Travel

Getting to the NEC – it's easy!

The NEC is slap bang in the middle of the UK, eight miles east of Birmingham city centre. If you're travelling to The NEC from any part of the UK or flying in from overseas you will find that it's at the hub of the UK transport network.

The easiest way to get to the NEC is by rail to Birmingham International. There is a covered walkway that takes you right to Hall 5. There is parking for 20,000 cars onsite. Parking is charged at £8 per day.

Address:

Hall 5 National Exhibition Centre (NEC)
Birmingham
England
B40 1NT

website: www.thenec.co.uk/travel

Using Sat Nav
If you are using a satellite navigation system please enter the postcode B40 INT

The Highways Agency advises drivers to plan their journey before they leave, check traffic conditions at http://www.trafficengland.com.

How are you getting to Traffex?

By Air:

Birmingham International Airport (BHX) is the closest International terminal to the NEC, which is extremely convenient for foreign visitors and those on internal flights; once you've grabbed your luggage it will take just minutes to get to The NEC from the airport.

Birmingham International Airport (BHX) Website

Once you've landed

Walk
This is the quickest way to reach The NEC. If you are on foot follow the signs to the Air-Rail Link, which leaves the airport from the first floor of Terminal 1. Once you have stepped off the Air-Rail at Birmingham International Interchange continue straight ahead through the concourse onto The NEC bridge link.

Taxi
Taxi ranks are situated outside of the passenger terminals. Black cabs are the safest way to travel and each vehicle carries 5 people with luggage.

Air–Rail Link

What is it?
The Air-Rail Link is a free, speedy and convenient way to travel between the Airport Passenger Terminals and Birmingham International Station and The NEC. Using a cable drawn system the Air-Rail Link has two trains each with a maximum capacity of 24 passengers.

Where is it?
The Air-Rail Link leaves the airport from the upper level of Terminal 1. It connects the Airport Passenger terminals to Birmingham International Rail Station. The NEC is connected to the rail station via a covered bridge link.

Times
The Air-Rail Link operates every two minutes and has a one-way travel time of 90 seconds. The Air-Rail Link operates daily between 0515 and 0200.

Other Airports:

East Midlands Airport (EMA)
Distance: 40 miles
East Midlands Airport (EMA) Website

Coventry Airport (COV)
Distance: 15 miles
Coventry Airport (COV) Website

London Luton
Distance: 82 miles (132km)
London Luton Airport Website

London Stansted
Distance: 116 miles (186.6km)
Stansted Airport Website

London Gatwick
Distance: 142.7 miles (229.6km)
London Gatwick Website

London Heathrow
Distance: 107.2 miles (172.5km)
London Heathrow airport Website

Manchester International Airport
Distance: 90.8 miles (146km)
Manchester Airport Website

By Road:

The NEC is situated 8 miles East of Birmingham city centre; its central location ensures it is at the hub of the UK motorway network. Visitors from any direction can travel to The NEC site directly using the following motorways - M1, M5, M6, M6 Toll, M40 and M42.

The NEC is signposted on motorways and major roads and is marked on most good maps. If you are travelling by car, we recommend that you allow plenty of time for your journey.

M6 Toll
As a free flowing alternative to the M6, the M6 Toll offers reliably shorter journey times through the West Midlands. It runs between Junctions 4 and 11 of the M6, and there is easy access to The NEC from Junction T1 of the toll road.

M6 Toll Website

Using Sat Nav
If you are using a satellite navigation system please enter the postcode B40 INT to pinpoint us. Please be aware that the Sat Nav system will not direct you into an onsite car park. Please follow the clearly signposted directions once in the vicinity of the venue.

Car Parking
The NEC has numerous car parks that are more broadly categorised into North, East, South and West. All in all there are over 20,000 onsite parking spaces!

On your arrival at The NEC, traffic officers will direct you to the most convenient parking area for the exhibition, however being such a large site with a number of entrances, it is recommended that you refer to The NEC Site Map before your arrival to avoid adding time to your journey.

The NEC has designated car park spaces for visitors with disabilities.

Unless stated otherwise the cost of parking in an onsite car parking space is £8.

All vehicles displaying blue badges will incur no car parking charges.

Traffic Radio
For visitors travelling to The NEC by car, Traffic Radio broadcasts the latest traffic conditions, emergency incidents and roadworks on motorways and major A roads. Traffic Radio broadcasts continuous live traffic updates online at www.trafficradio.org.uk and on DAB digital radio.

NEC Site Map

By Train:

The NEC is situated adjacent to Birmingham International Rail Station; you can reach hall 5 without stepping outside!

Depending on your origin station you can travel directly by train to The NEC by alighting at Birmingham International. If your point of origin does not provide a service directly to Birmingham International you will need to travel to Birmingham New Street first and get a connecting train from there.

Birmingham New Street
Birmingham New Street Station is a short journey of approximately 10-15 minutes from Birmingham International Station.

Once off the Train
Once you have arrived at Birmingham International Rail Station take the stairs or lift from any platform up to the station interchange. The entrance to The NEC bridgelink is situated on the right hand side of the interchange and is clearly signposted. Continue walking along the bridgelink until you reach the entrance to The NEC.

By Bus:

The NEC can be reached by a number of local bus services. If you are travelling to The NEC from Birmingham city centre there are two route options.

The 900 service leaves from Moor Street Interchange and has a daytime frequency of 20 minutes. The 900 will drop you at Birmingham International Interchange with a journey time of approximately 31 minutes.

The 38 service leaves from Moor Street Interchange hourly, it has a journey time of approximately one hour.

Local bus information can be found at the following websites:

• www.travelwm.co.uk
• www.centro.org.uk

By Coach:

The National Express coach terminal is located in Digbeth in Birmingham city centre.

• National Express Website

Travel from Digbeth to The NEC

Bus
The 900 service travels from Digbeth to Birmingham International Station and has a daytime frequency of 20 minutes. The 900 will drop you at Birmingham International Interchange with a journey time of approximately 25 minutes. Click here for information on travelling by train to The NEC.

Train
Birmingham New Street station is approximately an 11 minute walk from Digbeth coach station. Click here for information on travelling by train to The NEC.

Taxi
The NEC is approximately a 10 mile journey by taxi from Digbeth coach station. Black cabs are the safest way to travel and each vehicle carries 5 people with luggage. Click here for information on travelling by train to The NEC Conference Programme