My recollection is that we purchased a membership, and then tickets for members, and went on members' day--and it was very crowded. I can't imagine what it would be like when the general public can come in.

Crowded, according to my wife, but well worth it.

I would also suggest getting in touch with the Museum of Garden History in Lambeth (Google them) to inquire about their tours of open gardens in London during Chelsea.

We took the South of the Thames tour one year and saw wonderful gardens of all sorts, from classic English borders to a California xeriscape to an ultra-modern house and garden hidden behind a wall in a former orchard. These are part of the national open gardens program. I don't even care much about gardens, but I would go again in a minute. You ride a bus, it takes all day (maybe 9 to 4) and you have a delicious box lunch in someone's garden on the way.

By the way, congratulations on being a member of the RHS. Their magazine is wonderful, better I think than anything we get here in the US, and you should certainly try to visit Wisley, though traffic noise from the motorway is somewhat disconcerting in otherwise idyllic settings.

http://www.chelseaflowershow.moonfruit.com/

24-28 May 2011 Now over 5 days with first2 days open to RHS members only. Last year I went on a day open to the general public. It was crowded but not impossibly so. I coped well & I hate crowds.

Both Member days will be very crowded -- but not a fraction of the numbers on the public days. bellini must have been very lucky -- I last attended in 2009 and the only time I could attend was on a public day (I usually go on a member day). It was absolutely packed to the gills, restaurants ran out of food, and getting close to the feature gardens was very difficult.

If previous years are anything to go by, there will be plenty of TV coverage, both during the days and in the evenings. Not exactly the same thing, but you get a privileged view of the details of garden designs and so on.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/chelsea/

Go Day 1, arrive before the offical opening (there will be a line! Think Disney for flowers) Grab a guide and get to the big show gardens FIRST. WE did this both times and got some great viewing etc.. by mid morning you couldn't get near some of them.

I admit that I was dragged to this the first time... and wound up spending 8 hours there and organized a return trip. It's AMAZING!

The second year we went it was unseasonable hot and by day 2 of member days things were "wilting"

Wear comfortable shoes, take an empty memory card and have a great time. Have some PIMS for me! We just grabbed some sandwiches and PIMS and sat and watch a miltary band performance on the lawn for lunch.

That'll be PIMM'S (one of the PIMM'S stands even ran out the day I went -- and that's a major tragedy

Sorry! (I should have checked, there's some in the pantry!_

Forgot one other thing..

The second time we were there they told us if we kept our tickets we could come back for the sell off. The sell off is great fun even if, as Americans, you can't bring live pants home. I loved watching folks loading trees onto the tube/bus... We got a couple of Pimms and settled in to watch the fun!

here's the official link for buying the tickets:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/RHS-Chelsea-Flower-Show/2011/Tickets

the day-time tickets for the members only tuesday have already gone, so you'd better get your skates on if you want tickets for the wednesday [the other members only day]

royals there on Monday I think

take your most comfortable shoes, a hat, an umbrella, and lots of dosh!

Go on members' day and arrive even before the stated time of opening. We did that and it was very pleasant for the first couple of hours. By noon, it was practically impossible to move around but we had pretty much covered the flower show by then.