ExCeL London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ExCeL London |
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ExCeL London in June 2011
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| Location | Royal Docks, Docklands, London, E16 United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°30′29″N 0°01′44″E / 51.5081°N 0.0289°E |
| Owner | Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company |
| Architect | Sir Robert McAlpine Moxley Architects Ltd. |
| Opened | November 2000 |
| Expanded | 2010 |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 100,000 m² |
| Parking | 3,700 spaces |
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Bicycle facilities
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60 racks |
| Public transit access |  Custom House for ExCeL Prince Regent |
ExCeL London is a huge place in East London where big events happen. It's short for Exhibition Centre London. You can find it in the Royal Docks area of Newham. This massive site is about 100 acres big, which is like 75 football fields! It sits right by the Royal Victoria Dock, between Canary Wharf and London City Airport.
Contents
History of ExCeL London
ExCeL London was designed by Moxley Architects and built by Sir Robert McAlpine. It first opened its doors in November 2000. In May 2008, a company called Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company bought it.
The centre got even bigger in 2010. They added London's first International Convention Centre (ICC). This new part helped ExCeL host even more important meetings and events. In 2015, they opened CentrEd, a special area just for training and smaller meetings.
The Royal Victoria Dock used to be a busy place for ships carrying goods. It closed for commercial ships in 1981, but boats can still visit. Sometimes, special ships like HMS Sutherland have even docked right next to ExCeL for events like the London Boat Show!
The main building has two very large halls. They are like giant empty rooms, each about 44,546 square metres. You could fit many things in there! These halls can be divided into smaller spaces. In the middle, there's a long walkway with places to eat and get information. There are also smaller rooms for meetings and parties, some with great views of the water. ExCeL London has six hotels, over 30 bars and restaurants, and 3,700 parking spots for cars.
ExCeL London has welcomed over 20 million visitors since it opened. It has won awards like 'Venue of the Year' many times.
ExCeL During the Pandemic
In March 2020, ExCeL London was temporarily turned into a huge hospital. It was called the NHS Nightingale Hospital. This was to help people during the coronavirus pandemic. It had space for 4,000 beds. Military engineers and doctors helped the NHS staff set it up and run it. The hospital was opened by Charles, Prince of Wales (who is now King Charles III) through a video call. Later, it was also used as a place for people to get their COVID-19 vaccines.
Getting to ExCeL London
ExCeL London is easy to reach by public transport. It has two Docklands Light Railway (DLR) stations right next to it.
- The western entrance is connected to Custom House for ExCeL station. This station is near the main halls and a famous glass pyramid.
- The eastern entrance is linked to Prince Regent station. This is where the International Convention Centre (ICC) is.
Soon, the Elizabeth line (also known as Crossrail) will also connect to ExCeL's western entrance. This will make it even faster to get there from central London and even from Heathrow Airport!
For big events, extra DLR trains run to Canning Town station. From there, you can switch to the London Underground's Jubilee line. ExCeL is also close to London City Airport.
You can even get to ExCeL by cable car! The Emirates Air Line cable car connects ExCeL to The O2 on the Greenwich Peninsula. It's a fun way to travel and see the city from above.
Caring for the Planet
ExCeL London tries to be a responsible and eco-friendly place. They are part of a big worldwide plan called the UN Global Compact Scheme. This plan encourages companies to be good to people, the environment, and to be honest.
ExCeL works to use less energy and recycle more. They also help the local community in Newham. They support local charities like Newham All Star Sports Academy (NASSA) and Community Food Enterprise (CFE). They also let local schools and sports teams use their space for free. Plus, they host an event called 'ExCeL in the Arts' for local children.
Special Gatherings
ExCeL has hosted important religious events.
- In July 2007, His Highness The Aga Khan visited the UK for his Golden Jubilee. The main hall at ExCeL was decorated to look like beautiful Fatimid architecture for this special occasion.
- He also visited ExCeL again in June 2018 for his Diamond Jubilee.
Sports Events
ExCeL London is a popular place for sports events.
Olympics
For the 2012 Summer Olympics, ExCeL London was split into five different sports halls. Each hall could hold between 4,000 and 6,000 people. These halls were used for many Olympic sports, including:
After the Olympics, ExCeL put up a "legacy wall." It has the handprints of athletes who won gold medals there, and even the handprint of the former Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.
Other Sports
- Boxing: ExCeL has hosted several exciting boxing matches, including fights with famous boxers like Amir Khan and Tyson Fury.
- Triathlon: The Virgin Active London Triathlon happens at ExCeL every year. The cycling and running parts take place around the venue, and the swimming happens in the Royal Victoria Dock right next door.
- Motorsport: The Formula E London ePrix was planned to be held at ExCeL. Part of the race track would have been inside the exhibition hall itself! However, this event was moved when ExCeL became the NHS Nightingale Hospital during the pandemic.
Other Cool Events
ExCeL London hosts many different types of events, from huge trade shows to fun conventions. Here are some of them:
- G20 London Summit: In April 2009, ExCeL hosted a very important meeting of world leaders called the G20 London Summit.
- MCM London Comic Con: If you love comics, movies, and games, you might know about MCM London Comic Con. This huge multi-genre convention takes place at ExCeL twice a year, in May and October.
- Motor Shows: The British International Motor Show was held here in 2006 and 2008. It attracted over 400,000 visitors!
- Star Wars Celebration Europe: In July 2007, ExCeL hosted the first Star Wars fan event of its kind outside the United States. Nearly 40,000 fans came to celebrate!
- Doctor Who Celebration: In 2013, ExCeL hosted a special convention to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the BBC show, Doctor Who.
- The X Factor: The TV show The X Factor has held auditions and even its live finals at ExCeL.
- Miss World: The finals of the Miss World competition have been held at ExCeL in 2014 and 2019.
- BRICK: This is a big event for Lego fans, which took place in 2014 and 2015.
- BBC Music Awards: In 2016, the 2016 BBC Music Awards were broadcast live from ExCeL.
Protests
Sometimes, people gather outside ExCeL to show their disagreement with certain events held there. For example, in 2019, demonstrators protested against the DSEi fair, which is an arms fair. They tried to block access, and some people were arrested.
See also
In Spanish: Centro de exposiciones ExCeL para niños
