Photo: National Exhibition Centre / Google MapsHotels for UK Games Expo 2027 in Birmingham
UK Games Expo 2027 runs 4 to 6 June at NEC Birmingham, Birmingham. 87,837 attendees (2026)
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Where to stay for UK Games Expo 2027: the closest hotels to NEC Birmingham are in NEC & Resorts World and Solihull, with Birmingham city centre a short ride away. Rooms near the venue sell out first, so book a free-cancellation rate early. Add your company name and tax number at checkout for an itemised company invoice.
UK Games Expo (UKGE), which its organiser calls the UK's largest hobby games convention, returns to the NEC Birmingham and the Hilton Birmingham Metropole from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 June 2027. It is a weekend for anyone who plays at a table: board games, card games, roleplaying games, miniature wargames and party games, with over 900 exhibitors in the trade halls, demos, tournaments, open gaming with a huge games library, a Family Zone, cosplay, live shows and a Living History Village by Pendigo Lake. The 2026 edition, the show's 20th anniversary, set a record of 87,837 attendees across six halls and the Hilton. UKGE is open to the public, with tickets sold by the organiser and children aged 10 and under admitted free, while publishers, designers and press use the same weekend to meet, playtest and pitch. The gaming halls stay open until midnight on Friday and Saturday, so where you sleep matters: the Hilton Metropole is the organiser's partner hotel and part of the show itself, and the other NEC campus hotels are close by, while central Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry are a short train ride away. This page shows live hotel rates near the NEC for your dates; your show tickets come from the organiser and are separate from your hotel booking.
Popular areas for attendees: NEC & Resorts World · Solihull · Birmingham city centre · Coventry.
- Birmingham hotels for UK Games Expo sorted by distance to the NEC, from the campus hotels and the airport area to Solihull, Coventry and the city centre
- Live rates for 4 to 6 June 2027, with dates you can change for one day, the full weekend or an early Thursday arrival for ticket collection
- Free cancellation rates shown where the hotel offers them, useful while your gaming group settles who is coming
- Family rooms and larger groups: send us your numbers through the enquiry form and we reply with a group quote within 24 hours
Event at a glance
- Dates
- 4 June to 6 June 2027
- Venue
- NEC Birmingham
- City
- Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Airport
- BHX
- Attendance
- 87,837 attendees (2026)
Live rates near the venue
Hotels near NEC Birmingham for UK Games Expo 2027
Free cancellation first
Flexible rooms prioritised so plans can change without penalty.
Company invoice
Itemised invoice billed to your company, emailed the moment you book.
Stay close to the venue
Hotels ranked by walking distance to the halls.
Lock today's rate
Reserve at the current price and book several rooms for the team.
Plan your stay
Rates shown for a 3 night stay, Thu, Jun 3 → Sun, Jun 6, arriving the day before the fair opens, or choose your own dates above.
Hotel rates near major event venues rise as the dates approach and the closest hotels sell out first. Booking a free-cancellation rate early locks the price with no downside.
On the map
The venue, your hotel options and where to eat, all in one view. Tap the map to explore it full screen.
Booking hotels for a team or company?
Book several rooms near NEC Birmingham, keep every stay on a free-cancellation rate, and add your company name and tax number at checkout to receive an itemised invoice for your accounts, emailed the moment you book.
- Itemised company invoice, emailed instantly
- Bills to your company name and ABN / VAT / tax number
- Free-cancellation rates prioritised for changing plans
- Book multiple rooms for the team in one place
Send this page to colleagues so everyone books their own room near the venue, all at today's rate.
Exhibiting or sending a team? Tell us how many rooms you need and we will send a personalised quote within 24 hours, with the distance from every hotel to NEC Birmingham. If the closest hotels are nearly full, we split your team across neighbouring hotels a few minutes apart. Corporate accommodation for UK Games Expo
Free UK Games Expo Insider Guide
Do UK Games Expo the easy way. Get our curated guide, plus first access to near-venue rooms before they sell out.
- The best hotels within walking distance of the venue
- Where to host clients for dinner near the halls
- How to beat the sold-out fair-week rooms
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Need to expense this trip? Business invoices available at checkout.
Where should you eat during UK Games Expo?
Resorts World sits right beside the NEC with a good spread of restaurants a short walk from the halls, while Birmingham city centre is about 12 minutes by train from Birmingham International to New Street for much of the city's client dining and its famous baltis.
Photo: Adam's Restaurant / Google Maps
Photo: Adam's Restaurant / Google Maps
Photo: Paul Curran / Google MapsAdam's
Modern British fine dining
City centre (Waterloo Street), about 12 minutes by train from Birmingham International to New Street plus a short walk
Adam Stokes' elegant restaurant is one of Birmingham's most celebrated dining rooms, built around seasonal produce served as a polished tasting menu. It is the natural choice when you need to impress an important client.
Tip: Ask about the private dining options when booking for a group, and reserve well ahead during fair week.
Open in Google Maps
Photo: Pasture Birmingham / Google Maps
Photo: David Khan / Google Maps
Photo: Pasture Birmingham / Google MapsPasture
Steak and fire cooking
City centre (Colmore Row), about 12 minutes by train from Birmingham International to New Street plus a short walk
Set in a grand former bank building in the business district, Pasture cooks over fire in an open kitchen with an in house butcher preparing its meat. The lively room suits a team celebration or a confident client dinner.
Tip: It gets busy and loud at weekends, so book an early table on a weeknight if you want to talk business.
Open in Google Maps
Photo: Akhil_Itty / Google Maps
Photo: Mark Ainscow / Google Maps
Photo: Miller & Carter Mailbox / Google MapsMiller & Carter
Steakhouse
Resorts World (beside the NEC), a short walk from the halls
A dependable steakhouse on the ground floor of Resorts World with views over the lake, serving aged steaks alongside fish and vegetarian dishes. It is the easiest sit down dinner option without leaving the NEC site.
Tip: Book ahead for evenings during the fair, when exhibitors fill Resorts World straight after the halls close.
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Photo: Vietnamese Street Kitchen / Google Maps
Photo: Vietnamese Street Kitchen / Google Maps
Photo: Kavita Favelle / Google MapsVietnamese Street Kitchen
Vietnamese
Resorts World (beside the NEC), a short walk from the halls
A family run Vietnamese kitchen on the first floor of Resorts World serving pho, bun cha, bao buns and summer rolls. It is a quick, fresh alternative to the burger and pizza chains after a long day on the stand.
Tip: The kitchen can close before the advertised closing time, so arrive in good time for a late dinner.
Open in Google MapsAfter the halls close: Birmingham
Client dinner, team night out or a free day after UK Games Expo: bookable experiences in Birmingham, same account, same checkout.
While you're in Birmingham
Birmingham packs Premier League football, two major arenas and world class orchestral music and ballet into a city that is an easy train ride from the NEC halls.
Aston Villa at Villa Park
Premier League football at one of English football's great historic grounds, with the famous Holte End behind the goal. February is the heart of the season, so check the fixture list against your fair dates.
Find ticketsConcerts at bp pulse LIVE and Utilita Arena Birmingham
The NEC Group runs two big arenas, bp pulse LIVE on the NEC site itself and Utilita Arena Birmingham in the city centre near Brindleyplace. Major tours and comedy shows play here most weeks of the year.
Find ticketsBirmingham Royal Ballet at Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Royal Ballet makes the Hippodrome its home, with a major production usually staged in February. It makes a memorable evening out for clients after a day at the fair.
Find ticketsCBSO at Symphony Hall
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is based at Symphony Hall on Centenary Square, a hall renowned for its acoustics. Concerts run through the winter, so there is often a performance during fair week.
Find ticketsCrufts at the NEC
The world famous dog show fills the NEC halls for four days each spring, with 2027 set for 4 to 7 March. Hotels around the NEC book up fast that week, so plan any March visits early.
Find ticketsFixtures recur each season; exact dates for your fair week are confirmed at ticket search.
How do you get to UK Games Expo?
From Birmingham Airport (BHX)
- The free Air-Rail Link runs from the upper level of Terminal 1 to Birmingham International station; the NEC says it runs every two minutes and takes 90 seconds
- From the station, walk straight through to the NEC; the organiser says you can reach the halls without stepping outside
- The organiser says there are direct flights to Birmingham Airport from 150 airports worldwide
- Over 120 National Express and Megabus coach services a day run to Birmingham Airport from across the UK, according to the NEC, linked to the halls by the same Air-Rail Link
By rail and road
- Birmingham International station is next to the NEC; London Northwestern Railway runs direct trains there from London, Milton Keynes and Northampton, according to the NEC
- If your train does not stop at Birmingham International, change at Birmingham New Street
- By car, use the postcode B40 1NT; the organiser uses the NEC East car parks, and its parking booking link and 2027 prices will be published nearer the show
- Pre-booked parking qualifies for the multi day rate, and the organiser says a shuttle bus runs from the car park to the entrance near Hall 1 throughout the day, from 08:30 to 19:00
How do you get around during UK Games Expo?
Getting around the show each day
- UKGE spreads across the NEC halls and the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, which hosts most of the roleplaying games, most live shows and its own games library and open gaming
- The Viking Living History Village is on the lawn between the Hilton, Pendigo Lake and the NEC, and Chow Street food stalls are outside the Hilton
- The NEC says the Hilton and Crowne Plaza and the four star Genting Hotel are a short walk from the halls
- From central Birmingham, Solihull or Coventry, take the train to Birmingham International and walk through to the NEC
Late nights and evenings
- The NEC gaming and tournament halls and the Hilton gaming areas are open until midnight on Friday and Saturday in 2027, according to the organiser
- Staying on the NEC campus means you can play late without watching the clock for the last train
- Resorts World, next to the NEC, has restaurants, outlet shopping and an eleven screen Cineworld with an IMAX screen
- TOA taxis wait at the ranks by the NEC's main entrances and drop off at the Piazza or the Atrium entrance; Veezu is the venue's private hire partner
Do you need a visa for UK Games Expo?
Visa-free / visa on arrival
- British and Irish passport holders do not need an ETA or a visa
- Most visitors who do not need a visa, including those from Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia, need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they travel; an ETA covers tourism, such as a weekend at UK Games Expo
- An ETA costs £20 and lets you visit the UK for up to six months; apply through GOV.UK, as other websites may charge more
- Each person travelling needs their own ETA, including babies and children
eVisa / visa required
- Nationals who are not eligible for an ETA need a Standard Visitor visa; check your nationality on GOV.UK
- A Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for up to six months, and the earliest you can apply is three months before you travel
- Exhibitors and publishers travelling for business should read the GOV.UK business visitor rules: they allow attending trade fairs to promote your business, but say you cannot sell things
- Apply early if you need a visa; June is a busy month for UK travel
Documents to carry
- A passport valid for your whole stay, the same one you used for your ETA or visa
- The QR code from your UKGE account, on your phone or printed, to collect your tickets at the show
- Your hotel booking and return travel details, in case the Border Force officer asks about your visit
Entry and visa rules change; check current requirements on GOV.UK before you book.
First time at UK Games Expo?
- UKGE 2027 tickets go on sale in December, according to the organiser; children aged 10 and under get in free, with their tickets issued on arrival
- Tickets are not emailed or posted: you collect them at the show using the QR code in your account, and ticketing opens on Thursday 3 June from 16:00 to 20:00 in Hall 5 if you want to skip the Friday queue
- The trade halls open 09:00 to 18:00 on Friday and Saturday and 09:00 to 16:00 on Sunday; the gaming and tournament halls run later
- Your entry ticket covers the trade halls, demo games, open gaming, Family Zone, playtest and seminars; tournaments, roleplaying games and live events need an extra event ticket, which goes on sale in early 2027
- Download the show app and pick up a programme and map pack when you arrive; volunteers in blue shirts can help
Insider tips from repeat attendees
- The Hilton Birmingham Metropole is the organiser's partner hotel and a show venue in its own right, so rooms there suit roleplayers and late night gamers; the organiser also points to the Genting, Crowne Plaza, Moxy and airport hotels nearby
- If you plan two or more show days, the organiser suggests staying over; Birmingham and Coventry hotels are a short train ride away if the campus hotels are full
- Arriving on Thursday lets you collect tickets early and join the gaming halls, which open from 18:00 to 23:00 that evening
UK Games Expo travel FAQs
When is UK Games Expo 2027?
UK Games Expo takes place 4 June to 6 June 2027 at NEC Birmingham in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Where is UK Games Expo held?
UK Games Expo is held at NEC Birmingham in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The nearest airport is BHX.
When and where is UK Games Expo 2027?
UK Games Expo 2027 runs from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 June 2027 at the NEC, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT, and the Hilton Birmingham Metropole next door. The trade halls open 09:00 to 18:00 on Friday and Saturday and 09:00 to 16:00 on Sunday.
How much are UK Games Expo tickets?
Tickets are sold by the organiser and go on sale in December. When we checked, the 2027 ticket page listed a one day adult ticket at £21 and a three day adult ticket at £57, not yet on sale, so check the organiser's site for current prices. Children aged 10 and under are free. Show tickets are separate from your hotel booking.
Where should I stay for UK Games Expo?
The Hilton Birmingham Metropole is the organiser's partner hotel and hosts part of the show. The Genting, Crowne Plaza and Moxy hotels are on or near the NEC campus, and the organiser also suggests the airport hotels, Birmingham and Coventry, a short train ride away.
How late is UK Games Expo open?
The NEC gaming and tournament halls and the Hilton gaming areas are open until midnight on Friday and Saturday in 2027, according to the organiser. The trade halls close at 18:00 on those days.
How do I get to UK Games Expo from Birmingham Airport?
Take the free Air-Rail Link from the upper level of Terminal 1 to Birmingham International station. The NEC says it runs every two minutes and takes 90 seconds, and from the station you walk straight through to the halls.
Is Event Escapes the official UK Games Expo hotel partner?
No. The organiser names the Hilton Birmingham Metropole as its partner hotel. Event Escapes is independent and not affiliated with UK Games Expo; we show live rates across many hotels near the NEC so you can compare.
Register for your attendee badge
Your entry badge is separate from your hotel. Get it from the official UK Games Expo portal before you travel. We handle the travel; the event handles the badge.
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Which hotels are closest to NEC Birmingham?
The closest hotels to the venue with the distance, the walk or ride time and an indicative nightly rate, refreshed weekly. Live prices for your exact dates are in the booking section above. Last checked 2 November 2026.
Cheap and 3 star hotels near NEC Birmingham
| Hotel | Distance to venue | Walk or ride | From per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garner Hotel Birmingham South East by IHG★★★ | 6.8 km | ~23 min ride | £76 |
| Red Wing Lodge Hotel★★★ | 8.7 km | ~28 min ride | £63 |
More hotels close to NEC Birmingham
| Hotel | Distance to venue | Walk or ride | From per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Birmingham Metropole★★★★ | 0.4 km | ~6 min walk | £519 |
| Genting Hotel & Spa at Resorts World Birmingham★★★★ | 0.6 km | ~9 min walk | £343 |
| Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC by IHG★★★★ | 0.7 km | ~10 min walk | £303 |
| Novotel Birmingham Airport★★★★ | 0.9 km | ~13 min walk | £277 |
EventEscapes is an independent travel platform and is not affiliated with UK Games Expo or its organizers. Dates and venues can change. Verify with the official event site before booking travel.