Aerial view of ExCeL in 2008, before its extension
The centre was designed by Moxley Architects and built by Sir Robert McAlpine. It opened in November 2000.[5][6] In May 2008 it was acquired by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company. Phase II of development, which included building London's first International Convention Centre (ICC) and creating an "eastern arrival experience", was completed on 1 May 2010 with Phase 3 expected to be completed by 2023/24. In 2015 ExCeL announced the opening of CentrEd at ExCeL,[7] a training and meeting space located close to the western entrance of the venue overlooking Royal Victoria Dock.
The Royal Victoria Dock closed to commercial traffic in 1981, but it is still accessible to shipping. The Centre's waterfront location allows visiting vessels to moor alongside the Centre. For example, the 2005 London Boat Show was visited by HMS Sutherland.
The exhibition building itself consists of two column-free, rectangular, subdivisible halls of approximately 479,493 square feet (approximately 44,546 m²) each, on either side of a central boulevard containing catering facilities and information points. There are also three sets of function rooms, one overlooking the water, another above the western end of the central boulevard, and the third on the north side of the building. These are used for smaller meetings, seminars, presentations and corporate hospitality. There are six hotels, more than 30 bars and restaurants, and 3,700 parking spaces on the campus.
In 2011 ExCeL London was awarded the Business Superbrand.[8] The site welcomed its 20 millionth visitor[9] on 18 June 2014. ExCeL has also been awarded 'Venue of the Year' on several occasions at various industry ceremonies.[10] In 2012 ExCeL hosted several events for the Olympics and Paralympics. It has since erected a "legacy wall" featuring the handprints of athletes who won Gold at the venue and the former Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
In 2014 ExCeL hosted the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict,[11] chaired by American actress and UN Special Envoy Angelina Jolie and attended by 79 ministers from 123 country delegations.
Aerial view of ExCeL in 2015, after its extension
From 1 to 8 July 2019, 150 events took place as part of London Climate Action Week 2019.[12]
It was announced on 24 March 2020 that the centre was to be temporarily converted into the 4,000-bed NHS Nightingale Hospital as part of the response to the 2020 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Military engineers and contractors supported the erection of the facility, and army medics assisted the NHS nurses, doctors and other staff.[13] The Nightingale was opened on 3 April 2020 by Charles, Prince of Wales via videolink.[14]
Transport
ExCeL London is served by two Docklands Light Railway (DLR) stations, which span the full 600-metre length of the venue. The western entrance is directly linked to Custom House for ExCeL station, which serves the Platinum Suite and the event halls and is located next to the glass pyramid. From May 24th 2022 the western entrance of ExCeL will also be served by the Elizabeth line, better known as Crossrail, connecting the venue to central London in just 12 minutes[15] and eventually providing a direct link to Heathrow Airport.
The eastern entrance is connected to Prince Regent station. The eastern entrance serves the International Convention Centre (ICC at ExCeL), which was opened in 2010 by then-Mayor Boris Johnson and is London's first and currently only ICC. During major shows with large visitor attendances, extra shuttle trains are run between the venue and Canning Town station, with interchange at Canning Town with London Underground's Jubilee line.
ExCeL London is also located near London City Airport station. The DLR and a number of dual-carriageway roads connect the centre to the airport and the important nearby office-and-commercial district of Canary Wharf.
Since June 2012, the Emirates Air Line cable car now links ExCeL to The O2 on the Greenwich Peninsula.
Sustainability and CSR
ExCeL London participates in the UN Global Compact Scheme,[16] the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative which invites companies to align with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. As part of this scheme, ExCeL produces an annual communication on progress addressing the issues of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption. Since joining the scheme in August 2007,[17] ExCeL has undertaken a series of initiatives to reduce energy usage, increase recycling efforts and increase transparency across the business – shown by the introduction of a Whistleblowing hotline in May 2015. Despite this, there are no water bottle refilling facilities at the venue, forcing the purchase of water bottles.[18]
ExCeL publishes details of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts publicly in the UN Global Compact report and on their website. Currently ExCeL invests in the local community of Newham by supporting select charities, chiefly Newham All Star Sports Academy (NASSA) and Community Food Enterprise (CFE).[19] ExCeL also provides space free of charge to local schools and sports teams, in addition to hosting an annual event called 'ExCeL in the Arts' for local children to attend. In 2016, ExCeL welcomed London celebrity chef, musician and entrepreneur Levi Roots, who in collaboration with a local food initiative organised a cooking class for local children[20]
Sport
Olympics
ExCeL London hosting table tennis events at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The Virgin ActiveLondon Triathlon is held at ExCeL London on an annual basis, with the cycling and running legs taking place within and around the venue and the swim taking place in Royal Victoria Dock, adjacent to ExCeL.
The Formula ELondon ePrix was held for back to back races at ExCel in July 2021 with part of the circuit running around the arena and part of the circuit in the exhibition hall itself.[22] It was also due to be held in 2020 however the event was cancelled after the ExCeL was repurposed as a temporary NHS hospital named NHS Nightingale, to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic.[23]
On 24 March 2020, the ExCeL was announced as a temporary NHS hospital, containing 5000 beds and named NHS Nightingale, to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic.[23] The temporary NHS hospital was planned to shut down in early May 2020,[24] but was also used as a mass vaccination centre as part of the COVID-19 vaccination programme from 11 January 2021.[25]
Since 2001, the biannual UK arms fair DSEi, most recently on 8–11 September 2009.
In 2005, the Bollywood cultural event, the 2005 Zee Cine Awards for the first time in the event's history.
British International Motor Show 2006 & 2008 attracting over 400,000 visitors to the venue and included a Music Festival with live performances in a 5,000 capacity purpose-built arena each night of the motor show.
Between 27–29 April 2007, the 2007 London Guitar Show (LGS). The show featured two masterclasses on the Saturday with Steve Vai, in which time he answered questions asked by fans through the LGS website prior to the show, and from fans at the masterclass.
Between 13–15 July 2007, the Star Wars Celebration Europe; the first Star Wars fan event of its kind held outside the United States which attracted nearly 40,000 visitors over the three days.
On 2 April 2009, annual G-20 Leaders' Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy, commonly called The London Summit 2009, the largest gathering of world leaders London has seen since the first United Nations General Assembly in 1946.
Between 1–2 May 2010, The X Factor held open auditions which attracted over 10,000 people.
The ICC Auditorium also hosted Miss World 2014 on 14 December 2014.
From 22–24 November, the ExCeL played host to the Doctor Who Celebration convention, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the BBC television series, Doctor Who.
The 2022 Pokémon World Championships will be held at ExCeL in August 2022, becoming the first edition of the World Championships to be held outside of the US.
Demonstrators camped outside ExCel to protest against the DSEI fair in 2019. They were attempting to block access to it. Police arrested 100 people for allegedly obstructing the highway.[29][30]
Custom House for ExCeL
