Travel Arrangements

Further details can be found here.

Driving

The NEC is situated 8 miles east of Birmingham city centre; its central location ensures it is at the hub of the UK motorway network. Visitors from any direction can travel to the NEC site directly using the following motorways: M1, M5, M6, M6 Toll, M40 and M42. The NEC is signposted on motorways and major roads and is marked on most good maps. If you are travelling by car, we recommend that you allow plenty of time for your journey.

If you are using a satellite navigation system please enter the postcode B40 1NT to pinpoint us. Please be aware that the Sat Nav system will not direct you into an on site car park. Please follow the clearly signposted directions once in the vicinity of the venue.

A road access map can be found here.

Car Parking

The NEC has numerous car parks that are more broadly categorised into North, East, South and West. All in all there are over 20,000 on site parking spaces! On your arrival at the NEC, traffic officers will direct you to the most convenient parking area for your event, however being such a large site with a number of entrances, it is recommended that you refer to The NEC Site Map before your arrival to avoid adding time to your journey.

The NEC has designated car park spaces for visitors with disabilities. The cost of parking in an on site car parking space is £8 per day. (Exhibitors will receive parking instructions with their booking confirmations.)

Train

The NEC is situated adjacent to Birmingham International Rail Station; Hall 3A has direct access from the station without stepping outside. Take the stairs or lift from any platform up to the station interchange. The entrance to The NEC is situated on the right hand side as you exit the station and is clearly signposted. Continue to walk along the covered walkway called the Bridgelink where you can then follow signs to Hall 3A.

If your point of origin does not provide a service directly to Birmingham International you will need to travel to Birmingham New Street and take a connecting train from there. Journey time is 10 to 15 minutes.

For further information on travelling by train to Birmingham International Station, please contact National Rail enquiries:
Tel: 08457 484950 or visit the National Rail website www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Airports

Birmingham International Airport (BHX) is conveniently sited adjacent to the NEC and is just minutes from the NEC. The Birmingham International Airport (BHX) website is www.bhx.co.uk.

Once you have landed and collected luggage, follow signs to the free Air-Rail Link which leaves the airport from the first floor of Terminal 1. Air-Rail link operates every two minutes and has a travel time of 90 seconds between the hours of 05:15 to 02:00hrs. On arrival at Birmingham International Station take the NEC Bridgelink to Hall 3A.

East Midlands Airport (EMA) is 40 miles from the NEC. www.eastmidlandsairport.com.

Taxis

Tel 0121 226 6666

ComCab are the official NEC taxi company who operate two ranks located at the NEC main entrance. Credit cards are accepted for fares over £5. Estimated fares, but dependant on traffic and actual route taken are:
NEC car parks/hotels: £5.60;
Birmingham International Airport: £9.60;
Birmingham International Train Station: £8.40;
Solihull Town Centre: £15.80;
Birmingham City Centre: £25.00;
Coventry City Centre: £24.00;
Warwick Town Centre: £36.00 and
Stratford Town Centre: £46.00

Bus/Coach

The NEC can be reached by a number of local bus services from Birmingham city centre.

The 900 service leaves from Moor Street Interchange and has a daytime frequency of 20 minutes. The 900 will drop you at Birmingham International Station with a journey time of approximately 31 minutes.

The 38 service leaves from Moor Street Interchange hourly, it has a journey time of approximately one hour. The 38 will drop you off at Birmingham International Station.

Local bus information can be found at the following websites:
www.networkwestmidlands.co.uk
www.travelwm.co.uk

The National Express coach station (www.nationalexpress.com) is located in Digbeth in Birmingham city centre, where the local 900 bus service will drop you at Birmingham International Station with a journey time of 25 minutes. Alternatively a black taxi cab can be taken direct from Digbeth coach station to the NEC, a journey of 10 miles.

Accommodation

The NEC offers a wide range of hotels situated within easy reach of the complex. Further details can be found on their website www.thenec.co.uk by selecting the Myvisit tag.

The British Alpaca Futurity designated hotel is the Hilton Metropole and is also the location for the Saturday evening dinner, fashion show and auction in the Kings Suite. Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham B40 1PP. Group Name and Code British Alpaca Futurity; GBAFU; telephone 0121 780 4242.

Special rates have been negotiated for visitors and participants at the Hilton Metropole which will be 20% under the lowest advertised rates at the time of the event. Bookings must be made using this link to access these rates.

Other on site hotels are:
Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC: 0871 942 9160
Express by Holiday Inn: 0870 720 2297
Premier Travel Inn: 0871 527 8086
Ramada Encore: 0121 780 5900