Royal Hospital Grounds Chelsea

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Please visit the event page to book tickets to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

History:

The Royal Hospital Chelsea was founded by King Charles ll in 1682 as a hostel for regular army veterans who had become unfit for duty either through age, long years of enlisted service or combat. There was no Government money available for this so the cost was met privately by the King with the help of Sir Stephen Fox, his military Paymaster General, who mortgaged his military commission to buy the necessary land. Sir Christopher Wren who, as King's Surveyor, was engaged in re-building St. Paul's Cathedral and city churches gutted in the 1666 Fire of London, was instructed to design and build the proposed Royal Hospital there. His scheme, completed in 1691 is an architectural design of great charm, comprising a Great Hall and chapel bordered by two residential wings built in brick with stone trimmings and a grand portico.

Today some 400 In-Pensioners live at the Chelsea Hospital. They are drawn from veterans, (Out-Pensioners), now of both sexes, of good character, aged at least sixty-five. On admission, veterans surrender their army pension in return for board and lodging, medical care and clothing, which includes their distinctive scarlet coats and tricorn hats styled on 18th century army uniforms. The Chelsea Flower Show is held annually in the Royal Hospital Grounds. It has been a gardening highlight of London's social season since 1913, when it was opened by Queen Mary.

Contact Details

Royal Hospital, Chelsea

Royal Hospital Road

London

SW3 4SR

For all ticket enquiries, call:
0871 789 1004