The Royal Docks are where London does business with the world. ExCeL hosts some of the biggest trade shows and conferences in Europe. London City Airport sits on the other side of the dock, bringing in delegates from across the continent. London's City Hall now sits on the waterfront too. Minibus hire Royal Docks groups book is mostly exhibition and conference work, with airport runs, hotel shuttles and corporate events in between.
From our base in SE1, the Royal Docks are about thirty to thirty-five minutes outside the rush hour, via the Blackwall or Silvertown tunnels or round through the City and the A13.
Minibus hire Royal Docks for ExCeL
ExCeL London sits along the north side of the Royal Victoria Dock, with entrances at both ends of a very long building. Exhibitors, visitors and conference delegates book us for shuttles between hotels and the venue, and for one-off runs carrying display kit, speakers or VIP guests.
For exhibitions, tell us which end of the building you need, east or west. The walk inside is long, and dropping at the wrong end can add ten minutes for a group with equipment. Custom House and Prince Regent stations are at the two ends too, and the drop-off points are near them.
Loading display kit and equipment
Exhibitors often need more than seats. Display stands, banners, boxes of brochures and samples all need moving, and a minibus with a few seats left empty takes a surprising amount. ExCeL has its own loading arrangements for heavy freight, but for a team bringing their own kit, a minibus to the right entrance is often the simplest way.
Tell us the number of people and roughly how much kit, and we'll suggest the vehicle. For the build-up and break-down days, when exhibitors arrive early and leave late, we'll plan the timings around the venue's access hours.
Conference shuttles and hotels
Hotels around ExCeL and across the Royal Docks fill up during big shows. Delegates often stay further out, in Stratford, Canary Wharf or the City, and need a shuttle in the morning and back in the evening.
For shuttles, give us the hotels, the expected numbers per run and the timings. We'll plan how many vehicles the day needs and how often they run. On the busiest mornings, a second vehicle at peak times makes a big difference. A few hotels sit right on the dock, close to the ExCeL entrances, and for those a short loop is enough.
London City Airport across the dock
London City Airport is a few minutes from ExCeL by road. Delegates flying in from Europe often land in the morning, go straight to the exhibition, and fly out again in the evening. A minibus from the terminal to the venue and back is the easy way to do it.
For groups flying further afield, Heathrow is an hour or more across London, and Stansted about forty-five minutes to an hour via the A406 and the M11.
City Hall, the cable car and the waterfront
London's City Hall moved to the Royal Docks in recent years, to a building on the waterfront by Royal Victoria Dock. The cable car runs across the river from here to the Greenwich peninsula, and it's a popular trip for school groups and visitors.
The docks themselves host water sports and events in the summer, and Thames Barrier Park, at the western end, has views of the barrier. The University of East London's Docklands campus sits by the Royal Albert Dock.
Tunnels and the A13
The Silvertown Tunnel, opened recently, runs under the river from the Royal Docks to the Greenwich peninsula. The Blackwall Tunnel is a little further west. Each has a user charge, shown on the quote. The A13 runs along the north of the docks, and the Lower Lea Crossing links the area to Canary Wharf.
The thing to know about minibus hire Royal Docks groups book on big show days is that the roads around ExCeL get very busy at the start and end of the day. Tens of thousands of visitors arriving at once can slow the approach roads for an hour or more. We'll plan the timings around the show's opening and closing times.
Exhibition organisers sometimes book several vehicles for the whole show, running between hotels, stations and the venue from early morning until the halls close. For those, tell us the opening and closing times for each day, the hotels and the expected numbers, and we'll plan a schedule that covers the peaks without leaving vehicles idle for hours in the middle of the day.
Delegates heading home after the final day often want a single run to the airport or a station, and booking it in advance avoids the taxi queue.
For minibus hire in the Royal Docks, call 020 7183 0567.