The RHS Badminton Flower Show is brand new for 2026 Its the first time the Royal Horticultural Society has brought one of its shows to the Badminton Estate in South Gloucestershire. It runs from Wednesday 8th to Sunday 12th July, and for anyone who follows the flower show calendar, it’s worth knowing that Pettifers in Crudwell is well placed for staying nearby. The estate is just over the border, in the next county, the Cotswolds are on your doorstep, and if your dates happen to run into the weekend of 11th and 12th July, you’ll also catch the Crudwell Strawberry Fayre on the village green outside the hotel.
What’s at the show
The show includes show gardens, artisan gardens, young designer gardens and feature gardens, all competing for RHS medals and awards announced as the show opens. The 2026 programme has a clear theme running through it: the show celebrates the local area and the power gardening has to positively restore both people and the planet.
Among the confirmed highlights: Tom Stuart-Smith brings the largest ever show garden to an RHS Show with The Julia Rausing Garden, and BBC Radio 4 and the RHS celebrate The Archers’ 75th anniversary with a feature garden designed by Jo Thompson. Singer Will Young has also collaborated with plantsman and TV presenter Jamie Butterworth on three garden cubes exploring themes of light and shadow.
Beyond the gardens, the Floral Marquee showcases specialist growers and nurseries, the Grow Your Own area offers practical guidance, and there’s a Great Taste Market with specialty cheeses, artisan bakes and homemade produce to take home. The Lakeside Restaurant overlooks the water and serves breakfast, two-course lunches and afternoon tea. It is worth booking ahead if you want a sit-down meal rather than street food. Roebuck Estates’ English Sparkling Wine Bar also has a lakeside setting with views over the estate.
Dogs are welcome with one well-behaved dog per ticket booking, kept on a lead at all times, though not permitted in indoor food areas. Children under 16 enter free.
Practical things to know before you go
The show runs Wednesday to Saturday 10am–6pm, and Sunday 10am–5:30pm. The Great Plant Sell Off takes place on Sunday 12th July from 4:30pm if you’re planning to buy plants to take home, Sunday afternoon is the time to do it.
Public tickets start from £35.36, with RHS members paying from £30.31. Parking can be booked in advance or on the day, though the RHS strongly recommends booking ahead to guarantee availability. Use the postcode GL9 1DD for satnav access to the estate, then follow the event signs.
For visitors arriving by train, the nearest stations are Yate and Chippenham, both around a 20-minute drive away, with a free shuttle bus running from Chippenham station to the showground each day.
The RHS is introducing a 3pm entry ticket each day (excluding Sunday) for visitors who may find the showground challenging or overstimulating at busier times, and a designated quiet space will be clearly marked on the show map.
Making a garden weekend of it
The show runs Wednesday to Sunday, so there are several natural ways to structure a stay around it. A midweek visit on Wednesday or Thursday avoids peak weekend crowds and gives you the gardens while medal winners are freshly announced. Staying into the weekend opens up the wider area: the Malmesbury Open Gardens, NGS openings around Crudwell, and, don’t forget, if your dates run to 11th–12th July, the Crudwell Strawberry Fayre on the village green just outside Pettifers.
Malmesbury is five minutes from the hotel and worth time on its own: the Abbey ruins, independent shops and a riverside walk make it a good half-morning. Westonbirt Arboretum is around fifteen minutes away for a longer afternoon if you want to extend the garden theme.
Staying at Pettifers
At Pettifers we have 18 bedrooms in the main hotel and courtyard, including family rooms and two ground floor accessible rooms. Mayfield Cottage next door sleeps four in a self-catering setup with its own parking and courtyard garden which is useful if you’re travelling as a family or want more independence over a longer stay. Dogs are welcome in selected rooms throughout the hotel.
The show and the hotel make for a good combination: the estate is a short drive across the county boundary, and coming back to somewhere comfortable in the evening is considerably better than the drive home after a full day on your feet.
Explore rooms and availability at Pettifers or call 01666 815060. Book directly with us for the best available rates.
