How to make the most of your day at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival

• You can upgrade your experience with a VIP package. These include private tours of the Floral Marquee or the Showground with expert designers. You can even enjoy afternoon tea with a star of BBC’s Gardeners’ World.
• You don’t have to drag your new plants around all day. Protect your purchases by leaving them in the free plant creche. New for 2025 is a free porter service to help take larger items back to your car (donations for the Cadets are welcome).

...the view – In the Garden Sheds you can dine in your own space with views over the Malvern Hills.
...grabbing a drink from a grain silo in the Grain to Garden feature.
...your best friend by bringing your dog to the show on the Sunday (ticket in advance needed).
...a tasty treat from the vast choice of street food and stalls. There’s so much to choose from, take a look at everything on offer before you commit – or have two lunches!

• Plan your day in advance and have a look at the map to get to know the site before you arrive so you can cram as much as possible into your day (arriving early always pays off).
• Head to The Festival of Houseplants for the best coffee on site (it’s my morning ritual before the show opens daily!)
• Go to Festival Green for a sit down, view of the hills, food, drink and to hear what’s going on in the main Festival Theatre.

• RHS Shows offer a unique access to lots of expert growers and plants people. Make the most of the opportunity by thinking about your own garden and what help or advice you need before you come to the Festival. Take pictures of problem plants (don’t bring plant material) and take a look at the exhibitor listings to find out who will be there. The Show Guide and onsite maps will help you find them.
• The RHS Advisory stand is in the Floral Marquee with experts on-hand to give you help with any of your gardening queries.

• Have a look at the talks schedule on the day you are visiting and make a note of the ones you want to go to and where they are so you don’t miss them. With five stages at the Festival, there is plenty of free advice on everything from propagating houseplants to recipes for cooking your allotment produce.
• Don’t forget to take pictures of any plants in the Show gardens that catch your eye. If you need help identifying them, check the signage for plant lists, or download the RHS Grow app which has a handy plant identifier tool. You can also use it to build a handy list of the plants you spot at the Festival.