London Olympia · Exhibitor Guide
What UK Exhibitors Need To Know
London’s Olympia is the second-oldest exhibition centre in the United Kingdom, and is used frequently for major trade shows, business events, and conferences. It competes with both the newer ExCeL London and the older Business Design Centre in Islington. However, as far as West London is concerned, it’s usually Olympia which attracts the major business events.
Note that the Olympia venue is undergoing major renovations.
On This Page
Table of Contents
The Venue Layout
Key venue facts, operational context, and the details exhibitors should confirm before the brief is locked.
Olympia London is a large-medium 45,000 square metre event space in Kensington, London. It features three major exhibit halls, of which the historic Grand Hall is the most famous and most prized among major B2B events. The other two halls are used for smaller events or to supplement big events in the Grand Hall.
Venue profile
The NEC is situated in Kensington in the heart of London, on the northern bank of the River Thames.
Event fit
The NEC is a great fit for any medium-large trade shows and events in London, and caters well to both local visitors in England foreign guests alike.
Address
Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London, England, W14 8UX.
Main contact
+44 (0)207 598 2788 and hello@olympia.london
Public planning data
Olympia offers more than 40,000 square meters of covered exhibit space. There is limited on-site parking available.
Worth knowing: Olympia is undergoing major renovations at the moment, which can affect traffic build up.
What Olympia London Is Best For
A quick view of where the venue is a strong fit and where you may need deeper planning checks.
Olympia is a classic choice sought after by boutique shows that desire a more intimate setting. It works well for most exhibition stand designs, and the iconic barrel-vaulted roof sets it apart from other venues across the UK.
The Build Process
Move-in planning, approvals, technical coordination, and the operational points most likely to affect delivery.
Move-in
As with many other venues in the UK, Olympia’s build-up schedule provides first for space-only stand construction before shell scheme assembly. All health and safety and display stand regulations apply to events at the Olympia: confirm these specifically inside your exhibitor manual.
Because of the redevelopment and the venue’s residential West London setting, loading roads are narrower than at ExCeL or the NEC and queuing on the first build day is common.
Key Practicalities
The Olympia’s Voyage Control booking system is used for loading and unloading at the venue. Booth Exhibits™ can assist you with this for a smoother process on build-up and dismantling days.
Stand Height
Modular and custom trade show displays are typically capped at 4m when it comes to stand height at the Olympia. Taller builds may be permitted in certain areas upon request and approval.
Rigging and technical delivery
Rigging at the Olympia is exclusive to the venue’s preferred partner, Outback Rigging. You may not do your own rigging, nor may you subcontract rigging out to another service provider. All rigging is quoted per point.
All hanging banners must also be signed off by the event organiser.
Worth knowing: It’s been reported that lead times/costs are higher at Olympia than in modern flat-box halls, likely because of the venue’s unique ceiling design.
Build days and deadlines
Build-up and dismantling at Olympia is done through timeslots of around 4 hours. Space-only exhibitors are typically given a password to unlock earlier build times in the vehicle-booking system.
Because massive events are not usually held at Olympia, build up usually takes only a day or two at most.
Getting To NEC Birmingham
Travel context, access planning, and the details most relevant to exhibitors and visitors.
Location
Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London, England, W14 8UX.
Visitor and team access
The Olympia is clearly signposted around London and isn’t difficult to locate and access. Car parking should be booked in advance as less than 1,000 bays are available.
Unloading slots are booked via Voyage Control. One booking per vehicle per day applies and bookings can be made 30 days in advance. Vehicles taller than 4.4 metres cannot enter.
All workers need an exhibitor/contractor badge worn at all times.
Wider travel planning
Kensington (Olympia) is the nearest train station and is served by both underground (District Line) and overground (Mildmay Line) rail. It remains the most efficient form of access for visitors and exhibitors carrying only light equipment.
For international and regional attendees, Heathrow Airport is ~30 minutes away via public transport. Busses also stop nearby on multiple routes.
Motor vehicle travel to the Olympia is possible and necessary for exhibitors, but is pricey and somewhat impractical. The London ULEZ charge applies, parking is limited, and the roads are narrow.
On-site Services
Utilities, IT, rigging, logistics, AV, and the service categories exhibitors need to factor into the brief.
On-site services at the Olympia may be ordered from the venue’s various online portals and supplement your trade show booth delivered by your supplier. Some of these, like services, like rigging, electrical installation, catering, and cleaning, are restricted to Olympia personnel only.
Worth knowing: Olympia Events provides in-house catering through its preferred service provider HOST Olympia.
Costs To Plan For
Budget planning guidance based on public venue context and the exhibitor workflow.
This section will help you draft a rough budgeting framework for exhibiting at Olympia London. Contact the venue and show organisers for an accurate price list specific to your event.
Stand pricing
Stand pricing at Olympia can vary widely according to the space booked. An exhibition stand builder like Booth Exhibits™ can provide you with a final costing upfront.
Budget drivers
Stand size, brief complexity, travel costs, ULEX charges, logistics, AV, IT, and show services all move the final number.
Utilities and power
As is standard industry practice in the UK, these are usually ordered separately through Olympia’s preferred suppliers.
Rigging
Olympia’s official rigging partner is Outback Rigging, who can provide you with an accurate costing for your needs.
Wi-Fi / IT
Exhibitors that need a fast, stable connection for business-critical displays should order a wired connectivity bundle separately.
Furniture
Furniture costs can increase depending on your booth design and requirements. Contact your exhibition stand designer/builder for more information.
Hotels and travel
London has no shortage of accommodation, and some hotels are within a stone’s throw of the venue. Hilton London Olympia sits between the station and the venue, and discounted stays might be available depending on your show’s accommodation partner.
Cleaning / support
On-site cleaning at Olympia is done in-house for an added fee as part of show services.
Insurance / compliance
Third-party providers can supply an accurate insurance estimate for your specific show.
Contingency
A contingency reserve is often recommended to minimise the impact of late technical orders, venue-service adjustments, and supply errors.
Working rule
Reference your exhibitor manual and info from the Olympia show services team to help you build an accurate budget, line-by-line.
Olympia London vs Other Major UK Venues
A high-level comparison of the venue’s strongest planning advantages.
London’s Olympia is a unique venue alternative to the more modern ExCeL and the smaller Business Design Centre nearby. It offers a historic, more intimate setting similar to the latter, but with capacity closer to the former. There are three things to keep in mind with Olympia: location and age.
Location
Olympia is one of three premier event spaces in London, the other two being the ExCeL and the BDC. As such, it also bears a potential ULEZ charge for motorists with non-compliant vehicles. Parking is also a challenge.
The London location could be a disadvantage for businesses targeting local clients further away in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the north of England.
Age
Olympia is the second oldest event space in the UK, which is both a benefit and a curse. On the one hand, Olympia’s age brings a level of warmth to bigger events that’s difficult to find at the ExCeL or NEC. On the other hand, the older age of the venue means major renovations are now underway, affecting traffic and access.
London Olympia and Booth Exhibits™
Booth Exhibits™ supports exhibitors at the Olympia London with custom exhibition stands, modular system builds, shell-scheme upgrades, and branded conference environments, handling both the visual impact and the practical delivery the venue demands.
Exhibitor Templates
Working planning templates based on the venue and exhibitor information currently available.
Exhibitor timeline
Early planning
Immediately secure a copy of your show’s exhibitor manual, create a Voyage Control account, and decide whether you’d prefer a shell scheme or space-only booth.
Early design stage
Contact your preferred stand builder and align on a desired concept, taking note of any rigging, IT, and electrical requirements.
Technical planning
Finalise and budget your list of desired show services through the Olympia organisers.
Design sign-off
Approve a final booth design and circulate it for all team members and other relevant stakeholders.
Final approvals
Submit designs for approval according to the relevant safety protocols.
Early logistics
Align installers, staff, and client arrivals to the correct Olympia entrance and book Voyage Control slots for build-up and breakdown within 30 days.
Pre-show ops
Confirm accommodation and team travel plans, hiring ULEZ-compliant vehicles if required to save more.
Build-up
Teams on-site handle the build-up in accordance with the relevant regulations on health and safety.
Breakdown
Plan removal, logistics, and team movement according to the organiser’s breakdown schedule.
Stand checklist
- Stand /design format confirmed against the Olympia show brief and reviewed by safety inspectors.
- Olympia show manual reviewed for venue-service requirements.
- AV, utilities, IT, and rigging scoped through the Venue Services Centre.
- Travel, hotel, and staffing plan aligned to the correct Olympia entrances, ULEZ requirements, and train stations.
Risk assessment template
Technical services not scoped early
Initial risk: High. Control measure: map AV, utilities, IT, and rigging through the Olympia Venue Services Centre before final design sign-off.
Connectivity assumptions
Initial risk: Medium. Control measure: assess and confirm whether your display requires stable high-speed internet and place an order if you do.
Logistics rules assumed
Initial risk: Medium. Control measure: confirm all loading, storage, and freight requirements with the info inside your show manual.
Missing organiser deadlines
Initial risk: High. Control measure: treat the live Olympia show manual as the only reliable deadline source and set deadline alarms in your calendar.
Budget under-scoped
Initial risk: Medium. Control measure: include ULEZ charges, venue services, logistics, travel, and contingency/insurance in your working estimations.
Wrong entrance planning
Initial risk: Medium. Control measure: align staff and clients on the correct hall in advance.
Accommodation pressure
Initial risk: Low. Control measure: consider making early bookings at nearby hotels for event teams.
Late venue-service ordering
Initial risk: Medium. Control measure: set an alarm in your calendar and align on payments with your accounting department.
Unsupported public claims
Initial risk: Medium. Control measure: contact Olympia and show representatives directly for a final alignment on costings, before publishing your budget.
Quick Reference
Fast facts for stakeholders reviewing venue fit and delivery constraints.
Venue
Olympia Events London.
Address
Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London, England, W14 8UX.
Main contact
+44 (0)207 598 2788 and hello@olympia.london
Nearest stations
Kensington (Olympia), right next to the venue.
Internal distances
Olympia spans about 14 acres, and walking from end-to-end takes around 5 minutes.
Nearby hotels
Hilton London Olympia, Premier Inn London Hammersmith, St. Pauls Hotel.
Transport modes
Train, walking and cycling, road/car (ULEZ compliant), bus, motorcycle.
Service categories
Rigging, AV, utilities/electrical, catering, waste management.
Public stand pricing
£5,000-25,000.
Best fit
Medium-large exhibitions, conferences, and other high-footfall events.
Commercial angle
Strong fit for custom stands, modular systems, shell-scheme upgrades, and branded conference environments.
Planning approach
Use the Olympia rules documents and show manual to shape delivery.
Connectivity warning
Shared venue Wi-Fi may not support business-critical stand activity, so plan dedicated connectivity at cost.
Venue scale
14 Acres (5.5. hectares) spread across 3 halls.
Location
Kensington, London.
Review date
Updated from official venue and workflow sources on 25 July 2026.