The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the world's most prestigious horticultural event, returns to the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 20-24 May 2025, showcasing cutting-edge garden designs, spectacular floral displays, and innovative sustainability trends with highlights including Monty Don's debut garden design for dogs and an AI-powered climate-resilient urban forest.
Royal Hospital Chelsea Grounds
The Royal Hospital Chelsea sits on an impressive 66-acre site in the heart of London, providing a tranquil retreat amid the bustling city.
The grounds feature Grade II-listed gardens on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, with expansive verdant lawns that have become synonymous with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show since 1913.
The layout includes several distinct areas: the three-sided Figure Court opening toward the River Thames, flanked by Light Horse Court to the east and College Court to the west. Visitors can explore the renaissance courtyard, Ranelagh Gardens-a green retreat with shady walks originally designed by John Gibson in the nineteenth century-and various ceremonial spaces. The grounds host only select prestigious events throughout the year, including the Flower Show, Masterpiece Art Fair, and the Longines Global Champions Tour Showjumping. Recent additions include the Chelsea Pensioners Garden, a woodland space designed to offer residents a place for quiet reflection or socializing, featuring seating upholstered in recycled Pensioners' scarlet uniforms.
Monty Don's Dog Garden
Monty Don, beloved presenter of BBC's Gardeners' World, will design his first-ever RHS Chelsea garden in 2025 with a unique twist-it's created specifically for dogs. The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden marks a groundbreaking collaboration that celebrates the relationship between dogs and gardens, featuring a low-maintenance lawn for "canine sprawling, sleeping, rolling, flopping, itching and chasing balls." In an unprecedented move, Monty's golden retriever Ned has actively participated in the design process, creating pathways through the planting that will be incorporated into the final garden.
The 20 x 10m garden draws inspiration from Monty's Herefordshire home, Longmeadow, and includes several dog-friendly elements: a sturdy rye grass lawn with daisies, dandelions, and clover; a stream for dogs to wallow in; a zinc cattle trough serving as both water feature and refreshment point; and a "glorified doghouse" featuring a squashy sofa and even a throw made from Monty's old trousers. After the show concludes, the garden will be replanted at Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, where rescue animals-including Queen Camilla's adopted Jack Russell Terriers-can enjoy this thoughtfully designed canine paradise.
AI-Powered Climate-Resilient Garden
The Avanade Intelligent Garden represents a groundbreaking innovation at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show as the event's first AI-powered garden. Designed by gold medal-winning duo Tom Massey and Je Ahn, this pioneering space uses a network of sensors to monitor soil moisture, pH levels, and nutrient content, allowing the garden to communicate its needs through Microsoft's Azure OpenAI technology.
Visitors can interact with the garden through "TreeTalk," asking questions like "How are you feeling?" to which the garden might respond with conversational answers such as "I need more water" or "I could use a haircut."
Beyond its technological innovation, the garden serves a crucial environmental purpose by addressing the alarming 50% failure rate of urban trees within their first decade. The pavilion, constructed from trees affected by Ash Dieback, houses the AI system that helps optimize resource allocation and predict future climate conditions. After the show, this climate-resilient forest garden featuring high-biodiversity planting will be relocated to become a community space in London, demonstrating how AI can empower gardeners to maintain healthier urban green spaces that cool cities by up to 5°C while capturing significant amounts of CO2.
Where to Stay: Mercure London Paddington Hotel
Mercure London Paddington Hotel offers the perfect base for guests attending the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Located just moments from Paddington Station, the hotel provides fast and easy access via the District Line to Sloane Square, which is a short walk from the show grounds.
Key amenities include:
- Modern rooms with free high-speed Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and smart TVs
- On-site restaurant and bar for convenient dining
- 24-hour fitness centre
- Heathrow Express access, making airport transfers a breeze
Whether you’re heading out for a day of floral inspiration or unwinding after the show, Mercure London Paddington ensures a comfortable and stylish stay in central London.
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