Accessibility

Car Parking

• Follow appropriate blue badge parking signs, please ensure your badge is visible so that it can be seen by the traffic team
• Blue badge parking is allocated on a first come, first served basis
• Pre-book your parking at least the day before your arrival to save £5 and avoid queueing to pay onsite
• To pre-book your parking, please follow this link: https://www.thenec.co.uk/visitors/parking-at-the-nec/
• Should you need assistance, there may be a call point located within the car park, or speak to a member of the NEC team

Shuttle Buses

• The free shuttlebus service operates from the car parks to the venue entrances
• Buses usually run 1 hour before the show opens to 1 hour after the closing time
• Please check electronic signage at the bus stops for live information
• Shuttle buses have ramps and room for one wheelchair per trip

Drop Off/ Pick Up

• Please bring your Blue Badge with you, even if you are arriving by taxi or private coach
• If you are arriving by taxi and have your Blue Badge with you, you will be able to be dropped off at the main entrances.
• If you also require a pick up, please advise the taxi firm that you have a blue badge and the taxi will be permitted to pick you up from the main entrances.
• If you are using a T.O.A black cab you will be picked up at the ranks by the main entrances.
• If you are arriving by private car and have your Blue Badge with you, you will be directed to the nearest disabled car park – where you can be dropped off and picked up at the end of your visit.

Access Routes

• All levels of the NEC are accessible to wheelchair users, via lifts, and have wheelchair friendly toilet facilities
• The Piazza and Atrium main entrances have automatic doors
• From Birmingham International Railway Station, access to the NEC is via the covered Bridgelink
• From Birmingham International Airport, please take the Air-Rail link to Birmingham International Railway Station

Changing Facilities & Locations

• For baby change & feeding facilities locations, please click HERE
• Locations include:
  • Ladies’ toilets – Piazza & Atrium
  • Men’s toilets – Atrium
  • Disabled toilets – Piazza & Atrium
  • Dedicated baby change rooms – Piazza & Atrium

Mobility Equipment Hire

• Wheelchairs are available to hire for £5 for all visitors. The number of wheelchairs available is limited, so if you’ve got your own, please bring it with you.
• Scooters are available for £20 per hire for all visitors.
• These can be booked online in advance, normally 3 months before the event. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
• All pre-bookings will be held until 1300hrs on the day they’ve been booked for, unless otherwise advised.
• For any visitors who have not pre-booked equipment and arrive on the day, any remaining stock will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. As collection location varies from show to show, please check the collection point when making a booking.
• Please note: Mobility equipment hire is only available during show open times and we only accept payment by card for any equipment hired.

Assistance Dogs

• Trained assistance and guide dogs are welcome but please be mindful that certain environments, where noise levels or attendance numbers are high, can be stressful or confusing for assistance dogs.
• For the safety and wellbeing of your dog please make them visible to staff and other visitors at all times.

Hearing Loop

• Induction loop audio systems are fitted in various locations.

Multi-Faith Facilities

• The multi-faith prayer room is located next to Hall 3 (Piazza).
• Prayer mats are provided at the rear of the room with a privacy screen.
• A bookshelf with holy books is on the rear wall.
• In an adjoining room a chaplain is available for consultation and support.
• There is a separate Ablution Room (Wudu) facility available by the entrance to the Bridgelink.

If you have any other specific assistance requirements for attending any of our shows, please let us know as soon as you can and we will work to support each request where possible.