandy garden as a miniature version of the famous one he looks after in France.

James Priest at the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

I asked him about the garden, and he said that he “tried to capture a little bit of Monet’s garden to show the English. The most evocative element of the garden is the Japanese bridge,” and he wanted to convey that with a replica.

“In Normandy there are over 100 beautiful gardens that are worth visiting,” he continued. While Monet’s is certainly the most famous, there are plenty of others worthy of exploring.

Colorful Chairs at the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

Hampton Court Garden Festival Gardens

And there are plenty of others worthy of exploring at the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, too.

Hampton Court Palace Show Garden

Leaving the World Gardens, I took a wander through the fragrant Festival of Roses, the gorgeous Summer Gardens, and the spectacular show gardens, soaking up the atmosphere and browsing the garden goods for sale.

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Statue

My favorite garden at the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival was the Living Landscapes City Twitchers garden by CouCou Design.

Its lovely table and pretty little birdhouses were surrounded by delicate white roses and a nest-like seating area. I could have settled in for the whole afternoon.

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Show Garden

Another that caught my eye was the Living Landscapes HUG garden by Rae Wilkinson Design Ltd. I loved the purple-and-green color scheme and the curving form of the natural wood bench in the center.

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Show Garden

A third that caught my eye with its brilliant flowers and cozy seating area turned out to be Just Retirement’s “A Garden for Every Retiree”. Clearly I’m ready for my golden years.

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Show Garden

And for good reason. The Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is so big and covers such a vast amount of territory that I will probably be old enough to retire by the time I make my way through the whole thing.

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Water Feature

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival: The Verdict

Add to that the fact that the aforementioned Henley Royal Regatta starts tomorrow and the Formula 1 British Grand Prix takes place at Silverstone on Friday, and there’s a lot to do this week.

When it’s all over, I’ll head back to the garden festival, settle into my comfy retiree chair, put my feet up, and sip some Pimm’sā€”14,274 glasses are consumed here each year. If not golden years, then at least golden hours…

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Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

10 Comments on Lady’s Guide to the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

  1. NOTHING beats fresh flowers in the sunshine for me, and what a beautiful display they have at Hampton Palace – must try and get down there whilst the sun’s still around! Lots of love, Andrea xxx

  2. Our beautiful bird feeders were included in the City Twitchers garden and I must say we were very proud to be part of such a beautiful space. Sarah did a fantastic job, a shame it has to end! Thanks for the lovely post. (faye at Green&Blue)

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