CCW editor David Simister shares his tips on getting the most value out of your NEC visit
BOOK IT IN ADVANCE
Turn up at the NEC and an adult ticket will cost you anywhere between £37 and £43.50, depending on which day you go – but order online and you get advance day tickets starting at £33.50. There are also advance ticket deals for multiple-day passes which are around £10 cheaper than booking them on the day.
LET THE TRAIN TAKE THE STRAIN
Birmingham International is adjacent to the NEC and has regular services to much of the country – we’ve saved plenty of cash in previous years both by travelling directly to the event and staying at the nearby village of Balsall Common and hopping on commuter services rather than driving straight to the NEC.
AVOID PARKING ON SITE
The biggest complaint we hear about the NEC is the £16.95 day charge to use the car parks, which isn’t controlled by show organisers. You can save £5 per day if you book in advance but we found advance deals for both Birmingham International railway station and Birmingham Airport, both near to the NEC.
SHARE THE DRIVING…
It makes sense to share with a friend or family member if possible, not only to halve the fuel costs but also to avoid having to pay the NEC’s parking charges for multiple cars. Agree beforehand who’s doing the driving and how any costs are being divvied up – and make sure that any co-drivers are covered to drive your car.
…AND DON’T TAKE A CLASSIC
We don’t think there’s much benefit in splashing out on the additional fuel and preparation costs of bringing your classic along if it’s just going to sit in a remote corner of the NEC, surrounded by Nissan Qashqais. Plenty of classics are driven to and from the show but these are cars taking part in the event.
JOIN A CLASSIC CAR CLUB
Do talk to the clubs displaying classics at show – particularly if you’re thinking of buying or restoring one – because their advice is invaluable. It’s also worth asking about signing up – some clubs offer discounted rates for signing up during the show so it m
