Chelsea Insider Low - Cadogan

44 | THINGS TO DO | EventsHospital, Chelsea. It showcases works ofart from London and UK-based galleries,as well as from galleries around theworld in Australia, the Middle East, Asiaand North America. Tickets can be purchasedon the door and cost £12 (£18for two). The catalogue costs £5 and issold separately.www.artlondon.netChelsea Antiquarian Book FairRan in early November in 2011, 2012dates TBAThe Chelsea Antiquarian Book Fair is abook-lovers’ haven. It has been held inChelsea for more than 20 years and runsat the Chelsea Old Town Hall eachNovember. More than 75 exhibitorspresent a wide range of items, from 16thto 21th-century works, priced between£10 and £10,000.www.chelseabookfair.comChelsea Antiques FairMarch 21-25, September 19-23The Chelsea Antiques Fair isnow the oldest fair of its kind inBritain. It has been operatingsince 1950 and is based in theChelsea Old Town Hall. The fairhas 38 stands of specialistsoffering a wide variety of qualitywares, including furniture, jewellery,porcelain, Orientalpieces and fine art. Entrycosts £5 and prices rangebetween £200 and £20,000.www.penman-fairs.co.ukChelsea Art FairApril 20-22The 38 exhibitors at theChelsea Art Fair are allrespected British galleriesand many representinternationalartists. The fair showscontemporary art in aRHS Chelsea Flower Show, © RHS Imagesrange of different media, including paintings,drawings and sculpture. Pricesrange between £500 and £20,000.www.chelseaartfair.orgRHS Chelsea Flower ShowMay 22-26The RHS Chelsea Flower Show beganas the ‘Great Spring Show’ in the mid-19th century and has been based at theRoyal Hospital nearly every year since1913.Over the five days, a variety of exhibitsfalling under five different award categories– Flora (garden and floral exhibits),Hogg (exhibits of trees), Knightian(exhibits of vegetables, including herbs),Lindley (exhibits of special educational orscientific interest) and Grenfell (exhibits ofpictures, photographs, floral arrange-Tips for visiting the RHSChelsea Flower ShowIf you’re in London when the FlowerShow is on, it makes a wonderful dayout, whether you’re a keen gardener ornot. The sea of colours is spectacularand there are lots of unusual plants andstylish garden designs. Here are a fewtips for attendees.• Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be onyour feet for a long time and it’s surprisinghow far you can end up walkingwhen you’re looking around.• Take a bottle of water and check theweather forecast. If it’s forecast to besunny, make sure you take sunscreenand a hat. If you’re not so lucky andrain is forecast, make sure you take awaterproof jacket – you often see verydamp and miserable-looking ladieswalking around Chelsea who chosefashion rather than practicality at arainy show.ments and floristry) – are put on display.There are also special awards, includingBest Show Garden, Best City Garden,RHS Floral arrangement trophies and theRHS President’s Award. The showgardens are often spectacular and gainthe most publicity, with media coverageincluding television broadcasts.There is a big sell-off of plants at theend of the show (from 4pm on May 26).The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is aworld-famous, extremely popular event,so visitor numbers are capped at157,000.It is essential to book in advance eitherby telephone or online if you would liketo attend.Children under five are not admitted tothe show and no animals except guideor assistance dogs are allowed.• Work out which gardens or exhibitsyou want to see the most and visitthem first. It’s easy to get caught upin the crowds and there’s lots to see,so you’ll miss things if you’re justambling through.• Take a digital camera so you candocument any plants you want totrack down later. And, of course, soyou can capture your day.• It sounds obvious, but take antihistaminesand any other medication youmight need if you suffer from hayfever,allergies or asthma. That’s a lot ofpollen in one place.• If the crowds get too much or you’regetting tired, take a break at one ofthe picnic/seating areas. You’ll enjoyit more if you take a ten-minutebreather and then continue withthe show.There is no re-entry to the showgroundonce you have left.www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/2011Chelsea FringeMay 19-June 10This ambitious event is opening for thefirst time in 2012 and is hoping to buildon the popularity of the RHS ChelseaFlower Show by catering for a wideraudience of potential gardeners as wellas existing ones.Events planned for the Fringe include‘secret gardens’ in the backs of lorrieswhich will park on street corners beforerevealing gardens, ‘floral boats’ floatingdown the Thames and ‘pop-up gardens’which will appear in unexpected locations.www.chelseafringe.com