On the trail of the Chelsea Flower Show: Belgravia in Bloom 2017

Ebury Street

I've already told you about Chelsea in Bloom, the free flower festival taking place in venues around Sloane Square this week. Now, meet its more sophisticated sibling, Belgravia in Bloom.

Like Chelsea in Bloom, Belgravia in Bloom consists of a series of floral window displays in local shops, bars and restaurants. The theme here is children's books, with four pop-up installations dotted around the area.

Belgrave Square

Again, you can print off a map before you go, and be prepared for a lot of walking, as it's fairly well spread out. If you're not a purist about it, you could cut out the first 18 stops on the map and begin your trail at the corner of Ebury Street and Elizabeth Street - the stops prior to this are a bit underwhelming.

Motcomb Street

At the Ebury-Elizabeth crossroads, though, things get interesting. More specifically, things get very pink thank to Peggy Porschen's display. It must be one of the most Instagrammable spots in London right now - but might be too saccharine for some tastes.

Ebury Street

According to the map, the first pop-up installation -on a teddy bear's picnic theme - should be around here somewhere too, but it's nowhere to be found, so head on up Ebury Street where you'll find a few more floral shop windows, and then a long walk until you reach the Hari Hotel. Although it's not one of the official pop-up installations, the Mr Fox display outside the hotel (and in the windows) is one of the highlights of the festival, and is well worth stopping by for.

The Hari Hotel

After this, head up to the corner of Lowndes Street and West Halkin Street, briefly taking in the Mary Poppins arch. Now you'll have to do a bit of doubling back on yourself, as West Halkin Street and Motcomb Street are both worth seeing

Lowndes Street

On the former, florist Neill Strain has unsurprisingly gone all-out with a vibrant floral arch over the shop door. On the same street, Mosimann's has gone for a candyland theme, with a lollipop and candy cane garden, and a gingerbread man garden over the entrance of the former church.

West Halkin Street

Round on Motcomb Street, La Stupenderia has gone for floral garlands on the railings and around the shop door. It's a simple idea, but the colour combinations used make it one of the most effective installations on the trail.

Motcomb Street

Now head back down past Belgrave Square to find the pop-up installations. The Alice in Wonderland tea party is in Belgrave Square itself, on the western side - but it's in a private, residents-only garden, so the rest of us have to make do with peeping over the fence. Nonetheless, it's beautifully executed, a lilac table dressed for a picnic, draped with flowers and surrounded by Alice characters.

Belgrave Square

Head down to Eaton Square and you'll find Peter Rabbit doing his thing in Mr McGregor's Garden:

Eaton Square

As for the other two installations - teddy bear's picnic and The Secret Garden - they weren't forthcoming and I never managed to find them, despite trailing round and round the area marked on the map. Perhaps this was due to the fact that I was visiting in the evening - perhaps they're in shops or businesses that are only open during the day. Either way, it was a disappointing end to Belgravia in Bloom 2017.

Pimlico Road

Ebury Street

Elizabeth Street

West Halkin Street

West Halkin Street

Belgravia in Bloom 2017 takes place 22-27 May 2017, and is free.

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