Olympia - advice for visitors

[Kat]

I'm going to Olympia for the first time this year and I'm VERY excited!

So any advice for a first-timer?

I'm thinking of driving to outer london and getting the tube as it will be cheaper than the train and more flexible. What is the closest tube station? I have heard that the service is poor to Kensington Olympia, how far are the next nearest stations?

What about when we get there? Is it very hot or cold? Are the cloakrooms ridiculously expensive?

I have afternoon tickets, are there any time limits on when you can go round the shopping? It says that you have access to the morning performances too so I'm thinking I will aim to shop afterwards.

We might stop for dinner nearby, any recommendations?

Any other insider info?

Cheers!

 

[ROMANY 1959]

They put extra trains on for events, there is a lovely pizza place at end of the road to Olympia, cloakroom last year was £3 if I remember right, it's not cold inside, light jacket will do, but if its cold outside it can be chilly waiting for a train, enjoy it, we been five times, afternoons and evenings and once for the dressage day.

 

[cambrica]

If your travelling from the north then maybe look at Watford to take the train from as we change there and go straight to Olympia.
I'm going on the Sunday afternoon and plan to get there early for shopping as the interval is chaos and after the show you have all the evening crowd arriving.
This year sounds one of the best I think so getting very excited!!

 

[honetpot]

Last time I went I saved a fortune by buying my drinks and sandwiches at M&S at the station before I went in. There are some restaurants near by, but food inside is the standard over priced event food. I worked on the cloakroom one year and you were charged per bag so I would take a cheap expandable shopper and try and get as much as possible in it.
I would go early so you get look round the shops it does get rammed so if you need to go back look what you least want to watch and go then. Best toilets first floor on the opposite side to the shopping. Have fun

 

[Supertrooper]

We've always eaten in pizza express that's attached to Olympia, last year we had William Fox Pitt sat on the table next to us

Both times I've been we've gone to evening performance, first year I went it was the Dressage to music night and it was AMAZING! Truly spine tingling stuff.

I think we could get in to shop from 2pm time which is too long really before the performance time and I got bored, would be better if there were more places to sit

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

For afternoon performance, get there when the doors open in the morning.
Find seat & wait till morning class is about to start (or even if there is a break) & THEN go & shop as its the quietest point of the day
Take packed lunch & have a good breakfast before you go!

Hope you have a good time

 

[skint1]

When we go to London we park in the Kings Mall (I think its called) by Hammersmith, then get tube from there. Daughter parks at Homebase near Olympia

 

[spider]

I went Saturday afternoon last year and they made us leave straight after the performance. We were not allowed into the shopping afterwards. So go early to shop. Second the advice to find the upstairs toilets. The downstairs ones had a huge queue hidden away once you got through the door.

 

[Honey08]

We have parked at Homebase too, its very close to Olympia and means that you can get out onto the motorway before all the Olympia traffic comes out.. Its an easy drive there and easier than parking outside and getting trains etc.

I found the shopping hall extremely hot, but the seats around the arena were fine.

I second the idea of going to the toilets upstairs (and during the performance too, the interval is busy). There is a little handicapped person's lift that goes up and wasn't policed when I went!

Finally, enjoy, Olympia is magic. Wave at father Xmas from me!!

 

[LovesCobs]

I've used the cloakroom loads and there isn't really a queue either. From what I remember it was £2 and we put a few coats on each hanger (6 of us used 2 hangers) and about 3 big bags per ticket.
Enjoy! We've always loved it

 

[Tash88]

I'm going for the first time for the dressage on the Monday afternoon, so excited! I live in West London so I've no idea why I haven't been before really.

The Grand Prix starts at 3pm so we don't really have that long to shop since the shopping village doesn't open until 12pm. There are 15 of us going from the yard so we are trying to be organised and squeeze in as much shopping as possible before the dressage as apparently we're not allowed to go back after the dressage finishes at around 6.30pm. So we have decided to get there at 11am and have an early lunch first.

As I'm going on the first day I don't really expect there to be any bargains. However as I don't live far from Olympia at all I was thinking of getting another shopping ticket and going at the weekend, would this be worth doing? Are there many reductions by the weekend or is there nothing left?

 

[Dubsie]

There's a fab café does really nice home cooked food at the side of Olympia, I think it's something like George's Café. If you're stood outside on Hammersmith Road facing Olympia, go down the left side, and there's a road off on the left, I think Blythe Road, and it's a few doors along there on the right hand side. Is VERY reasonable - 2 years ago 4 of us ate and drank for about £16-18 I think it was, standard café fare burger and chips type of meal, but very nicely cooked, far superior in quality and quantity than anything you'd buy inside.

 

[GeorgeyGal]

Great tips guys, I've booked tickets for the training ring also (going Sunday pm) when's the best time to fit that in for those that have done it?

 

[OldNag]

Depends what day you're going... I usually go on a Sunday. There are roads nearby which have unrestricted parking on Sundays and we've always found a space within a couple of minutes' walk...

This year I am not going on a Sunday and have booked for the car park. It's £20 for the day and I reckoned that was worth it, especially as I'm taking kids with me, saves a lot of hassle.

I usually layer up though the temp is fairly good inside, as others have said.

Absolutely worth taking some drinks and food in with you. Pizza Express is good, but go early as the queues get horrendous around lunchtime/ dinnertime. There are loads of places to get drinks etc but you'll be paying Olympia prices.

Have a great time, it's just such a wonderful show.

 

[Kat]

Thanks for the advice folks

I think I will park at a tube station and get the tube - it will reduce the stress for me if I don't have to drive through London.

Plan to take some food and then go for something to eat after we come out.

Hopefully we will make it there early enough to do some shopping before the afternoon performance. I'm not too bothered about trawling the shops for hours but would like a look around.

Great advice though, thanks, and I will post again if I think of more questions!

 

[surreygirl17]

1) Take warm clothing - it gets VERY cold in there.

2) Food is expensive (unsurprisingly) and not very many options so bear this in mind, take food if you want to.

3) Allow plenty of time for shopping!!

4) Enjoy!

 

[blueheron]

I have tickets for Saturday evening, it's my first time so very excited!

Does anyone know what time evening ticket holders have access to the shopping hall from?

Thank you

 

[Biska]

We have parked at Homebase too, its very close to Olympia and means that you can get out onto the motorway before all the Olympia traffic comes out.. Its an easy drive there and easier than parking outside and getting trains etc.

Is it easy to get a space at the Homebase car park? I like the idea of getting out before all the Olympia traffic!

 

[OldNag]

Is it easy to get a space at the Homebase car park? I like the idea of getting out before all the Olympia traffic!

Be careful... a lot of these private car parks are patrolled and there is maximum stay.

 

[EmmyMD]

make sure that the tube stations actually have a decent carpark.

My mum's a londoner and my parking recommendation would probably be to (if you can bare it) drive to Clapham junction, park in the nearby asda (it costs money but isn't unreasonable) and get the london overground.

 

[Po Knee]

If you buy anything sizeable (rugs/boots etc) there is a shopping drop-off place you can leave it to pickup later. Nothing worse than trying to fit large boxes and bags into your seat - especially when you have to get up to let other people get to their seats. The drop-off is normally run by a horsey charity, and although it costs a couple of quid to leave your stuff, I did get a rather nice calendar from them when I picked my stuff up, so was very happy with that.

Above all, just enjoy! It is the real start of Christmas for me

 

[Kat]

make sure that the tube stations actually have a decent carpark.

My mum's a londoner and my parking recommendation would probably be to (if you can bare it) drive to Clapham junction, park in the nearby asda (it costs money but isn't unreasonable) and get the london overground.

The one I am hoping to use is 500 spaces for park and ride according to the tfl website.

I will bare Clapham Junction in mind though as a back up. I do worry about using shop car parks these days though as so many have cctv to enforce the maximum stay.

 

[EmmyMD]

The asda maximum stay is like 12 hours, might even be 24? It's a pay and display thing

 

[zipzap]

Eat before you go in (or take food in with you) as it's hideously expensive and not always all that! Check the programme as soon as you arrive and plan your shopping around a performance you don't mind missing as it's usually very busy in the interval and you can't get round the stands. I'm sure you'll have a great time though - enjoy!

 

[Racergirl]

If you are going on Sunday for the "afternoon" performance, you can go in the car park from something daft like 7am, and you have to be out by 5. The M&Ms start at 9am and the shopping village opens at 10, so theres loads of time between then and the main show (cant remember off the top of my head what time that starts, aroun 12 I think??) thats when I tend to do my shopping - wander about as soon as it opens (when Ive watched whichever M&Ms Im excited about) theres not many people about at all....

Agree with the others about the upstairs toilets - WAY better than queing downstairs!! and another tip - if you are there sunday night, go in the interval for chocolate fountain

above all - have a super time, I'll be the one crying during The First Noel - always makes me quite sentimental for some reason!!!

 

[NativePonyLover]

Have a great time

Maybe because I'm a South-East-ner, but I don't think the price of food & drinks are too bad at all. Certainly no worse than London prices in general.

I've gone for a good few years & would advise wearing layers - I usually wear jeans, a long sleeved t-shirt type top, a warmer layer (cardigan or jumper) and a coat. It gets hot in the shopping area, but can be chilly elsewhere.

The shopping is good - but definitely not as good as Your Horse Live. I agree, it gets maniac at peak times, so I always get there earlier & have a nose/make a few purchases before it gets too busy - or pop out during a demo I'm not too fussed about. The shop & drop is great & only a few quid that goes to charity, so I don't begrudge that at all.

Ditto the chocolate fountain & there's a great champagne bar too

Have a great time & it really is worth staying for the finale - it's always great! X

 

[cambrica]

Oooh can't wait now as I'm going Sunday afternoon. My first time for the M&M Championships as I've always been to the evening performances.

 

[Biska]

I can't wait, I am going tomorrow for Grand Prix in the afternoon and the Andalusian extravaganza in the evening, with a nice supper in between and shopping from noon!! What a lovely day out, feeling very lucky.
If you are going Enjoy!

 

[Perfect-Piaffe]

Evening performance ticket holders can get into the shopping village from 2pm!

I've been about 20+ times and now I def recommend doing your shopping before as it's manic during the intervals! Interval time web use just to get food- usually hog roast I agree the toilets on the opposite side of the hall to the shopping village are usually the better ones.

The shopping is good there but I certainly don't think you get lots and lots of bargains anymore it used to be brilliant for show specials but not so much anymore. Most things you can get for the same price if not lower at normal tack shops- there is the occasional special to be had but I wouldn't make a trip there purely for the shopping if you are bargain hunting.

Usually I drive and park in the side roads however due to being broken I'm getting the train there tomorrow with yard people. Going again on Sunday with the family so will prob save my shopping till then as someone will be driving! It's no fun getting on the very pack tube/trains one handedly whilst trying to carry shopping!

I don't think the food and drink there is too bad- seems normal London event prices to me. It's only once a year and great fun so I'll just pay it rather than taking bits with me!

Have a great time everyone I can't wait! This time tomorrow I'll be on route........!!

 

[Biska]

Just got home, I drove in and parked at Homebase on Warwick road. Thanks for the tip for that Skint and Holly, nice one. The attendant there was really nice, he took one look at the filthy Land Rover and knew where I was headed! He gave me a discount. I arrived at noon and paid £15 for the whole day until after evening performance. fab day out, watched the dressage in the afternoon, the Andalusian display in the evening, got some good buys and pressies in the shopping village, had a yummy curry supper and met the lovely Dutch girl, Danielle Heijkoop, who got 3rd in the dressage today (she even had sparkles twinkling on her helmet, well it is Christmas). Enjoy if you are going. Great day out with a friend!