Chelsea in Bloom 2023

Published: 08 Jun 2023
Every year, Chelsea in Bloom takes place in Chelsea, London. During this event, local businesses and retailers decorate their storefronts with beautiful and distinct floral displays based on a specific theme. This year's theme was Flowers on Film, taking inspiration from movies and characters from the big screen.
E.T. visited Pavilion Road
E.T. visited Pavilion Road

The event draws in many visitors and is a popular attraction during the Chelsea Flower Show. A contest is also held to determine the winner of the best floral display, as judged by a panel of experts.

We spent a day at the event, from morning till evening, going from relatively quiet to packed from the afternoon and saw many of the flower displays. Here are some of our favourites. We have also published a video about the day:

Jurassic Park Display

Starting from Sloane Square, we were greeted with a T-rex from Jurassic Park; luckily, this one was made of flowers. That didn’t help the flower person caught in the Tyrannosaurus’s mouth. The display was finalised with a Hollywood sign, popcorn, and movie cameras.

Jurassic Park inspired display on Sloane Square
Jurassic Park inspired display on Sloane Square

Oscar Statue

You couldn’t have a movie theme without the Oscar statue. So this year’s event had a big one at one end of Pavilion Road. Behind the figure, you could find stars for famous movie stars in a Chelsea version of the Walk of Fame. Further on Pavilion Road, you could even discover E.T. on his bicycle.

A massive Oscar statue in one end of Pavilion Road
A massive Oscar statue in one end of Pavilion Road

The Lion King

The Lion King on Duke of York Square was one of the more extensive displays. It featured the famous ‘Circle of Life’ scene from The Lion King, where Rafkiki presents the newborn Simba to animals gathered around them.

A Lion King scene on Duke of York Square
A Lion King scene on Duke of York Square

BAFTA Mask

A movie-themed event in Britain wouldn’t be complete without a giant BAFTA mask. Luckily there was one in Dovehouse Green along King’s Road.

A BAFTA mask along King's Road
A BAFTA mask along King's Road

Tiffany & Co

On Sloane Street, Tiffany & Co’s 2023 Chelsea in Bloom display was inspired by the Breakfast at Tiffany’s opening scene, featuring Audrey Hepburn and her iconic pearl necklace. In addition, the display celebrated the 65th anniversary of Truman Capote’s book, which tells the story of a girl living life on her own terms.

Breakfast at Tiffany's pear necklace inspired flower display
Breakfast at Tiffany's pear necklace inspired flower display

Hackett

Hackett store on Sloane Street was decorated as the Hackett Orient Express, a luxurious train inspired by Agatha Christie’s mystery novels. The train boasts stunning decor and large trunks, creating a surreal ambience among the floral surroundings, where anything can happen.

Hackett Orient Express
Hackett Orient Express

Jo Malone London

Jo Malone London partnered with Ricky Paul Flowers to create a floral exhibit for Chelsea in Bloom. The display showcased how the varied landscapes of Britain inspire the film industry with its larger-than-life design and film set aesthetics. For example, you could see an array of wildflowers - thistles, heather, achillea, and lavender - that grow in the Scottish Highlands.

Jo Malone floral exhibit
Jo Malone floral exhibit

Dermalogica

On the Duke of York Square, Skincare brand Dermalogica paid homage to the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody, which tells the story of the legendary band Queen.

Dermalogica flower display was inspired by Bohemian Rhapsody
Dermalogica flower display was inspired by Bohemian Rhapsody

Monica Vinader

Monica Vinader’s Duke of York Square store flower display was inspired by the children’s classic The Secret Garden. The display featured the iconic mossy and vibrant garden.

The Secret Garden inspired this year's Monica Vinader flower display
The Secret Garden inspired this year's Monica Vinader flower display

Self-portrait

Han Chong, the founder and creative director of Self-Portrait, designed a stunning floral creation inspired by the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, located centrally on the Duke of York Square. The display showcased preserved flowers and foliage such as hydrangeas, roses, and carnations and was arranged against a preserved moss, eucalyptus, and ivy backdrop.

The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at Self-Portrait
The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at Self-Portrait

Polpo

The creative team at Veevers Carter designed a display for Polpo restaurant inspired by the film ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’ by Wes Anderson. It features a custom submarine replica with functional headlights. The Polpo octopus emblem comprised thousands of flowers arranged on a metal framework covered in natural plaster fabric to enclose the submarine. It was also a good spot for some photographs through the submarine window. The team at Veevers Carter used a mix of bright yellow and pastel colours in the display to create a dreamy atmosphere inspired by Wes Anderson’s films.

A submarine replica was a central part of Polpo's exhibit
A submarine replica was a central part of Polpo's exhibit

Kiki McDonough

Kiki McDonough’s window display on Symons Street showed characters Baloo, Shere Khan and Kaa from Disney’s ‘The Jungle Book’ made of flowers. Thousands of flowers have been used to bring the jungle characters to life in Kiki McDonough’s window display. It was a beautiful display and attracted a lot of people.

Baloo, Shere Khan and Kaa from the Jungle Book at Kiki McDonough
Baloo, Shere Khan and Kaa from the Jungle Book at Kiki McDonough

Poetry

Right next to Kiki McDonough, Poetry had built their flower display around the WALL-E theme, emphasising using eco-friendly and recycled materials in their products.

Poetry's flower display was inspired by WALL-E
Poetry's flower display was inspired by WALL-E

Cole & Son

Cole & Son on Jubilee Place was another popular flower display themed around Alice in Wonderland with the Cheshire Cat smile, some playing cards, and beautifully designed flower settings.

Cole & Son's popular exhibit was inspired by Alice in Wonderland
Cole & Son's popular exhibit was inspired by Alice in Wonderland

Love my Human

Love my Human, a pet boutique that adores Cairn Terriers teamed up with a skilled artist named Kate Toms and florist Sally Koda from Hana Flowers London. Together, they recreated The Yellow Brick Road inspired by The Wizard of Oz.

Yellow Brick Road from The Wizard of Oz at Love my Human
Yellow Brick Road from The Wizard of Oz at Love my Human

ME+EM

ME+EM set up a wildflower meadow inside their store window. The idea is inspired by David Attenborough’s ‘Life in the Undergrowth’ documentary and primarily revolves around the theme of bumblebees. The meadow encompassed potted plants of different heights hung from the ceiling depicting the natural surroundings where bumblebees thrive.

ME+EM floral exhibit
ME+EM floral exhibit

Peter Jones

The window display was inspired by the well-known film adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It showcased a variety of vibrant floral colours and textures that emphasise the playful and fanciful components of the movie. The display also included movement to help boost the windows’ overall excitement.

Peter Jones floral exhibit was inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Peter Jones floral exhibit was inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Summary

Chelsea in Bloom is one of your favourite events throughout the year, and we recommend visiting it when possible. We have also published a video featuring many of the displays.

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