Venue Information

Directory of hotels - search for the place the best suits your needs:
 myvisit.thenec.co.uk 

Places to eat and drink at the NEC:
 www.thenec.co.uk/foodanddrink

Find information on access and parking here:
 www.thenec.co.uk/planningavisit/disabledvisitors

For further information on accessibility to The NEC Piazza (Halls 1 - 5) and The NEC Atrium (Halls 6 - 20), including photos, please click on the following link through the DisabledGo website.

DisabledGo
 www.disabledgo.info/AccessGuide.asp?BusinessID=52348&TownID=86

Access & Parking
If travelling by train disembark at Birmingham International Railway Station, access to The NEC and The NEC Arena is via the bridge-link.

All levels of The NEC and The NEC Arena are accessible to wheelchair users, via lifts. The Piazza and Atrium main entrances have automatic doors.

A lift between Hall 5 and Toute Suite opposite the Main Piazza Entrance takes disabled visitors from Piazza level 1 to level 2. Tactile signage is fitted in or by the majority of lifts and public areas. Assistance Dogs are welcome at our venues, however it is not recommend that they are brought to concerts or other loud events.

Parking is free of charge for vehicles displaying blue badges. This service cannot be pre-booked and is available on a first come first served basis.

Traffic Officers will direct you to the nearest available designated parking area according to your time of arrival.

The location of parking for disabled visitors varies on a show by show basis, based on site activity. The exact location of the car park for disabled visitors for a particular event is normally available approximately 6 weeks in advance of the event.

The NEC is a vast site and at some events it is not possible to provide sufficient accessible parking as close to the entrance as at small venues. Where necessary, dependant on demand, we therefore offer alternative accessible parking serviced by an accessible shuttle bus. This may result in shorter walking distances than from the accessible parking that is available near to an entrance.

Hearing Impairments
Induction loop audio systems are fitted in the following locations:

• All Piazza cloakrooms and ticket booths
• Selected cloakrooms and ticket booths in the Atrium 
• Concourse Suites 1 and 2 
• Gallery Seminar Rooms 1, 2 and 3
   

We also have a number of portable induction loops which can be set up wherever needed.

The main Medical Centre is in the Atrium, by Atrium entrance 2, opposite Hall 8. Qualified nursing staff are on duty throughout all exhibitions and events.

The Piazza Medical Centre is located next to Hall 5 and is open when there is site activity in the Piazza.

If you require a private area for personal care, (eg private changing facilities) please contact the NEC medical centre in advance on 0121 780 4141 in order to discuss your particular requirements.

Medical Emergencies
In the event of a medical emergency please notify a member of Security or any member of NEC staff who will be pleased to help you. Alternatively, call the Medical Centre on 2222 using the internal telephones located inside the main venues.

Mobility Equipment Hire Service
For exhibitions at The NEC, our service partner Magbility operate a mobility equipment hire service. We strongly advise visitors to prebook equipment to avoid disappointment. Magbility operate a telephone booking line Monday to Friday 0900hrs-1700hrs on 01527 837076. For any visitors who have not prebooked equipment and arrive on the day, any remaining stock will be issued on a first- come, first-served basis. Manual wheelchairs are free of charge to blue badge holders, £5 per day to other visitors. Electric scooters are £15 per day for all visitors. This is a non-refundable scheme.

Toilets
The NEC and The NEC Arena have mostly unisex wheelchair accessible toilets, with the exception of The NEC exhibition halls, where there are Male and Female wheelchair accessible toilets.

As part of an ongoing improvement plan, these toilets will be upgraded to unisex.