Image: Hampton Court Flower Festival. Credit: RHS

Also known as the Festival of Flowers, the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is an annual event held within the grounds of the famous Hampton Court Palace.

Once home to the revered Henry VIII and his family, the palace isn’t the only site of rich history. The grounds and gardens have a few stories themselves! Not only have they been the go-to promenade site for royals over centuries, it has also been the home to one of the RHS’s most famous flower show in the South of England.

Here are just a few facts to keep in your pocket if you’re visiting the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival soon. Or, if you simply love gardening history!


In the Beginning…

The show opened its doors for the first time in 1990. Back then, it was held by the Historic Royal Palaces and Network Southeast. However, in 1992, they announced they would be stepping back, and the RHS was the successful bid as their replacement.

The RHS held their first show in 1993, and has since become one of the world’s largest and most exciting flower show.

Did you know? For the Historic Royal Palace shows, Network Southeast ran specific trains to the show from Waterloo train station. The rail porters marked the occasion by wearing carnations in their hats!

Gardens Fit for Royalty




If you’ve ever visited Hampton Court Palace, you’ll know just how vast their manicured gardens are. This makes it easy for the thousands of people to visit without it feeling too cramped. But before the shows and the hubbub, it was exclusively enjoyed by kings, queens, and nobility.

The gardens were redesigned every era, from the reign of the Tudors to the Victorians. Henry VIII added his Privy Garden and would hunt for deer in Bushy Park. William III and Mary II added the baroque gardens, which includes the impressive maze, and a mass bedding display.

William and Mary also created the Great Fountain Garden, which aimed to highlight their baroque garden. It contains 13 fountains which are mirrored by Yew trees. This garden soon became a highlight to visitors once Queen Victoria opened the gardens to the public in 1838.

There are over 10 gardens and attractions at Hampton Court Palace, all introduced by different walks of royalty. The newest addition is the Magic Gardens, opened by the Duchess of Cambridge in 2016. Designed by Robert Myers, this child-friendly play area includes "classic Tudor motifs and heraldic creatures", plus walkways, towers, and even a fire-breathing dragon!

While you visit the Palace, make sure you take in all the surroundings. The current Gardens and Estate team keep it up to the Royal standard, continuing the work of past gardeners.

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Today 




Image: The iconic RHS logo from Tatton Flower Show 2022. 


According to the RHS, 3,300 glasses of Pimm's are consumed (on average) over the festival week. What's even more impressive is the amount of tea drank (17,000+ cups!). What can we say, us Brits love a beverage... especially tea. 

The Hampton Court Palace Garden event is called a festival for a reason! From demos, shopping, food, music, exhibitions, and more - there's truly something for everyone. Whether you're there for the history, for the garden inspiration, or simply for a fun day out, we're sure you'll have an amazing time. 


Did you know? The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival attracts around 120,000 visitors annually!


Will We See You There?


J. Parker's is bound for the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2024! Visit our stall in the Plant Village to see our 'Miniature Wildlife' Garden in all its glory. You can also flag down one of our team members to talk all things plants, or even purchase a few of our seasonal picks! 

Find out more about our appearance at Hampton Court Palace this year in our blog 'We'll See You at the RHS Hampton Court Show!'.