Caravan Motorhome show NEC 12-17 sept

[Bever]

going up on the Sunday, never been before.
have 2 alternatives either go up sunday morning in the car or go up saturday in the van and park up overnight.
coming from Bristol so no difficulties was wondering though best place to park. Is overnight parking allowed at the NEC

 

[AndyC]

You are unlikely to get away with stopping overnight at the NEC, I saw a campervan clamped there one year...

I know someone who used to park in the National Motorcycle Museum car park several years ago, no idea if it's still possible.

AndyC

 

[Kontiki]

I think the caravan club has an area you can camp but its expensive. Thinking of going ourselves, been entering competitions to see if we can win tickets. We were at the Shepton show last week & one of the dealers gave us his mobile number to call if we go to the show & he said he could get us in (will use it if we don't manage to win any tickets) We did tell him we wanted to buy a new van (maybe let him think he had us on the hook )

 

[AndyC]

Yes, it is expensive, the Caravan Club are charging £27.50 per night, inc electric and 'entertainment'

AndyC

 

[Tigatigatiger]

After hearing about people been clamped for over non offical overnight parking, we have bit the bullet and have paid for 2 nights parking. We are meeting up with my sister and hubby so are going make a weekend of it.

My sister&hubby are thinking/planning to order a brand new MH, so we'll be able to hit the buyers lounge! We'll hit the bar anyway-we always do! Last year at 10.30 in the morning (we had been up a while, our body clocks all messed up), and we very nearly brought a brand new MH.

Last year we got there as it openned which was great as we got to see every MH we wanted to see before the crowds got in (we than decided on a secondhand one). So if you are planning to buy big time £27 per night is small fry against a £40,000 MH.

 

[Kontiki]

To me £27 is £27 (thats the price of a good bottle of malt or a couple of cheap ones) no matter what you are buying it's a rip off for overnight parking on a car park.
Always wonder if you turn up after midnight & park, are you overnight parking if not what time can you arrive & it be classed that you are parking for the day . We are looking for getting somewhere close then plan to arrive there early before the crowds. We have in the past stayed at the Civil Service cub nearby for a fiver a night but don't have the guys phone number to call, so I don't know f they still do it.

 

[AndyC]

I struggle to justify £15 inc electricity and have not done it all year yet but £27 and possibly buying a van, No way
They should pay you to park there if you are considering a major purchase

I tend to agree, the price of camping at the NEC is a rip off. I'd like to know how much the NEC charges the club for the use of the car parks though. I guess they have to hire in the marquee for the bar and entertainment, plus pay the acts, but I understand that all the hookup equipment, with the exception of the generators, is owned by the club and that the wardens are volunteers.

On the other hand they've filled the camping every year so far, except for the early part of the week last year, so I guess they charge what they can get away with.

As a contrast the big caravan and motorhome show at Dusseldorf charges €22 with hookup or €15 without, and that's only between 8am and 4pm, you can stay free for the nights before and after the day that you've paid for.

AndyC

 

[Kontiki]

You forgot to mention that the Dusseldorf show is far better, you can also use the public transport to go into the city for free when you buy a ticket for the show.