Anywhere Near the NEC

[Kontiki]

Anybody know of somewhere to overnight within about 10/15 miles of the NEC, we will be coming from the North Wales area. Going to the show later this month, won tickets through another camping / caravanning forum . We also won tickets for the Shepton show so we must be on a winning streak .

Noticed that there are a lot of competitions for tickets for the show this year, just as well with the cost of over £19 If anybody wants to save some cash on pre booking just enter the promo code TCC11 (see how much you can get off )

 

[waggi]

Hi ED,we are thinking of going in the van and just looked at the camp site--£27.50-rip off or wot!!!. We're going down to Stratford coach park (behind the leisure centre off the one way system) its about £3-4 anite (if you have a blue badge its free(or was).Might pay to get there early as its popular.May see you there.Mick.

 

[Kontiki]

Stratford is a bit out of the way for us as we are coming more from the Nrth West direction but thanks anyway. I have stayed at the Civil Service club at Solihull previously but I think it's been taken over by a compulsory purchase order for the airport. Might have to try to find a quiet lay by as not finding anything better.

 

[waggi]

Hi ED again.I have an alternative,I.m a truck driver and use this location regularly,try google maps on canton lane,hams hall,go towards the bottom end past BMW and is quite.You'll find at weekends there will only be a few trucks down there.The good thing is its just off junction 9 m42 and within 5 miles of the NEC.Thinking about it I might have given myself a good idea as well.We only live 40mins from the NEC but use the van as much as poss.Mick.

 

[Kontiki]

Been looking on Google Maps & there seems to be quite a few large laybys on the A491 A491 Layby this was one I found & there seemd to be a few more along that stretch & it's only about 20 miles away.

We will be going down on Wednesday night, thinking that Thursday might be the quieter day.

Is this the place you are on about Canton Lane I'll keep it as a back up in case we don't find the layby's suitable.

 

[waggi]

Hi ED,yes its the place,if you take a look on google satellite the pointer takes you to the bottom near sainsburys cold store,go to the bottom and turn round and try to park past the first car park entrance on the left.Its normally quite after 10ish at nite not many if any boy racers and no constant traffic.Have a nice time,we're not going until sat and sun(just ordered roamer ticket).ttfn Mick.

 

[waggi]

ED,I've just looked at the layby,I can't comment on that one but looking at its location is a bit off track if your coming from the m54/m6.Unless your on a mystery tour lol.

 

[Kontiki]

We are coming from Wrexham, so we tend to head towards Shrewsbury then Bridgnorth. After that we can get on the M42 & head up towards the NEC. I think it is slightly further to get to the NEC rather than from M54 / M6 route but we were looking for somewhere to overnight & there looked to be more opportunities that way.

I found what looked to be some nice car parks in the Clent Hills that would have been ideal for wildcamping but a quick search of the web showed they are popular dogging spots

 

[vera]

Wildimg near NEC

A friend of our stayed over in the Premier Inn car park last year before visiting the NEC.
He said he was told it would be ok if he was using the bar.
I have looked on their website and there is one 6 miles away.

Premier Inn Balsall Common (Near NEC) Hotel UK

might be worth a call
Sue

 

[Kontiki]

Just had another set of tickets from another competition so might now go for 2 days not so much of a rush then. Might be worth giving the Premier Inn a call for one night, I see a room is from 29 pound a night thats not much different to what the CC are charging to park on the car park Either that or have a look for a MH friendly pub for a meal & overnight stay.

 

[Kontiki]

Stayed at the large layby near to Clent on the way down, lot of wagons there but enough space for us to get in. The show was quite good (still not worth the price they were asking for the tickets though) ended up staying the night at a nearby Toby Carvery Stonebridge Island about 2 miles from the NEC. Asked if it would be ok to stay if we had a meal & a drink but was told that we could stay without feeling obliged to do so . We had decided that we would have a meal though but when we went in they had very little choice, they only had chicken in the carvery & no pies left, in fact not much at all as they had been very busy so in the end settled for going back to the van for a pizza. There were about another 4 vans also stayed the night.
Thought the show was quieter than in previous years, nice to see that they had plenty of places to sit inside the show, we even found a couple of the picnic tables. Makes a change from people having to sit on the floor.