UK’s Top 5 Exhibition Venues

Each year, thousands of international business professionals attend B2B events in the UK to get a glimpse at the latest innovations and developments in their industries. As a result, the UK is home to some of the largest and most popular exhibition centres in Europe. Also, the UK is one of the top-ranked countries in terms of exhibition space sold in the world.

Exhibitors are attracted to trade shows that offer social value in terms of networking opportunities and branding. With the third-largest population in Europe and the second most widely spoken business language, exhibiting in the UK is quickly becoming an essential component in the marketing mix.

If you are exhibiting, attending or planning an event, it is a good idea to get to know these top five business exhibition centres in the UK.

1. ExCel London

With an exquisite waterfront as its backdrop, Excel London plays a primary role as the host venue for a wide range of eminent international conferences, exhibitions and seminars in London. 

Renowned for its forward-thinking sustainable business practice, the venue compromises large, multi-purpose event halls and smaller conference and meeting rooms to suit any event’s needs. ExCel London boasts a huge capacity of almost 70,000 visitors, making it one of the UK’s largest and most in-demand venues.

2. Olympia London

Olympia, located in London, opened its doors to the public on Boxing Day 1886. Now it is the chosen venue for over 200 international industry events.

The charming architecture, open multi-functional space, and huge capacity make Olympia a sought after spot for event organisers. The site was previously used as a vineyard, and with so much on its doorstep, it is possibly the best location for an exhibition venue in the UK.

3. NEC (National Exhibition Centre), Birmingham

With a total floor space of 182,000m², the NEC Birmingham is the UK’s largest exhibition venue. It attracts 3,000,000 visitors each year and boasts over 500 shows and events annually.

With the ideal combination of spaces to host exhibitions for 10,000+, a total of 18 halls, and an additional 32 conference and meeting studios – any industry event is well catered for. In addition, the location is ideal for visitors, with a spa, casino, and shopping centre located right next door.

4. Manchester Central

Award-winning exhibition venue, Manchester Central, can accommodate 10,000 delegates per day. With 23,000m² of versatile space, it is the ideal place to host industry events of any size.

Manchester Central’s history makes it stand out from the other venues in the UK, and the remains of the old railway station can still be seen. The multi-functional spaces within the building make it an ideal choice for exhibitions, conferences, or smaller meetings.

5. SEC (Scottish Event Campus), Glasgow

The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) is the first conference centre in Scotland to be recognised with gold charter and has been working with huge industry events since they opened in 1985.

The venue boasts over 22,500 m² of multi-functional space and hosts over 50 events each year. Its location, within Scotland’s largest city, attracts half a million business decision-makers from all over the world.