Four days of tube strikes are set to affect travel plans for many visitors heading to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which takes place from Tuesday, 19 May until Saturday, 23 May this year.
The strikes are due to go ahead next week amid ongoing disputes between the RMT union and Transport for London (TfL). The industrial action involves two 24-hour walkouts: from 12pm on Tuesday, 19 to 12pm on Wednesday, 20 May, and again from 12pm on Thursday, 21 to 12pm on Friday, 22 May.
TfL has announced that service will be completely suspended on a several lines, including the Circle line – one of two lines serving Sloan Square, the Underground station closest to the event located on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Services are expected to continue on all other lines, including the District line, which also serves Sloan Square, although individual journeys are likely to face disruptions.
This means Tube travel to and from the Chelsea Flower Show will be severely disrupted – or impossible altogether – on Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday morning, Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, with knock-on delays continuing into the afternoons and evenings of each strike day.
The disruption is expected to affect many of the 160,000 visitors anticipated at the event, which sold out in record time in 2026.
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I'm affected by the strike. What now?
If the strike action is set to slash your travel plans, it's best to plan an alternative route ahead of time. As The Times reports, enhanced taxi services will be available, as well as a shuttle bus from Battersea Park Underground station, located just across the river, and additional bus services from London Victoria.
For those able to cycle, e-bike rentals are another option. During previous strike action, companies including Forest, Lime and Voi, have increased the number of bikes and e-scooters to help accommodate stranded travellers.
Visitors are also advised to use journey-planning apps such as TfL Go, which provides alerts for major disruptions, as well as Google or Apple Maps and Citymapper, which display alternative routes between locations.
Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
