Info
Travel & Parking
Arriving at the NEC
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 maps. If you are travelling by car, we recommend that you allow plenty of time for your journey.
Using Sat Nav
If you are using a sat nav please enter the postcode B40 1NT. Please follow the clearly signposted directions once in the vicinity of the venue.
Discounted Travel & Parking
Thanks to subsidised car parking, the FREE Bike Park, and 20% off train travel, we’ve made it easier than ever to join us at MCL26.
Free, secure Bike Parking
Secure, undercover bike parking is available in the MCL Bike Park completely free of charge (subject to availability). The Bike Park will be signposted on arrival.
Need to store your kit? The Cloakroom (located outside Hall 2) can securely hold your helmet, jacket etc. at a cost of £2 per item. It will open one hour before and close one hour after the show
Bikes parked in the Bike Park are left at your own risk – motorcycle parking is free across the NEC site.
50% off Parking when booked in advance
As long as you book your parking no later than 24-hours before your visit, the cost is subsidised by MCL for a discount on the on-the-day price of £19.95. Simply follow this link.
If booked no later than 23:59 on Thursday 19th November, parking will be just £10 for your day at MCL.
PLEASE NOTE – The NEC now operates an ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) parking system, so you’ll need to select the day you wish to visit upon booking. Don’t worry though – you’ll be able to amend your booking until midnight the day before your booked visit.
On your arrival at The NEC, traffic officers will direct you to the most convenient parking area. It is recommended that you refer to The NEC Site Map and NEC Road Access Map before your arrival to avoid adding time to your journey.
The NEC has designated car park spaces for visitors with disabilities (fee still applies) – disabled visitors will be directed to the nearest available disabled car parking facilities.
See map here of the Birmingham NEC location.
Visitors arriving by car may also want to consider other parking options:
Park for FREE at numerous local train stations (Berkswell, Hampton in Arden, Stetchford, Tile Hill etc) and catch a return train to Birmingham International from as little as £2.30 return for one person. The show is a 5-minute walk, undercover, from Birmingham International train station.
Disabled Parking at the NEC
The NEC provides designated car park spaces for visitors with disabilities, including wider spaces near the Arena for most events. Parking is generally first-come, first-served, regardless of pre-payment, and visitors should display their Blue Badge on arrival to access these spaces. If the disabled parking area is full, staff will direct you to overspill areas with accessible shuttle services to the venue.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up
Visitors arriving by taxi or private coach can be dropped off at main entrances if they have a Blue Badge. It is recommended to inform the taxi company in advance to ensure proper access.
20% off Trains from across the UK
Thanks to Avanti West Coast, train tickets start at just £9, and direct journeys from London Euston take as little as 1 hour 5 minutes – it’s a hassle-free way to visit the UK’s largest indoor interactive motorcycle show. They’re also available from the likes of Glasgow, Manchester & Holyhead – in fact, you could visit MCL26 from almost anywhere – for less than you think!
You’ll be able to book discounted tickets from the 8th September until the 9th November – please look out for the link here nearer the time.
Coming from Ireland or France? 20% off Irish Ferries
For those of you lucky enough to live in Ireland or Mainland Europe that are looking to bring your bike (including those with sidecars), car or van/motorhome (under 2.25m high) to MCL26, we’ve teamed up with Irish Ferries to offer 20% off all travel. Simply visit the Irish Ferries website, enter the code below on the homepage in the “Use promotion code” box whilst booking (see image below for clarification), and we’ll see you in November:
Promotion code: MCYNEC
Booking dates: From 1 March – 31 October
Travel dates: From 16 November – 4 December
Terms & conditions: This code is valid for bookings and travel during the times specified above and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, offer or discount. Discount cannot be used if paying with Tesco Tokens and applies to the cost of the journey excluding fees and charges. Use of your promotion code will be monitored, and access will be paused if any misuse is detected.
Arriving by Plane?
Birmingham International Airport (BHX) is the NEC’s neighbour, which is extremely convenient for overseas visitors and those on internal flights. Once you’ve grabbed your luggage, it will take just minutes to get to The NEC following the signage.
Birmingham International Airport (BHX) Website
Arriving by Train?
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.
Here’s a quick guide on how to save money on trains to Birmingham.
Birmingham New Street
Birmingham New Street Station is a short journey of 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 is situated on the right-hand side as you exit the station and is clearly signposted. Continue to walk along the covered walkway called the Bridgelink, where you can then follow signs to reach MCL (approximately a 5-minute walk).
