BETT 2016 Travel

[crc-ict]

I'm thinking about travel arrangements to BETT and I'm actually being mad enough to consider driving it.

 

Rather than a drive-park-train-tube-dlr combination, taking about 3.5 hours at best guess and costing around £70, according to Google Maps, I can do an 90 mile drive, taking 1h 55m without traffic, up to 2h 45m in bad traffic. So, door to door travel and then £15 worth at the ExCel car park and I'm done - saving quite a bit of money and probably at least 45 minutes in the process.

 

It somehow seems more attractive than a Southern trains 'sardine can' ride through South London, then a tube slog before sampling the delights of the DLR cattle trucks.

 

Something tells me it can't really be that simple? Has anyone done this for BETT before?

 

If so, how was it? Looks straightforward enough on the map. What's the Excel parking like? BETT website says it's 'ample'.

 

My route would take in the M23, M25 and A2 - guessing there is potential for nightmare there in the mornings?

 

Be interested to hear thoughts!

[bald_pig]

M25 will be very slow, and you will probably have a massive queue to get through the blackwall tunnel as well.

 

I'd have thought you'd be better off going up the A23 than round the M25 and A2 though?

[foofighterjim]

I did this from Birmingham a few years ago but on the Saturday so no issues with traffic. There is a car park here: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir//51.5080528,0.0209801/@51.5080698,0.0210431,18.5z but I don't recall if it is cheaper than using the official car park.

[elsiegee40]

Saturday should be OK. Week days - I would think twice. The M25 and A2 are a nightmare

[NeustroEduIT_Christine]

We travelled in the car last year on the Wednesday from Derby. We left about 10am only took us 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I know a place to park that's about 5 minutes walk from Excel - PM me if you'd like the information.

[john]

DLR are not cattle trucks outside of peak time, reason the DLR is cattle truck to ExCeL at peak is Newham Council Offices are 2 stops past the 1st ExCeL one thus its ExCeL punters and then the council staff and thus why its full when it gets to the hall for those leaving at 6pm. The trick at ExCeL which people seem to ignore me for is don't use the 1st stop for ExCeL as everyone waits at that one so go out of the FAR end of ExCeL at Prince Regent as you have more room that is how I managed, at peak get out time last year, get out and on theDLR with the Giant Beanbag from a stand without issues as the train was very empty at that stop and you avid the crush that Custom House for ExCeL was

 

Driving can, as other have said, be evil, the M25 is evil as are many roads near to ExCeL so public transport shouldn't be that bad.

[HarryMonkey]

Last year, I went by Jubilee line and then used the cable car to get across the river and then just a pleasant walk to the ExCel centre, no packed tubes either way. There can be few things in life that are worse than driving to/through London.

[Dos_Box]

One reason we get our hotel at Tower Hill each year (and not just the closeness to the center of London) is that when we get on the DLR at Tower Hill station it's empty and we can sit where we like.

So we take it in turns to pretend to drive

[dhicks]

Last year, I went by Jubilee line and then used the cable car to get across the river and then just a pleasant walk to the ExCel centre, no packed tubes either way.

 

Thames Clippers also run from the O2, so you can travel to / from the cable car via the river. I can't help but notice that the Excel centre is handily placed for docks, and that it's off-season for those RIB speed boats that whizz up and down the Thames during the summer - we could just hire us a speedboat to skip us past the queues on the way home...

[elsiegee40]

A reminder for those travelling via the mess at London Bridge that changing to the Jubilee Line at London Bridge isn't your only option.

 

If your train stops at Waterloo East get off there instead.

Don't follow the majority of people out of the station towards Waterloo mainline station.

Instead, use the exit about halfway down the platform which goes down stairs and then escalators into Southwark Underground Station

Get the Jubilee Line there and you are on a stop BEFORE London Bridge, so there's more room.

[AJWhite1970]

So we take it in turns to pretend to drive

 

That makes me feel a bit better. I'm always based near Canary Wharf station during BETT but when I venture into central London I often come back via Bank so I can be first on the DLR and sit in the front seat....

 

EDIT: Just been reminded about my FB post from BETT last year on this very subject!!!

 

Edited January 7, 2016 by AJWhite1970

[crc-ict]

Thanks all. Seems like the driving plan might not be the best one after all.

[rad]

Blackwall Tunnel or Dartford Tunnel, both a nightmare due to the traffic that uses them

[sniffingmoose]

I liked it better when BETT was at Kensington Olympia, Excel is in East London is just more of a pain to get to. I travel down from Derby and have to start out late and come back very late to avoid the rip off train fares. Dont think I will bother this year.

[psydii]

The clippers also have a bar.

[elsiegee40]

I liked it better when BETT was at Kensington Olympia, Excel is in East London is just more of a pain to get to. I travel down from Derby and have to start out late and come back very late to avoid the rip off train fares. Dont think I will bother this year.

 

Excel is a much better venue - More space, better facilites.

 

From my point of view it's a dream to get to compared with Olympia. Nowhere is going to be convenient for daily travel for everyone unfortunately. I wouldn't surorise me if BETT moved to Birmingham in the future to be more accessible

[Dos_Box]

I have to agree. Olympia was it's own special kind of awkward to get to as well with its branch line tube station and gridlocked roads. Used to take us the best part of an hour to do the 3 mile taxi ride from the Holiday Inn in Kensington.

Excel is out on a limb, but if you get the right combination of hotel location and DLR station (as we feel we have) then it can be a great venue.

If you are coming in early to BETT please feel free to join us in the Minories pub next to Tower Gateway DLR station for brekkie. We're usually there from 08:15 to 09:00

Edited January 10, 2016 by Dos_Box

[ICTDirect_Dave]

First year Bett was at excel. We found out the hard way that changing to the dlr at Canning Town is a foolish idea! Much better off picking up the train beforehand. Tower gateway or limehouse are ideal as it's usually pretty empty and you get to watch it fill up at Canning from the comfort of your seat

[witch]

As long as you haven't got too much to carry, walking from Canning Town isn't too bad either- avoids the crowded train anyway

[AJWhite1970]

Walking???? I didn't think anyone walked in London....

[witch]

Takes about 15 mins and is well signposted

[ICTDirect_Dave]

As long as you haven't got too much to carry, walking from Canning Town isn't too bad either- avoids the crowded train anyway

 

We've been so late in setting up the stand that we've had to sprint from Canning Town before now!!

 

Never again...

[Boredguy]

Walking???? I didn't think anyone walked in London....

 

When it was in Olymipa, we used to walk from Hammersmith Kings Mall each time as it was nice and cheap to park for the 6 hours. Only once did we try to take a taxi as my assistant at the time hadn't long had a heart bypass.

[CAM]

Custom House is easy to get to (far easier than Olympia!). You can either take the train or drive. When Crossrail comes in, it will be easier than ever to reach Excel.

 

And @john is right, Prince Regent is virtually deserted during rush periods caused by events. I did this myself at Expo in the Autumn as their queue management is becoming increasingly dire.

[Dos_Box]

I recall one time we got a hotel at the far end of Kensington High Street which was a 15 min walk to Olympia and we used to beat cars stuck in traffic to the juctions by the exhibition hall!