Travel Information
Getting to Excel London: A Quick Guide
Excel London is located in the heart of London’s historic Royal Docks, just ten minutes from Canary Wharf and the City, easily accessible via multiple transportation options. Whether you’re arriving by plane or train, you’ll find convenient routes to reach the Congress venue.
When possible, public transport should be preferred to travel around London and to/from airports as this is the quickest and cheapest way to travel.
Excel London
Address: Royal Victoria Dock 1, Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
Entrance: International Convention Centre (ICC) - East Entrance
Website: www.excel.london
How can I get from the airport to central London?
- London Underground: Take the Tube from Heathrow Airport or the DLR from London City Airport. For a smooth journey, buy a Visitor Oyster card or use a contactless payment card.
- Train: National Rail train services take you from Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, Luton Airport, Stansted Airport and Southend Airport into central London.
- Bus: For a cheaper alternative, National Express coach services operate from Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, Luton Airport, and Stansted Airport. You can also take local buses from London City Airport and Ensign Jetlink from Southend Airport.
- Taxi: You can take a taxi from all six London airports, though the journey may be expensive.
- Car: Alternatively, you can hire a car at the airport and drive to London.
Please allow an additional 20–30 minutes to travel from the city to Excel London.
London Transportation Map
The London Tube map makes navigating London's underground rail network simple. This easy-to-use London Tube map shows all nine travel zones, including Zone 1, which covers central London. It also indicates stations with step-free access, riverboat services, trams, airports and more.
Public Transportation
London has one of the largest urban transport networks in the world. The London underground, also known as ‘The Tube’, is divided into 9 zones, with zones 1 and 2 being the most central and where most London attractions are located. There are 11 colour-coded Tube lines and 4 additional lines including the Elizabeth line and the DLR – both serving Excel London.
The fares depend on the zones you are travelling to/from, time of the day and how you pay. Tube services usually run from 5am until midnight, with Night Tube services on some lines on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Visit the Transport for London website to plan your journey.
Travelling by plane
London has six major airports: London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted and London Southend. Below you can find some information about London's airport facilities, locations and connections, including a London airports map.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is located 32km (20 miles) west of central London, and is the busiest airport in the UK and one of the most visited airports in the world.
- The Elizabeth line runs six services every hour from Heathrow Terminals 2, 3 and 5 and interconnects with the Underground network at key stations. The journey to Custom House takes about 45 mins. The journey to central London costs £13.90.
- The Heathrow Express runs every 15 minutes between London Paddington station and all five Heathrow terminals. The journey takes 15 minutes and single fares start at £20 when booked in advance online.
Learn more about getting to/from Heathrow.
London Stansted Airport (STN) is located 64 km (40 miles) north-east of London and is home to many of the UK's low-cost airlines, mostly serving European destinations.
- The Stansted Express is the quickest way into central London, with trains to London Liverpool Street taking 47 minutes. Once there, you will be able to connect with 5 Underground lines, including the Elizabeth line.
- There are up to three trains per hour at peak times and fares start from £9.70 one way when booked online in advance.
Learn more about getting to/from Stansted.
Gatwick Airport (LGW) is located 45 km (28 miles) south of London.
- The Gatwick Express runs between London Victoria and the South Terminal train station. There are two trains per hour. The journey time is 34 minutes. Fares start at £21 one way when booked in advance online.
- Alternatively, you can travel by Thameslink (via London Bridge) or Southern (to Victoria) as a cheaper option. The journey takes about 30 minutes.
Learn more about getting to/from Gatwick.
London City Airport (LCY) is one of the most accessible airports in London thanks to its location just 9.5 km (6 miles) east of central London and 4.8 km (3 miles) from Canary Wharf.
- The airport has its own stop on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which connects to Prince Regent DLR as the closest entrance to Excel London.
- The local bus route serving London City Airport is the 473 (which travels to Stratford, Silvertown, North Woolwich and Prince Regent DLR station).
- To travel to central London, take the DLR towards Tower Gateway or Bank stations, or change at Canning Town for the Jubilee line towards Westminster.
Learn more about getting to/from the London City.
London Luton Airport (LTN) is a major base for low-cost airlines and is located 56 km (35 miles) north-west of central London.
- London Luton Airport terminal is connected to central London via fast rail services with journey times from 32 minutes.
- You can travel between the airport and Luton Airport Parkway station on the Luton DART in just four minutes. Tickets cost £4.90.
- From Luton Airport Parkway station, the Luton Airport Express runs every 30 minutes with a journey time of 23 minutes to St Pancras International. Tickets can be purchased in advance from as little as £10 including the DART transfer from the terminal.
Learn more about getting to/from Luton.
London Southend Airport is located 64 km (40 miles) from central London.
- Trains run between London Liverpool Street Station and London Southend Airport with up to four services an hour during peak times.
- Journey time is 44 minutes to Stratford and 52 minutes to London Liverpool Street. Once there, you will be able to connect with 5 Underground lines, including the Elizabeth line.
Learn more about getting to/from London Southern.
Arriving by train
The Eurostar arrives and departs several times a day from King’s Cross St Pancras to destinations in France, Brussels and Amsterdam.
King’s Cross St Pancras station is centrally located and has an onsite underground station served by 6 lines.
Comprehensive travel information can be found on Visit London’s official website.
Transfer by taxi
- Only use a black cab or a pre-booked minicab from a reputable company (Uber, Bolt) and never use unauthorised drivers. Pre-booked minicabs have fixed prices that are quoted and paid during booking.
- A black cab from Heathrow to central London costs between £61 and £114, depending on traffic, the time of pickup and your final destination.
- A cab trip to central London from Heathrow Airport takes approximately one hour.
Contactless payment and Oyster card
If your bank card shows the contactless payment symbol you can use it to pay as you go, straight away.
Should you be unable to pay via contactless payment methods, you can still travel on London’s transport network, but you will require an Oyster card for your journeys.
The Oyster card is a payment method for public transport in London and some surrounding areas. A standard Oyster card is a blue credit-card-sized stored-value contactless smart card. It's a quick and easy way to pay for journeys on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, River Bus and most National Rail services in London.
Using a contactless debit/credit card or mobile payment to pay as you go is the same as using an Oyster card and the same fares apply.
How to use it?
- Touch in on a yellow card reader at the start and end of your journey (even where the gates are open or where there are no gates) – the fare is automatically calculated and detracted.
- Only touch in on buses and trams as this is a fixed fare – you do not need to touch out.
- Always use the same card or mobile on each journey.
Where to use it?
- You can pay as you go to travel on London Underground (Tube), bus, tram, DLR, London Overground, and TfL Rail. Daily fares are capped.
- On most National Rail services in London and some outside London.
- On the Gatwick Express, Southern trains and Thameslink trains between London and Gatwick Airport.
- From all Heathrow terminals to London using London Underground and TfL Rail services.
Where to purchase?
- Buy your Oyster card at most Underground (Tube) stations or at Visitor Centres – locations also include Gatwick airport (North and South terminals), Heathrow airport (Terminal 2&3).
- A card costs £10.50 (non-refundable) and needs to be topped up to use on public transport.
- Visitor Oyster Card can be ordered in advance and delivered to your home before your trip. It comes with an exclusive offers booklet providing discounts on London attractions, restaurants, bars and experiences.