Olympia moving to ExCel this year

[katastrophykat]

Soulless venue and a pain in the arse to get to.

It would put me off going for an evening trying to get back to Waterloo/Victoria, and all things being well Covid wise, hotels will be expensive the week before Christmas.

I’ve missed the last few years so I’ll be attending! I’ve just booked two nights in the premier inn Friday and Sat next to the excel for OH and I and two kids, B&B both nights for £113 in total- refundable in case of issues and I’m now on the mailing list for tickets ?

It’s my little girl’s 6th birthday that weekend and I’ve been desperate for her to be big enough to go!!

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Olympia is hard enough from here by public transport, Excel would be even worse and there’s no way you could see an evening performance and get home.

 

[holeymoley]

I’ve never been to Olympia. Wondering if ExCel is easier to get to with the airport being nearby? We would fly down but then unsure about flights in the current situation.

 

[sport horse]

Is Excel within easy walking distance of the cable car? If so that would avoid using DLR for me and might make it possible. Wonder what time cable car closes. Research time I think!

 

[pixie27]

Before leaving OH and London, one of the few benefits of where we lived was being ten mins from Olympia! This would have been the final final straw if I was still there...

Not a huge fan of ExCel as a venue. I’ve ran events there before and it’s just so corporate. Hopefully visitor numbers won’t drop too much though, I imagine/hope people will want the novelty of going out to events again.

 

[Nicnac]

Is Excel within easy walking distance of the cable car? If so that would avoid using DLR for me and might make it possible. Wonder what time cable car closes. Research time I think!

It is but closes at 8pm in the winter. So only good for afternoon performances.

 

[McFluff]

Have mixed feelings about this - part of the experience was the venue and location - it's sort of bonkers in a good way. May still go though as I do love Olympia - and I have to overnight anyway as travelling from Scotland.

 

[Karran]

Is Excel within easy walking distance of the cable car? If so that would avoid using DLR for me and might make it possible. Wonder what time cable car closes. Research time I think!

its about 10 minutes walk away. It does stop early though and doesn't run if winds are strong. You basically come out the station keep the dock to your right and walk down past tescos and some hotels.

 

[Shay]

I've been to Olympia for Christmas every year since the early '70s. I'm now in two minds... All those memories. I won't be the same but different can still be good. Althugh it will now take nearly 3 hours to get there instead of 45 min by car! And now I won't know exactly which seats to book for the puissance. I hope they get a site map up before the tickets go on sale.

 

[milliepops]

I've been to Olympia for Christmas every year since the early '70s. I'm now in two minds... All those memories. I won't be the same but different can still be good. Althugh it will now take nearly 3 hours to get there instead of 45 min by car! And now I won't know exactly which seats to book for the puissance. I hope they get a site map up before the tickets go on sale.

good point! I used to pore over the seating plan when picking my dressage tickets!

 

[ester]

Going for evening performances and being able to get home was always an issue for kensington too. Have often had to drive to a mainland station closer to london to be able to get a later train.

 

[teapot]

I'm wondering, having done some googling, whether Olympia will ever return to Olympia looking at the redevelopment they're doing.

I know people moaned and got over HOYS moving out of London, but I think Olympia possibly means more to some people?

 

[Muddywellies]

If I had gone last year, I'd be giving this year a miss as CBA with the extra distance and lack of Olympia magic in a modern soul less building. But, as we couldn't go last year, I'm not sure I can manage another year not going (first world problems eh). I'll see how I feel when tickets go on sale.

 

[Parrotperson]

ha! all these people complaining about how hard it will be to get to. Try coming 150 miles plus! Used yo do it in one day on a coach but I'm too od for that so might book the nearby hotel. I'll give it a go before deciding if its the wrong place for it. Olynpia is great but the facilities re rubbish. if the refurbishment sorts that out then all well and good. Of course what it won't do is sort out the issue for horse lorries and competitors.

 

[milliepops]

i am about 150 miles from the normal site and consider it fairly accessible, we do it there and back for an evening show traipsing across london on top is just not appealing sadly but pleased it makes it easier for others, i need to save the pennies this year anyways so it's useful to have an external factor making the decision easier!

 

[sport horse]

The great thing about Olympia is its central London position - not too difficult from wherever you travel in the country. Excel is way out to the East of London with no direct underground links. Great for Essex but pretty much noone else. I am about one hour NW of London and what was an hour and a bit on public transport is coming in at 2hours 55 minutes on the searches. Not possible for an evening performance so bye bye Grand Prix on the last night. Hopefully will make the World Cup on an afternoon and suck it up and drive! A last thought what about a river taxi/bus down the Thames?

 

[scats]

ha! all these people complaining about how hard it will be to get to. Try coming 150 miles plus! Used yo do it in one day on a coach but I'm too od for that so might book the nearby hotel. I'll give it a go before deciding if its the wrong place for it. Olynpia is great but the facilities re rubbish. if the refurbishment sorts that out then all well and good. Of course what it won't do is sort out the issue for horse lorries and competitors.

It’s 230 miles for me...

 

[quizzie]

I've been to a couple of things at the Excel centre, and would agree with other posters that it is a soulless corporate venue, devoid of any atmosphere with an odd empty echo even when full.... I hope that they succeed, but I can't see it working. Boat show attendances tanked after it was moved there from Earls Court.
Despite being within moderate distance, I certainly won't be bothering.