ExCeL London Exhibition & Conference Transfers | Airports & Hotels

Rushxo moves exhibitors, delegates, speakers and organisers to and from ExCeL London every week of the show calendar: from airport meet-and-greet to stand-team shuttles and late pick-ups after the halls close. This page brings everything together – airports, hotels, the other London venues and the practical details of getting in and out of ExCeL.

10% off ExCeL journeys

ExCeL offer: 10% off journeys starting or finishing at ExCeL London. Message us on WhatsApp with your pick-up, drop-off and time, mention ExCeL, and we confirm your fixed fare with 10% off.

Download the ExCeL corporate rate card (PDF) Keep it for your next show – fares, journey times and how to book in one page.

Airport transfers to ExCeL London

Saloon fares below are the published fixed fares for each route; other vehicles are priced instantly in the quote form.

From	Distance	Off-peak	Weekday peak	Saloon
Heathrow Airport	about 25 miles (27 from Terminal 5)	60–75 min	90–120 min	from £148
Gatwick Airport	about 46 miles	60–75 min	90–130 min	from £164
Stansted Airport	about 34 miles	45–55 min	70–90 min	from £171
Luton Airport	about 49 miles	65–80 min	95–130 min	from £182
London City Airport	about 1.5–2 miles	5–10 min	10–20 min	from £135
Southend Airport	about 35 miles	55–65 min	75–100 min	from £180

Getting in and out of ExCeL

ExCeL sits on the north side of Royal Victoria Dock (ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL). The halls run west to east, with ICC London at the eastern end. Cars and taxis set down at the Western Gateway drop-off by the west entrance or at the east side; ExCeL's car park is reached only from the A13, and coach and minibus drop-offs must be pre-booked with the venue.

Entrance	Nearest halls and stations	How we drop you
West entrance – Western Gateway, E16 1XL	Low-numbered halls (S1/N1 upwards), Custom House station (Elizabeth line and DLR) about 200 m away, the Western Gateway hotels	At the West drop-off and pick-up zone beside the taxi rank – the point ExCeL itself recommends for groups and anyone with reduced mobility
East entrance & ICC London – E16 1FR	High-numbered halls (up to S11/N11), ICC London, Prince Regent DLR about 200 m away, Aloft and Premier Inn	At the East drop-off and pick-up point; tell us the hall or ICC suite when you book

The two entrances are about 600 m apart along the boulevard inside the venue, so the right one saves a long walk with cases. Free cloakrooms run during event hours on Level 0 (between N4 and S4, and at the east end); there is no overnight storage.

For exhibitors: build-up, open days and breakdown

Build-up: early starts are common – book the car the night before so the driver is at your hotel on time.
Stand teams: one V Class or 9-seater is usually simpler than several cars; for larger teams we run multiple vehicles to a schedule.
Kit: cases, literature and banners travel with you; pallets and freight go through the organiser's logistics contractor.
Breakdown: book the pick-up for after the official close; the driver waits at your entrance and messages you on arrival.

For delegates, speakers and VIP guests

Executive cars with meet & greet, flight tracking and a drop at the entrance nearest the conference suite. Many teams book a car by the hour for a day of meetings between ExCeL, Canary Wharf and the City.

Other venues and the city

Hotels near ExCeL

Coming up at ExCeL

Show	Dates (organiser-confirmed)	Transfer tip
WTM London (World Travel Market)	3–5 November 2026	Heavy international arrivals at Heathrow and City Airport on 2 November; book early
The London International Horse Show	17–21 December 2026	Evening sessions end late – pre-book your pick-up time
Bett UK	20–22 January 2027 (doors 10:00)	Education groups often need minibuses; morning peak on the A13
Infosecurity Europe	8–10 June 2027	Closes 17:30 (16:00 on the final day) – plan airport runs around it
DSEI	7–10 September 2027	One of ExCeL's biggest shows; hotels and cars book out well ahead

The ExCeL year at a glance

A guide to the usual pattern – always check the organiser's dates.

Typical month	Examples of shows held at ExCeL
January	Bett (education technology)
March – May	IFE (food and drink), Grand Designs Live, MCM Comic Con (spring edition)
June	Infosecurity Europe
September	DSEI defence and security (odd-numbered years, next in September 2027)
October	MCM Comic Con, The Property Investor Show, Brand Licensing Europe
November	WTM London (World Travel Market), London Vet Show, The Business Show
December	The London International Horse Show

Vehicles

Vehicle	Passengers	Typical use at ExCeL
Saloon	up to 4	One or two delegates with suitcases
Executive (Mercedes E-Class or similar)	up to 3	Speakers, senior visitors and client hosting
MPV	up to 6	Small stand teams with cases and a few boxes of literature
V Class	up to 7	Executive group travel; space for roller cases and pop-up banners
9-seater minibus	up to 9	Whole stand teams in one vehicle; several vehicles for larger groups

Corporate accounts

Companies exhibiting regularly can open a corporate account: one booking contact, passenger names per journey, cost-centre or event references on each booking, and a monthly invoice with VAT receipts. See also booking multiple cars for a corporate event and VAT receipts for business travel.

What every fixed fare includes

One fixed price agreed before you travel – no meter and no surge pricing, whatever the traffic on show days.
Flight tracking on airport pick-ups, with 60 minutes of free waiting counted from your actual landing time.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up.
Child seats fitted free when you give the children's ages at booking.
VAT receipts for every journey, and monthly invoicing on a corporate account.
TfL-licensed private hire: licensed operator, licensed driver, licensed vehicle.

More ExCeL guides

What travellers ask: ExCeL London Exhibition & Conference Transfers

We read the busiest recent threads on TripAdvisor, Mumsnet and the Rick Steves travel forum about this journey. Below is what comes up most, in our own words, with how we handle it. Prices and timetables quoted in forum posts go out of date, so we have left them out.

"Which tube goes to ExCeL?"

No Underground line reaches ExCeL. First-time visitors asking for "the tube" get pointed to the Elizabeth line or DLR at Custom House for the west end of the venue, or the DLR at Prince Regent for the east end, and the right stop depends on your hall.

How we handle it: Tell us your hall number or ICC suite when you book and we set the drop-off at the matching entrance, so you are not walking 600 m inside the building with a case.

Source: TripAdvisor London forum – Easy, direct tube access to ExCeL: hotel?

Evening traffic leaving the Royal Docks

Regulars worried about weekday-evening congestion on the way out of ExCeL, and some chose to park further out and finish by rail rather than queue out of the on-site car park.

How we handle it: Your driver collects you at the doors and you skip the car park exit queue entirely. For show close-down evenings we time pick-ups around your stand breakdown, not a fixed clock.

Source: Mumsnet – Anyone familiar with the area around London ExCeL?

Arriving from the north or east

Drivers coming down the M11 and A12 warned that the approach into Docklands can jam badly on show mornings, so build-up crews should leave a buffer before doors or stand set-up.

How we handle it: For build-up days we plan arrival around your contractor slot and allow for the A12 approach on the morning of the show.

Source: Mumsnet – Best place to park and get a train to ExCeL

River-side hotels look cheap but cost time

Several replies warned that some cheaper Docklands riverside hotels depend on ferries or buses to reach ExCeL, which turned a short distance into a slow daily commute.

How we handle it: A daily morning and evening shuttle between your hotel and ExCeL fixes this, and one car can collect a team from two nearby hotels.

Source: TripAdvisor London forum – ExCeL London hotel compare

Tunnel charges

Forum regulars explained that the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels are charged in both directions during the day and free overnight, which catches out visitors driving themselves.

How we handle it: Our quotes are fixed fares; ask and we will confirm in writing what tolls and charges are included before you book.

Source: TripAdvisor London forum – Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel charges

Frequently asked questions

Where do taxis and chauffeurs drop off at ExCeL London?

At the Western Gateway drop-off and pick-up point by the west entrance (E16 1XL), or on the east side near ICC London by arrangement. Tell us the hall and we choose the nearest.

Which airport is closest to ExCeL?

London City Airport, about 1.5–2 miles away – typically 5–10 minutes by car.

Can you transport a whole exhibition team?

Yes: MPVs, V Class and 9-seater minibuses, and multiple vehicles to a schedule for bigger teams.

Do prices go up during big shows?

No. Fares are fixed at booking, with no surge pricing at opening or closing time.

Can we be invoiced monthly?

Yes, on a corporate account, with VAT receipts and your own references on each booking.

More ExCeL London transfer guides

Airports to ExCeL: Gatwick Airport to ExCeL London Transfers · Heathrow Airport to ExCeL London Transfers · London City Airport to ExCeL London Transfers · Luton Airport to ExCeL London Transfers · Southend Airport to ExCeL London Transfers · Stansted Airport to ExCeL London Transfers

ExCeL to airports: ExCeL London to Gatwick Airport Transfers · ExCeL London to Heathrow Airport Transfers · ExCeL London to London City Airport Transfers · ExCeL London to Luton Airport Transfers · ExCeL London to Southend Airport Transfers · ExCeL London to Stansted Airport Transfers

Venues and stations: Canary Wharf to ExCeL London Transfers · Central London to ExCeL London Transfers · ExCeL London to Canary Wharf Transfers · ExCeL London to Central London Transfers · ExCeL London to Olympia London Transfers · ExCeL London to St Pancras International Transfers · Olympia London to ExCeL London Transfers · St Pancras International to ExCeL London Transfers

Hotels near ExCeL: Hotels Near ExCeL London: Transfer Guide · ibis London ExCeL Docklands Transfers · Moxy London ExCeL Transfers · Novotel London ExCeL Transfers · Premier Inn London Docklands (ExCeL) Transfers

Guides: How a Pre-Booked London Airport Transfer Works · TfL-Licensed Private Hire Explained

Updated 2 October 2026. Journey times are typical door-to-door ranges; your driver checks live traffic before setting off.