URGENT: Farnborough Airshow (July 2026) — Book Hotels NOW
Accommodation deadline has passed. Hotels sell out 6 months in advance. Book Aviator Hotel or Holiday Inn Farnborough immediately. This is the most important event of the year — do not miss it due to accommodation issues.
Same-Week Conflict: 19–21 May 2026
Combined Naval Event (Farnborough) and Utility Week Live (NEC Birmingham) run simultaneously.
Recommended split: Tuesday at CNE (Farnborough), Wednesday at UWL (Birmingham), Thursday back to CNE (Farnborough).
Master Travel Calendar
| Date | Conference | Venue | Priority | Nearest Station | Recommended Hotel | Travel Brief |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4–5 Mar | Space-Comm Expo 2026 | ExCeL London | Highest | Custom House (DLR) | Aloft London ExCeL | ExCeL Brief |
| 4–5 Mar | Tech Show London 2026 | ExCeL London | Medium | Custom House (DLR) | Aloft London ExCeL | ExCeL Brief |
| 4–5 Mar | Data Centre World 2026 | ExCeL London | High | Custom House (DLR) | Aloft London ExCeL | ExCeL Brief |
| 20–24 Apr | MACH 2026 | NEC Birmingham | High | Birmingham International | Hilton Metropole NEC | NEC Brief |
| 13–14 May | All-Energy 2026 | SEC Glasgow | Medium | Exhibition Centre Glasgow | Hilton Glasgow | Glasgow Brief |
| 19–21 May | Combined Naval Event 2026 | Farnborough | High | Farnborough Main | Aviator Hotel | Farnborough Brief |
| 19–20 May | Utility Week Live 2026 | NEC Birmingham | Medium | Birmingham International | Hilton Metropole NEC | NEC Brief |
| 10–11 Jun | Future of Utilities Summit 2026 | London (TBC) | Medium | TBC | TBC | — |
| 20–24 Jul | Farnborough Airshow 2026 | Farnborough Intl | 🔴 HIGHEST | Farnborough Main | Book NOW | Farnborough Brief |
| 29 Sep–1 Oct | UK Construction Week 2026 | NEC Birmingham | Low | Birmingham International | Hilton Metropole NEC | NEC Brief |
| 14–15 Oct | DTX London 2026 | ExCeL London | Low | Custom House (DLR) | Aloft London ExCeL | ExCeL Brief |
| 4–5 Nov | Advanced Engineering 2026 | NEC Birmingham | High | Birmingham International | Hilton Metropole NEC | NEC Brief |
Venue Quick Reference
ExCeL London
Tech Show · Space-Comm Expo · Data Centre World · DTX London
AddressRoyal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
Primary StationCustom House (DLR) — 2 min walk
Secondary StationPrince Regent (DLR) — 5 min walk
From Central London~25 min from Bank (DLR)
From HeathrowElizabeth Line → DLR, ~60 min, ~£15
From GatwickThameslink → DLR, ~50 min, ~£20
From City AirportDLR (1 stop), ~5 min, ~£3
ParkingOn-site, £25/day (pre-book via excel.london)
Recommended Hotels
⭐⭐⭐⭐Aloft London ExCeL — 2 min walk, £120–180/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐Novotel London ExCeL — 5 min walk, £100–160/night
NEC Birmingham
MACH · Utility Week Live · UK Construction Week · Advanced Engineering
AddressNational Exhibition Centre, Birmingham B40 1NT
Primary StationBirmingham International — 5 min walk
Secondary StationBirmingham New Street — 15 min shuttle
From London Euston~1h 15m by train
From London Marylebone~1h 30m by Chiltern Railways
By AirBirmingham Airport — 5 min walk from NEC
ParkingOn-site, multiple car parks
Recommended Hotels
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Hilton Metropole NEC — on-site, £130–200/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐Crowne Plaza NEC — on-site, £110–170/night
Farnborough International
Space-Comm Expo · Combined Naval Event · Farnborough Airshow
AddressFarnborough International Exhibition Centre, GU14 6TQ
Primary StationFarnborough Main — 15 min walk
Secondary StationFarnborough North — 20 min walk
From London Waterloo~35–45 min by South Western Railway
ParkingOn-site parking available
⚠️ BOOK HOTELS IMMEDIATELY
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Aviator Hotel — adjacent to venue, £200–350/night (BOOK NOW)
⭐⭐⭐⭐Holiday Inn Farnborough — 10 min walk, £120–180/night
AlternativeFleet or Aldershot hotels if Farnborough full
SEC Glasgow
All-Energy 2026
AddressScottish Event Campus, Exhibition Way, Glasgow G3 8YW
Primary StationExhibition Centre Glasgow — 2 min walk
Secondary StationGlasgow Central — 15 min walk or taxi
From London4h 30m by train (Euston → Glasgow Central) or 1h 15m by flight
From Edinburgh~50 min by train
ParkingOn-site parking available
Recommended Hotels
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Hilton Glasgow — 15 min walk, £120–200/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐Crowne Plaza Glasgow — 10 min walk, £100–160/night
⭐⭐⭐⭐Radisson Blu Glasgow — 15 min walk, £110–170/night
Airport Transport to ExCeL London
| Airport | Method | Duration | Approx Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | Elizabeth Line → DLR at Paddington or Liverpool Street | ~60 min | ~£15 |
| Gatwick | Thameslink to London Bridge → DLR | ~50 min | ~£20 |
| London City | DLR (1 stop from City Airport) | ~5 min | ~£3 |
| Stansted | Stansted Express → Liverpool Street → DLR | ~75 min | ~£25 |
| Luton | Thameslink → St Pancras → DLR | ~80 min | ~£20 |
Critical Booking Deadlines
Farnborough Airshow (July 2026) — OVERDUE
Accommodation deadline was February 2026. Hotels sell out 6 months in advance. Book Aviator Hotel or Holiday Inn Farnborough immediately. If those are full, check Fleet, Aldershot, or Camberley hotels.
| Conference | Dates | Booking Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farnborough Airshow 2026 | 20–24 Jul 2026 | February 2026 | 🚨 OVERDUE — Book Now |
| Space-Comm Expo 2026 | 4–5 Mar 2026 | February 2026 | ⚠️ Imminent |
| Tech Show London 2026 | 4–5 Mar 2026 | February 2026 | ⚠️ Imminent |
| MACH 2026 | 20–24 Apr 2026 | March 2026 | Book by March |
| Combined Naval Event 2026 | 19–21 May 2026 | April 2026 | Book by April |
| All-Energy 2026 | 13–14 May 2026 | April 2026 | Book by April |
| Advanced Engineering 2026 | 4–5 Nov 2026 | October 2026 | Book by October |