Godalming town centre won Gold at the RHS Britain in Bloom UK Finals, one of 44 national finalists. Rochdale took its category; Stonehouse won overall.
Godalming town centre has won a Gold award at the RHS Britain in Bloom UK Finals 2026, the national stage of the competition.
The Royal Horticultural Society’s 2026 results list Godalming Town Council, entered for South East in Bloom, with Gold in the Town Centres & City Centres category. The awards were presented at a ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall on 20 October.
Godalming was one of 44 finalists.
How the category finished
Four town centres were judged in Godalming’s category. Three came away with Gold:
| Entrant | Region | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Rochdale in Bloom, Rochdale Town Centre | North West in Bloom | Gold, category winner |
| Godalming Town Council | South East in Bloom | Gold |
| Shaftesbury in Bloom | South in Bloom | Gold |
| Sidcup Partners Ltd | London in Bloom | Silver Gilt |
The overall winner of the 2026 finals was Stonehouse in Bloom, from Gloucestershire, which also won the Small Town category. The RHS says finalists are judged on three criteria: horticultural excellence, environmental care and community engagement.
How Godalming got there
Godalming earned its place with a Gold for the town centre at the regional South and South-East in Bloom awards in 2025. The town council announced its selection as the region’s finalist in a press release on 22 January.
The same release listed the town’s other 2025 regional results:
- Gold for Nightingale Cemetery
- Gold for Eashing Cemetery, which was also Best in Category
- Gold for Godalming Youth Centre in the Shop Front and Workplace category
At the time, the Mayor of Godalming, Cllr Bob Crooks, said selection was “a tremendous achievement for Godalming”. He said it reflected “the hard work, commitment and pride of everyone involved in keeping our town such a welcoming and attractive place.”
The council credits the result to its grounds team, the sponsors of Floral Godalming, residents and volunteers. It had not published its own announcement of the national result when we checked its press releases on 31 October.
Farnham’s record in the same class
Farnham won Gold and Best in Category in the same national category in 2024. This year Farnham competed at regional level, where it took five Golds at South & South East in Bloom, including Best in Category for the town centre.
What it means for you
The hanging baskets and troughs in Godalming High Street are part of Floral Godalming, which the town council started in 2018 with support from the Peter Caudle Memorial Trust. Businesses and residents can sponsor a display.
The council’s Floral Godalming page, last updated in January 2025, lists these prices:
- a trough, pole or bollard planter: £150 plus VAT, with a plaque carrying the sponsor’s name
- a hanging basket: £65 plus VAT
Displays go up in June and stay until October. The council plants and waters them. To sponsor one, contact the council’s community services team on 01483 523075 or at community@godalming-tc.gov.uk. Check the current price when you call, as the page has not been updated since early 2025.
For more on the town council’s plans, including the four Godalming green spaces it may take over from Waverley, see our earlier report.
Sources
- Royal Horticultural Society, Britain in Bloom awards and winners 2026, for the category results, the 44 finalists, the 20 October ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall, Stonehouse’s overall win and the three judging criteria. Read 31 October 2026.
- Godalming Town Council, press release, 22 January 2026, for the 2025 regional results and the Mayor’s comments.
- Godalming Town Council, Floral Godalming, for the scheme’s history and sponsorship prices.
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