RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

Accessibility at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

Sharing our passion for gardening is a key charitable aim and we want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to enjoy our inspirational Flower Shows. This guide will help you plan your day. Please also speak to our friendly Visitor Information staff and Stewards at the show for any further help and advice.

At a glance: before you arrive

Arriving by road
If you are planning to drive to the show, please use KT8 9AU to get you to the local area, and then follow AA signs.

Showground address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU.
Arriving by train
The closest railway station to the show is Hampton Court, which is a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. 

There is no London underground station at Hampton Court. The nearest underground stations are in Wimbledon and Richmond, where connecting bus routes are available.
Arriving by bus
You can catch bus numbers 111, 216, 411, 461, 513 from Kingston and bus number R68 from Richmond.
Arriving by taxi / Drop off
There is no official drop-off point, due to the location of the show. The easiest drop-off location would be Hampton Court Station, which is approximately a 20-minute walk to the show entrances.
Car parking
It is advisable to book parking in advance. However, there are card payment machines available at each car park entrance for on-the-day sales.

Accessible parking costs £9.

If you have purchased Accessible Parking and / or mobility equipment, you should head to Black Car Park. Please ensure your Blue Badge is displayed.

Otherwise please follow the electronic road signs to the nearest available car park, which we will change in real time in line with traffic and / or available space. There is a free mobility bus which runs from Green Car Park.
  • Black Car Park – situated off the A308 Hampton Court Road (coming from Kingston) 5-10min approximate walk to Long Water Gate
  • Green Car Park – situated off the A308 Hampton Court Road (coming from M3) 15-20min approximate walk to Ditton Gate
Access to showground and buildings
This is a temporary, outdoor event on open parkland and is subject to varying weather and ground conditions.
Although some temporary trackway is laid, much of the event is staged on open ground and care must be taken.

We advise that you check the weather forecast for the day of your visit, consider the nature of the event and the effects of any inclement weather on surface conditions and that you wear suitable clothing and footwear. In extreme weather conditions, access may be restricted in the interest of safety.

All main buildings and structures are wheelchair accessible.
Assistance dogs

We welcome assistance dogs in all areas.

Accessible ticket bookings

While the RHS is not able to provide carers, entry is provided for one carer free of charge accompanying those visitors whose disability necessitates their support. This ticket must be requested at the time of ticket purchase.

For disabled bookings requiring a carer ticket please register for an Access card to book online. Please ensure that your Access card is linked to your Ticket Factory account. Alternatively, call 0800 640 5001 to book.

At a glance: When you arrive

Entrances

The Show has two public entrance/exit gates:

  • Ditton Gate – situated in the Palace grounds. This is the closest to Green Car Park and Hampton Court Station, and is accessible via a footbridge over the A308
  • Long Water Gate – situated in Black Car Park. The shuttle and mobility buses that run from Green and Blue Car Park will also drop off here
  • There is fast track entry for visitors with access requirements who are unable to queue
     
Download a map of the area around the showground (166 kB pdf)
 
Mobility vehicles and wheelchairs

Visitors are welcome to bring their own personal mobility scooters or wheelchairs to help them get around.

There are a limited number of wheelchairs and mobility scooters which should be hired in advance when purchasing tickets to the show.

A fee of £20 applies for wheelchairs and £40 for mobility scooters. The collection point is located outside Long Water Gate, in Black Car Park

At a glance: during your visit

Toilets
Accessible unisex toilets are located at Long Water entrance and several other locations throughout the show. These are listed on the large maps around the showground.


There is a unisex high-dependency unit. This includes an emergency call alarm, support handrails for ease of movement, low-level access, a hoist, a bed and sanitary bins. This is operated under a RADAR door system. We recommend visitors bring their own key in order to gain access.
Hearing impaired
Hearing loops are installed at the main stages.
Visually impaired

Large maps can be found around the show, Large Print maps can also be requested in advance please contact us here.

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.