IN BLOOM

Chelsea and Belgravia celebrate the floral this month with displays across the area for all to enjoy

From 22-29 May 2023, the London neighbourhood of Belgravia will celebrate all creatures great and small, during the annual return of its flower festival, Belgravia in Bloom. Themed ‘Into the Wild’, the festival will showcase some of the world’s most beautiful and eclectic species, all recreated as colourful, vibrant floral installations. From majestic tigers to delicate butterflies, the displays will depict some of the most surprising and exotic animals to lesser known UK wildlife, celebrating all things furry, feathered, scaly and creepy crawly.

Coinciding with RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the 8th annual Belgravia in Bloom festival falls during the month of King Charles III’s Coronation. A number of installations will celebrate the King’s ascension to the throne, with ‘kings’ and ‘queens’ of habitats depicted with royal adornments.

Floral creations will be brought to life by the neighbourhood’s iconic florists, including Neill Strain, Moyses Stevens and Judith Blacklock. Belgravia’s streets will be transformed into a wondrous wilderness with a series of striking displays and experiences at every turn.

Throughout the festival, Belgravia’s leading florists and delightful shops and restaurants will come together to create and host a series of unmissable floral themed events, offers and experiences, including ‘Into the Wild’ themed floral products, menus and cocktails. belgravialdn.com

Chelsea in Bloom, the world-class floral art show and London’s largest and most prestigious free flower festival is returning this spring with the theme ‘Flowers on Film’. The streets of Chelsea will be transformed with floral creations adorning the frontages of more businesses, shops and restaurants than ever before, taking inspiration from characters and storylines that have graced the big screen, famed cinematic awards and the neighbourhood’s silver screen heritage from 22nd - 27th May.

Produced by Cadogan, in association with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), extending the Chelsea Flower Show out into the local area, Chelsea in Bloom will see large-scale central installations spring up around the neighbourhood, including a lifesized Oscar’s statue and interactive red carpet on Pavilion Road and a cinematic celebration on Sloane Square (alongside the Information Point, where the previously sell-out complimentary rickshaw rides and walking tours can be booked), both by designers All for Love London.

Further installations will be found along the King’s Road, on Dovehouse Green and at Royal Avenue, as well as a number at chelseainbloom.co.uk

Duke of York Square and along Sloane Street.

In 2022, nearly 100 shops, hotels and restaurants competed for the covered awards with floral masterpieces. Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit Awards will be awarded to participants by RHS judges alongside a celebrating lifestyle judge. Voting for ‘People’s Champion’ is decided by the public and online voting will open on Monday 22nd and close at midnight on Thursday 26th – so make sure you vote for your favourite!

Chelsea’s cinematic story begins with William Friese-Green, the father of cinematography who created the first ever moving picture on the King’s Road, and since then, Chelsea has been host to iconic filmmakers such as legendary James Bond author, Ian Fleming, who lived on Cheyne Walk, and Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. The area has also been the backdrop to many celebrated films, including ‘A Clockwork Orange’, ‘Withnail and I’, ‘A Good Year’, and ‘Skyfall’. This year’s event promises breathtaking floral installations celebrating movie icons and all genres of film, creating a magical experience for visitors and locals alike. Further information on displays and details available online.