After years of false dawns, my husband and I are finally making it to the
Chelsea Flower Show. Do you know of any hotels that are near to the show,
ideally within walking distance? Anne Marsden, Edinburgh
Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green writes: The Draycott
Hotel (26 Cadogan Gardens, 020 7730 6466) is the closest five star hotel
to the Chelsea Flower Show, which is held about 10 minutes walk away at the Royal
Hospital.
There are still some packages available, from £159pp, for an overnight stay,
complimentary afternoon tea, champagne at six, hot chocolate before bed,
English breakfast, and a pair of all-day tickets to the show (valid from
Thursday May 22 Saturday May 24, 2008).
The 35 richly decorated rooms occupy three converted Edwardian town houses,
and the drawing room gives access onto Cadogan Gardens. If previous years
are anything to go by, you might spot a certain Mr Titchmarsh in residence
too.
Or you could try the Sloane
Square Hotel (020 7896 9988; doubles from £198). It's a neat new
boutique property with smallish, but well designed rooms, posh bathrooms,
and it's right on the busy Sloane Square.
More modest is the Annandale House
Hotel (39 Sloane Gardens, 0207 7306291; doubles £95), just a couple of
minutes walk from Sloane Square in a quiet residential street, a few minutes
walk from the show. Staff are friendly, the rooms are fine, but there is no
lift.
For more information on the Flower Show see, www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea/2008
