If your garden's lacking a certain something or you're a fan of all things floral, this week an ideal day out is taking place just up the road in East Molesey.

Hampton Court Palace with its elegant, imposing facade on the edge of the river always gives visitors lots to see and do, but this week is one of the best times to visit as the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) flower show pitches up at the palace.

With hundreds of great ideas on how to spruce up your garden, brighten up your balcony and even grow your own vegetables, there's something to inspire everyone, no matter how green your fingers are.

Glorious Gardens

With different sized and themed gardens, there's lots to choose from for your day out.

Show Gardens

The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust have made a garden to attract all manner of frogs, lizards and other creatures.

Another themed garden is based around the effects of combat stress on ex service men and women.

There are gardens showing coastal plants and those with desert and tropical landscapes - there's even a four-poster bed in one.

Anyone who fancies growing their own food should check out the self-sufficient family garden, with areas for all the family to help out in.

And Quilted Velvet toilet paper have commissioned a garden to show how they replant three trees for every one they use.

Small Gardens

Get inspired to grow your own with an allotment and cooking garden, or see all the ingredients used in show sponsor Rachel's Organics products with their garden.

Macmillan Cancer Support have put together a tranquil healing garden, while another area grows plants used in everyday medicines.

Green-fingered kids can take a look at a garden designed for six to 11 year olds to care for, while teenagers can chillax in a teenage retreat space.

And the credit crunch is no excuse for a shabby outdoor space, with a beautiful budget garden on show.

This year there are two special sections of small gardens - the Henry VIII six wives gardens and sustainable gardens that use recycled and energy-saving materials.

Other Gardens

Conceptual Gardens - these include a zen garden, plants bursting through a concrete setting, a garden inspired by an alien and memories associated with gardens.

Inspiring Spaces - the brief here is for designers to make a beautiful outdoor space covering just four square metres, for patios and balconies. They include a tropical beach, vegetable growing and ways of attracting wildlife.

Marvellous Marquees

Shelter from the elements and take a look at some of the most exciting plants to buy and garden innovations in one of the marquees.

Floral Marquee - buy some beautiful plants for your garden, or just window shop from all the brand new varieties that are unveiled at the show.

Tudor Rose Festival Marquee - see roses from the theme of this year's show.

Plant Heritage Marquee - a living library of plants.

Growing Tastes Marquee - all you need for growing a garden that'll stock your kitchen through the year.

Henry VIII Tudor Theme

Hampton Court Palace was King Henry VIII's favourite residence and this year they're celebrating the 500th anniversary of his accession to the throne.

It's the theme of this year's flower show with Tudor gardens and roses on display.

As part of the small gardens section, designers have been asked to make a garden inspired by one of Henry's six wives – Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard or Katheryn Parr.

The old memory aid for his wives' fates goes divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived - it'll certainly make for some interesting inspiration in the gardens!

Charity Gala Preview

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show launches with a charity gala preview on Monday (July 6).

You can get a sneak peek at the show before the hordes and enjoy champagne, a picnic or dinner, entertainment and fireworks.

Tickets range from cheaper picnic passes to extravagant dinner tickets, and money will be donated to the Royal Horticultural Society and Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres.

Charity Gala Preview, Monday (July 6) from 6pm - 11pm.

Prices from £60, no under 18s, call 0845 3700 128.

Don't Miss

There are so many things to see and do at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show that you might have trouble fitting them all in.

If you're pushed for time, here are a few things not to miss.

Henry VIII Tudor Theme - Hampton Court Palace was famously Henry VIII's favourite residence and with 2009 the 500th anniversary of his accession to the throne, it's an obvious theme for the flower show. Look out for Tudor-themed gardens and even some inspired by his six wives.

Family Weekend - on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12 it's family weekend, so kids will be far from bored if you've brought them along. There's a Fifi and the Flowertots area with Fifi's house and a market stall shopping activity, Growing Sounds where children can make musical instruments out of vegetables, bee-themed crafts, giant games, and a Tudor scarecrow making competition.

Catwalk in Bloom - check out all the latest floral designs on the catwalk.

100 Years of Weather - the Met Office have their own area demonstrating past, present and future weather, from 1950 to 2050.

The lowdown

Address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU

Tel: 020 7014 8444

Web addresses: www.rhs.org.uk/Hamptoncourt, www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace

Opening times/dates for flower show: Tuesday, July 7 - Sunday, July 12, opens 10am and 3pm for afternoon tickets, closes 7.30pm, Sunday afternoon 2.30pm - 5.30pm

Prices: Tickets from £14 afternoon only and from £22 full day

Get there: From the M25 take either exit 10 on to the A307 or exit 12 on to the A308, or take a train to Hampton Court station.