If you’ve got a bit of cash to burn and a burning desire to see the gardens before a single petal has been jostled by a stray elbow, you’ll want a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Members’ Preview Day ticket. These fall on the Sunday and Monday before the public gets in, and they cost members about £56 to £72. Non-members? Ouch. Expect to fork over around £100 to £120 for the privilege of that first, pristine glimpse.
This is the day for serious plant people—the ones who can name a dahlia from twenty paces and are here to judge the iris competition with the intensity of a courtroom drama. You’ll also spot celebrities in wide-brimmed hats, and if you’re very lucky, a monarch or two. Pro tip: Members get first dibs on tickets months in advance, so this is your annual reminder to join the RHS for around £50—it pays for itself in one ticket.
