Category Archives: London

A Visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London

I was in London for a few days in May, enroute elsewhere in Europe, and some time after I booked my trip, I did some googling to see what events might be on in the city while I was there.  When I discovered that the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show was on, I was quite excited but figured that I would not likely be able to get tickets which, by that time, had been on sale for some period of time.  I couldn’t believe when I was able to successfully book tickets online for an early evening visit!

I have to say that nothing could have prepared me for the extravaganza that is the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show. Nothing. It is massive and boasts extravagant flower displays from around the world like the one pictured below from Thailand – thousands and thousands of flowers imported from Thailand especially for this show.

"Thailand, Land of Buddhism", 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show
“Thailand, Land of Buddhism”, 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show

The annual 5-day garden show has been held on the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, London, since 1913. While no longer the largest flower show in England (that title belongs to Hampton Court Palace) it is, however, considered the most prestigious and famous and is visited by members of the Royal Family.   Our tickets were valid for a three-hour visit and it was overwhelming to see the fabulous displays. We could easily have spent an entire day.

"Thailand, Land of Buddhism", 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show
“Thailand, Land of Buddhism”, 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show

The creativity of the displays was a sight to see!

"Thailand, Land of Buddhism", 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show
“Thailand, Land of Buddhism”, 2015 Gold Medal Winner, Chelsea Flower Show

While there are a number of outside displays and a large number of stalls/booths selling anything and everything to do with gardening, the main focal point is the Garden Pavilion tent erected especially for the show. To give you a sense of the magnitude of this Pavilion, the RHS website states it covers 2.9 acres of land and has the capacity to hold 500 London buses! And, it was all filled with beautiful flowers and floral displays!

Many nations send representatives with floral displays to compete at the Chelsea Flower Show. For the sixth consecutive year, Thailand has won the gold medal at the show. In 2015, their Thai Buddhism design theme was “Thailand, Land of Buddhism” which featured tropical botanical gardens.

The show features horticultural displays, creative gardening ideas, and promotes rare floral varieties, new plant species, and future trends.  We knew there would be lots of flowers but we also found lots of ideas for outside living like this garden room.

The photo below shows the interior of one of the garden rooms on display – I’d have taken this one home if it would have fit in my luggage for transport back across the Atlantic Ocean!

The one below with the big screen TV is not too shabby, either!

Who wouldn’t want a patio table with a built in barbeque! Perfect for outdoor entertaining.

Floral displays were meticulous in every way and not a dead or wilted bloom could be seen.

The different floral species and varieties were well marked.

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The orange tulips below  almost look like a painting.

Spectacular color was everywhere at every turn!

Beautiful begonias in every shade imaginable.

It was so hard not to take a thousand photographs!

The displays below reminded me of decorated cupcakes!

Loved this display of spuds at the show!

Flora in every shade and shape imaginable!

Look at the intricate detail of color in these blooms.

Hard to imagine what nature creates!

I loved the more whimsical displays like the teapot and cupcakes below.

These displays were popular with photographers.  Some 157,000 visitors pass through the show in five days and I’d be willing to bet there were not too many of them who did not have a camera in hand!

Check out the flower-filled cookie!

A teapot pouring flowers!

Don’t discard the old dining room chairs – they make for interesting flower containers!

A flowing floral table skirt.

Atop the lovely tableskirt was a table set for afternoon tea.

A way to re-purpose old books, teapots, and teacups and saucers.

One of several floral arrangement submissions on exhibit from creative floral designers.

Love the lime green shades!

A beautiful autumn-themed display that incorporates many elements.

An old church window frame was the inspiration for this display.

We found the show very well organized and, of course, only permitting so many visitors on to the grounds at a time does control crowds.  We were staying in the Belgravia area of London this time so used the Tube (underground railway system) to and from the show.  There were a number of double decker buses leaving from nearby Victoria Station but traffic in London can be slow moving and it is very congested in the Chelsea area when the flower show is on so we felt the Tube would be the quickest way to get to Chelsea and back to our hotel.

Thousands of people all moving at the same time means you need to have a good sense of direction and know where you are headed.  Some took advantage of the rickshaw service to get them from one point to another.

If you find yourself in London in May when the Chelsea Flower Show is on, I highly recommend a visit.  Just know, though, that tickets must be purchased in advance.  We bought ours online and picked them up at the ticket booth just inside the entrance gate to the show.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief glimpse into the Chelsea Flower Show as it was in 2015.

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Chelsea Flower Show 2015
Chelsea Flower Show 2015

London Eye Offers Spectacular Views of London Landscape

 

The London Eye
The London Eye

On my most recent visit to London in May, 2015, I decided it was time to see the city from high atop the Coca-Cola London Eye.

Built in 1999, this giant slow-moving Ferris wheel is located on the South Bank of the River Thames and it provides some stunning views of London, including that of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as seen in the photo below.

Houses of Parliament
Houses of Parliament

It takes 30 minutes for the wheel to complete its rotation and it moves so slowly that you don’t even realize it is moving. There are 32 glass-enclosed passenger capsules on the wheel and each takes up to about 25 people. There is a bench in the center of each capsule but passengers are free to move about the capsule and most do so in order to get the optimal viewing that the Ferris wheel offers. Because it moves so slowly and smoothly, it’s a great place for taking photos as you can get views from many heights.

Passenger Capsule on The London Eye
Passenger Capsule on The London Eye

Before boarding the Ferris wheel, we went to the 4D cinema experience and I recommend it. It’s a very short presentation and is very well done.

Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge

During peak periods, there can be long queues for the London Eye. In mid-May, we were at the London Eye around 5:30pm and had about a 20-25 minute wait. They do, however, have different categories of tickets, including fast-track tickets, so best to visit their website for up-to-date details on tickets, prices, and so forth.

The Shard (the triangular-shaped building in the photo below) is London’s highest and best viewpoint of the city. This 87-story skyscraper contains restaurants, offices, and a hotel as well as a viewing platform. I didn’t make it to the Shard this time but it’s on my “to-do” list for the next visit.

Part of the London Skyline including The Shard
Part of the London Skyline including The Shard

There are always vessels of some sort moving along The Thames.

Charing Cross Station is on the right in the photo below and Whitehall Court to the left.

You don’t go many seconds in London without seeing the iconic red double-decker buses.  The ones in the photo below are on Westminster Bridge just in front of the Houses of Parliament.

You’ll never be lost for time if you can see Big Ben!

The Royal Festival Hall is in the photo below. The London Eye is a great way to situate yourself within the layout of London and its famous landmarks. You can also get a good view of Buckingham Palace from the London Eye, too.

In our short time on the London Eye, the weather kept changing. One minute the sun was shining and the sky was bright blue and the next, it looked like a storm was rolling in. After exiting the London Eye, we walked a short distance along the Thames and then went up on to the Westminster Bridge which we walked across to the Westminster Underground Station to get the tube back to Belgravia where we were staying on this trip. It was a neat experience to walk alongside the Houses of Parliament.

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Afternoon Tea at London’s Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel

Since my first visit to England in 1985, I have had a love affair with London! I find it’s a city that, no matter how many times I visit, there is always something new to see and to explore.

There are the usual iconic attractions that remain largely unchanged over the years – the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Harrods, Fortnum and Mason, and the list goes on. One of the most British of traditions – afternoon tea – has also endured over the years and, if anything, has grown in popularity with different age demographics. On each visit to the city, I ‘take tea’ at a different venue. My latest visit just this past May took me to the Intercontinental Park Lane Hotel near Hyde Park for afternoon tea.

This hotel offers a high-end traditional afternoon tea on a regular daily basis and, in addition, designs several seasonal teas throughout the year. Their new “Scents of Summer” afternoon tea had only been available four days prior to our arrival and we found it was a treat for all the senses.

"Scents of Summer" Afternoon Tea. Photo courtesy InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel
“Scents of Summer” Afternoon Tea. Photo courtesy InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel

This is not your ordinary afternoon tea with the traditional egg and cucumber sandwiches.  Expect attentive (but not intrusive) and knowledgeable service to go along with tasty and artfully prepared food that takes afternoon tea up a notch. Servers will offer tea pairing recommendations for each course of the afternoon tea that is served complete with a glass of bubbly. For my complete review of this tea experience, visit my sister blog “My Island Bistro Kitchen”.

In the meantime, here are some photos of the afternoon tea to whet your appetite.

We sampled three different teas during the afternoon, one to accompany each course.

We started with the rose pearl wheatgrass palette cleanser.

Then, these four tasty pinwheel/scroll sandwiches were presented in the shape of a butterfly.

Dainty buttermilk scones arrived at the table accompanied by dishes of Devon clotted cream, wild strawberry jam, lemon curd with pink peppercorn, and Bergamot-infused Earl Grey butter.

And, for the finale, take a look at the presentation of the dessert course. Everything you see in the photo below is edible, including the pebbles!

The dessert course was accompanied by a glass of Moët & Chandon berry floral Rosé.


If you are in London this summer and go to only one afternoon tea, I recommend the Scents of Summer at the Park Lane. Do plan to allow about three hours to relax and fully enjoy and savour this exceptional afternoon tea in the hotel’s Wellington Lounge.

The price per person of the Scents of Summer afternoon tea experience is ₤45 + gratuity (generally about 15%) which, at the time of writing would total approximately $100. (CDN) per person.

The Intercontinental Park Lane is located at One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London, England, W1J 7QY (Tel: +44(0)20 7409 3131). Reservations are recommended for afternoon tea. For more information, visit the hotel’s website at http://parklane.intercontinental.com/wellington-lounge-afternoon-tea.html

My thanks to the Park Lane for the opportunity to experience Scents of Summer Afternoon Tea and for the fine hospitality. My afternoon tea at the Park Lane Hotel was complimentary for the purpose of conducting a review of the new Scents of Summer offering. However, this in no way influenced my opinions of the afternoon tea experience which are purely my own.

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Afternoon Tea at Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel
Afternoon Tea at Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel