ExCeL London is surrounded by hotels, from the Aloft and DoubleTree on the estate itself to the cluster on Western Gateway and the newer hotels towards London City Airport. Choosing the hotel on the same side as your hall saves a long walk every morning; this guide shows which entrance each one is nearest and links to a transfer guide for each.
Hotels around ExCeL and the nearest entrance
| Hotel | Location | Nearest for |
|---|---|---|
| Aloft London ExCeL | Attached to ExCeL (east) | East entrance / ICC |
| DoubleTree by Hilton London ExCeL | On the ExCeL estate | Ask us for the nearest entrance |
| Premier Inn London Docklands (ExCeL) | Festoon Way, north side | East entrance / ICC |
| Moxy London ExCeL | Dockside Road, north-east | East entrance / ICC |
| Novotel London ExCeL | 7 Western Gateway | West entrance |
| ibis London ExCeL Docklands | 9 Western Gateway | West entrance |
| Sunborn London (yacht hotel) | Moored on Royal Victoria Dock, Western Gateway | West entrance |
| Crowne Plaza London Docklands | Western Gateway, west of the venue | West entrance |
| Holiday Inn Express (ExCeL area) | Royal Docks | Ask us for the nearest entrance |
| Courtyard by Marriott London City Airport | Beside London City Airport | Short drive to either entrance |
| Travelodge London City Airport | Near London City Airport | Short drive to either entrance |
West or east: why it matters
ExCeL runs roughly a kilometre from the west entrance (Western Gateway, Custom House station) to the east entrance and ICC London (Prince Regent DLR). If your stand is in the eastern halls or your conference is at ICC London, a hotel on the east side saves around 10–15 minutes of walking each way.
| 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.
Airport to hotel, then hotel to ExCeL
Most visitors fly in, check in, and walk to the halls. Because the hotels are within a few minutes of the venue, airport journey times are the same as to ExCeL itself:
| Airport | Distance to the Royal Docks | Off-peak | Weekday peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow Airport | about 25 miles | 60–75 min | 90–120 min |
| Gatwick Airport | about 46 miles | 60–75 min | 90–130 min |
| Stansted Airport | about 34 miles | 45–55 min | 70–90 min |
| Luton Airport | about 49 miles | 65–80 min | 95–130 min |
| London City Airport | about 1.5–2 miles | 5–10 min | 10–20 min |
| Southend Airport | about 35 miles | 55–65 min | 75–100 min |
Group and team transfers
For stand teams spread across two or three hotels, we can run a scheduled pick-up loop each morning with an MPV, V Class or minibus, and the same in reverse at close of show. Book it once, invoice it on a corporate account.
| 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 |
Airport routes to ExCeL
- Heathrow to ExCeL
- ExCeL to Heathrow
- Gatwick to ExCeL
- ExCeL to Gatwick
- Stansted to ExCeL
- ExCeL to Stansted
- Luton to ExCeL
- ExCeL to Luton
- London City Airport to ExCeL
- ExCeL to London City Airport
- Southend Airport to ExCeL
- ExCeL to Southend Airport
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.
What travellers ask: Hotels Near ExCeL London: Transfer Guide
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.
Stay central or stay next door?
A common forum answer is to stay near a central Elizabeth line station (Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street, Farringdon, Liverpool Street or Paddington) because the streets right around ExCeL are quiet in the evening.
How we handle it: If you stay central, a morning transfer gets you to the right ExCeL entrance with your kit; if you stay next door, use us for the airport legs only.
Source: TripAdvisor London forum – Easy, direct tube access to ExCeL: hotel?
Budget rooms a few stops away
Posters suggested looking a few DLR stops east, around Royal Albert and Beckton, or near London City Airport, when venue-side hotel prices climb during big shows.
How we handle it: Those hotels are a few minutes from ExCeL by car, so one booking can cover the daily run as well as your airport transfers.
Source: Mumsnet – Anyone familiar with the area around London ExCeL?
Riverside hotels with poor links
Replies flagged that some Docklands hotels south of the river rely on a ferry or bus to reach ExCeL and called the daily trip very time-consuming.
How we handle it: A pre-booked car crosses in minutes outside peak hours; we will tell you honestly if rail is faster at your time of day.
Source: TripAdvisor London forum – ExCeL London hotel compare
Car parks fill during exhibitions
Older threads note that hotel car parks near ExCeL fill up in show weeks and street parking nearby is restricted.
How we handle it: Being dropped at the door means you never need a space. Older advice, so check current hotel parking if you are driving.
Frequently asked questions
Which hotels are closest to ExCeL London?
Aloft London ExCeL and DoubleTree by Hilton London ExCeL are on the ExCeL estate; Novotel, ibis, Sunborn and Crowne Plaza are on Western Gateway by the west entrance; Premier Inn and Moxy are closest to the east entrance and ICC London.
Which hotel should I choose for ICC London?
One on the east side – Aloft, Premier Inn London Docklands (ExCeL) or Moxy – is nearest the east entrance and ICC London.
Can you collect our team from several hotels?
Yes. Tell us the hotels and the time you need to be on the stand, and we plan one or more vehicles to collect everyone.
How long is the drive from Heathrow to the ExCeL hotels?
About 25 miles, typically 60–75 minutes off-peak and up to around two hours in the weekday morning rush.
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: ibis London ExCeL Docklands Transfers · Moxy London ExCeL Transfers · Novotel London ExCeL Transfers · Premier Inn London Docklands (ExCeL) Transfers
Guides: ExCeL London Exhibition & Conference Transfers · 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.