Guide to the UK’s Top Three Exhibition Venues

If you are new to exhibiting, travelling to a venue you haven’t been to before, possibly in a strange town or city, can be daunting. To help you, here we have a guide to the UK’s major exhibition venues.

The UK’s most popular exhibition venues are:

• NEC, Birmingham
• ExCeL, London
• Olympia, London

The NEC in Birmingham is the UK’s largest exhibition centre, featuring 20 interconnecting halls covering approximately 2,000,000 sq. ft. of space. Alongside its exhibition halls, the venue offers extensive conference and meeting facilities, as well as the Resorts World complex and a major live events arena. Key events hosted here include Crufts, Spring Fair and The National Wedding Show.

Address

National Exhibition Centre (NEC)
North Avenue
Marston Green
Solihull
West Midlands
B40 1NT

Image via [Visit Birmingham]

Driving
The NEC is located just off junction 6 of the M42 and is within easy reach of the M6 and M40. It is clearly signposted from all major routes and sits next to Birmingham Airport.

Public Transport
The venue is adjacent to Birmingham International railway station, with regular services from Birmingham New Street taking around 10–15 minutes. If arriving by air, the NEC is just a short walk or quick transfer from the airport terminal.

Parking

The NEC offers thousands of on-site parking spaces.

• Pre-booked parking typically costs around £13.95 a day but may go up depending on the event.
• On-the-day parking is higher from £19.95 and subject to availability
• Free shuttle buses run between car parks and halls

There are several hotels located at or very close to the NEC.

For a more comfortable stay, options include the Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC, Hilton Garden Inn Birmingham Airport and the Genting Hotel.

For more budget-friendly accommodation, there are nearby ibis and Travelodge hotels around Birmingham Airport and the NEC area. Prices are around £50-£70 a night but varies depending on demand, so booking early is recommended.

There are a number of food outlets within the NEC itself, including coffee shops, sandwich bars and grab-and-go options. Our colleagues personally recommend Subway as its easily customisable and generally loved by all (much like our exhibition stands!)

For a more substantial meal, Resorts World, located next to the NEC, offers a wide choice of restaurants including casual dining chains, international cuisine and sit-down restaurants.

Birmingham city centre, just a short train ride away, also offers a wide range of high-quality dining options including Michelin Star restaurants Asha’s Indian Restaurant and Bar, Adam’s, Simpson’s Restaurant and Harborne Kitchen.

Or, if you’re looking to give colleagues and delegates an authentic Brum experience you can’t go wrong visiting the Balti Triangle – the birthplace of the authentic Birmingham balti.  There are dozens of Pakistani, Kashmiri and Indian restaurants to choose from!

ExCeL is right in the heart of London’s historic Royal Docks in the east end, just ten minutes from Canary Wharf and twenty minutes from the City. ExCeL offers an abundance of flexible spaces and services which makes it a top choice for public shows, trade shows, meetings and special events. It regularly hosts major international exhibitions such as Data Centre World, DSEI and International Food and Drink Expo.

Address

ExCeL London
One Western Gateway
Royal Victoria Dock
London
E16 1XL

Source via [Visit London]

Driving
ExCeL London is within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), so charges may apply depending on your vehicle. It is accessible via the A13, North Circular (A406) and M11, with clear signage for Royal Docks and London City Airport.

Public Transport
ExCeL is extremely well connected:

• The Elizabeth Line provides direct access to Custom House station and is the fastest and easiest way into Excel.
• The DLR serves Custom House (west entrance) and Prince Regent (east entrance)
• The Jubilee Line connects via Canning Town, with a short DLR transfer onto the Beckton-bound train for the quick two-stop journey.

Parking

Parking is available on-site but is limited for larger events so we strongly recommend booking in advance.

• Pre-booked parking costs around £27.50 per day
• On-the-day parking is more expensive at £30 a day and not always guaranteed
• Some car parks have height and weight restrictions of 3.5T.

There are numerous hotels within walking distance of ExCeL.

For convenience, Aloft London ExCeL and DoubleTree by Hilton London ExCeL are both just a few minutes’ walk away.

For more budget-friendly options, ibis London ExCeL and other nearby Docklands hotels provide good value, although prices can rise during large events.

ExCeL offers a wide range of food and drink outlets within the venue, including cafés, sandwich shops and casual dining options that are forever changing but always feature the crowd favourites. The full list of outlets offers plenty of options for you and your colleagues!

For more choices, Canary Wharf is just a short journey away and offers a wide selection of restaurants, from quick lunches to more formal sit-down dining experiences.

Olympia London is one of the UK’s most historic exhibition venues, having opened in 1886. The venue has expanded over time to include multiple halls and continues to host major long-running events such as the Ideal Home Show, The London Toy Fair and TechEx Global.

Olympia is currently undergoing a major redevelopment, which will introduce new hotels, restaurants and event spaces, with improvements continuing into 2026 and beyond.

Address

Olympia London
Hammersmith Road
London
W14 8UX

Source Via [cdm Stravitec]

Driving
Olympia is located in West London and is accessible via the A4 and A40. Due to its central location, traffic can be busy and planning ahead is recommended.

Public Transport
The venue is well connected by public transport:

• London Overground

Kensington (Olympia) is on the London Overground network. It’s one stop from Shepherd’s Bush (Central line) or West Brompton (District line). The venue is next to the station.

• District Line

There is only a District line service from Earls Court on weekends. Please check before you travel.

When travelling from Monday to Friday, you should change at West Brompton for a 2 minute Overground train to Kensington (Olympia). Alternatively West Kensington is an 8 minute walk away, and High Street Kensington is a 4 minute bus ride or 12 minute walk away.

• Central Line

Change at Shepherd’s Bush for a 2 minute Overground train to Kensington (Olympia).

• Piccadilly Line

Baron’s Court is a 9 minute walk away from Olympia London.

• Hammersmith & City Line

Hammersmith Station is a 5 minute bus ride or 15 minute walk away.

• Circle Line

High Street Kensington is a 4 minute bus ride or 12 minute walk away. Hammersmith Station is a 5 minute bus ride or 15 minute walk away.

Parking

Parking at Olympia is limited and must usually be pre-booked.

• Pre-booked parking costs around £40 per day
• On-the-day parking is very limited and not guaranteed
• Charges are higher for larger vehicles such as vans and lorries

If you’re an exhibitor or contractor unloading and loading in designated areas, you must book a slot using Voyage Control, the online vehicle booking system. You will not be charged for this service.

For any parking that is required in addition to the unloading or loading time, we require you to pre-book online to secure a space. Car park spaces will be charged at the normal tariff rates.

There are many hotels within walking distance of Olympia.

For higher-end stays, hotels in Kensington and Hammersmith offer a range of premium options.

For more affordable accommodation, there are several budget hotel chains in Shepherd’s Bush and surrounding areas. As with most London venues, prices vary significantly depending on demand.

There are cafés and catering outlets within Olympia itself, offering quick and convenient options during events.

Outside the venue, there are numerous restaurants, pubs and cafés within walking distance, offering a wide range of cuisines. The ongoing redevelopment will further expand the number of on-site dining options in the near future, which we are really looking forward to!

Quadrant2Design serve all European event and exhibition venues, with years of experience managing and building exhibition stands in the NEC, ExCel and Olympia. Our team of in-house installers know these venues like the back of their hand and can ensure a smooth build and dismantle process.

Wherever you plan to exhibit or if you need help with your exhibition stand please get in touch with one of our Exhibition Stand Design Consultants.