When you think of accommodation near the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham UK, you probably picture a hotel. Maybe a budget Holiday Inn or even a room at Birmingham Airport. It doesn’t paint a particularly appealing picture does it? You may not realise that Annexe at the Chalet, a one-bedroomed self-contained apartment in Warwickshire is located just 20 minutes drive from the NEC. Waking each morning to stunning countryside views. Working each evening with super-fast, uninterrupted WiFi and being able to invite a guest round for a quiet coffee away from the chaos of an exhibition. Do you need any more reasons to come and stay in our fabulous self-catering accommodation?

The patio at The Annexe at the Chalet self catering accommodation 20 minutes drive from NEC Birmingham UK looking out onto Warwickshire countryside
Relax on your own private patio

National Exhibition Centre (NEC)

You’re probably checking out places to stay near the NEC because you’ve already booked an event to attend. But just in case you’re looking for inspiration, here’s some information about NEC Birmingham UK and events taking place there.

Did you know that the NEC is the biggest event space in the whole of the UK? Its central location in the Midlands makes it easy to reach from most of the country. If you’re driving, it’s in easy reach of the motorway. For those taking a train, New Street Station in Birmingham city centre is extremely well connected with other UK cities. From there, you’ll find regular transfers to Birmingham International Railway Station, which is just a 5 minute walk from the NEC. 

Birmingham International Airport is also conveniently located for accessing Birmingham NEC. From there, visitors can head to the upper level of terminal 1 and hop onto the free air link to Birmingham International Railway Station. Unbelievably, the air-rail link runs every two minutes and within just 90 seconds, you’ll be at the NEC.  

Events at NEC Birmingham UK

Every month, you’ll find a range of NEC events to suit every taste. Whilst we haven’t visited all of them, we don’t mind admitting we’ve sampled a fair few with the NEC on our doorstep. We highly recommend these events:

  • BBC Good Food Show: This takes place twice a year, in Summer and Winter. See your favourite TV chefs creating delicious recipes, sample the food from various retailers and shop for seasonal treats.
  • Grand Designs Live: Whether you’re creating your own grand home or building a more modest abode, Grand Designs Live is a great place to visit for expert advice and inspiration.
  • National Wedding Show: If you’re planning your big day, you’re going to love the National Wedding Show. Check out the latest designs on the catwalk, grab show discounts and chat to various providers.
  • Horse of the Year Show: See championship ponies and horses on show in the arena and stock up for your own equestrian endeavours in the retail village.

To find out what else is happening during your visit, head to the NEC Birmingham UK what’s on page. You can filter by category, date and whether it’s open to the public or for trade only.

Hands cutting tomatoes on a wooden work surface in a food demonstration similar to those at the BBC Good Food Show at NEC Birmingham UK
Food preparation demonstrations take place at the BBC Good Food Show

Car hire near NEC Birmingham UK

If you’re arriving in NEC Birmingham UK by public transport and staying in the stunning Annexe at the Chalet self-catering accommodation, you’re probably going to want to hire a car. If you’re arriving by plane, the airport is the easiest place to hire one. With no less than seven providers to choose from, you just need to decide whether Sixt, National, Herts, Europcar, Enterprise, Budget or Avis is your preference.

If you’re arriving in Birmingham by train, head to Birmingham International Railway Station to hire a car. If you’re keen on doing your bit for the environment, Green Motion Car Hire, the only car hire company in the UK to be totally carbon-neutral is based on Station Link Road. Avis, Easirent and Hertz all offer vehicle rental at Birmingham International too. Should you prefer to pick up a vehicle in the city, most of the main car hire companies have a base near to Birmingham New Street station too.

Accommodation Near NEC Birmingham UK

Staying at Annexe at the Chalet

If a Birmingham hotel doesn’t appeal to you, why not make yourself comfortable in our stunning self-catering apartment in Warwickshire? Just 20 minutes drive from the NEC, you will find our newly built accommodation with separate entrance and parking. Fancy an evening walk in the countryside after a busy day? Simply step outside into miles of walking routes. We have extremely fast and reliable WiFi too, so if you need to work outside of conference hours, Annexe at the Chalet is the ideal choice.

Whether you decide to stay a night or two during your conference, or extend your stay to take a short break in Warwickshire, we know you’ll be delighted that you chose to stay with us. We are conveniently located near to Stratford Upon Avon, so anyone with an interest in Shakespeare will delight in the opportunity to explore his home town.

If you’re wondering whether our stunning accommodation is right for your stay, head to the Short Breaks in Warwickshire homepage to check out our customer reviews.

Kitchen with wooden work surface, white cupboards and sink and window with view to the countryside outside
Beautiful self-catering accommodation at The Annexe at the Chalet

Other accommodation near NEC Birmingham UK

If you would prefer to stay closer to the conference centre, here are some other accommodation options near NEC Birmingham UK. There are a variety of United Kingdom hotels based locally, many of which are chains that offer deals periodically.

If you’re hoping to stay really close to the NEC, you can’t go wrong with the Genting Hotel, the only hotel at the Resorts World Arena. It’s a spa hotel, so make sure you get your treatments booked to round off your day at the conference centre nicely.

Other hotels near Resorts World Birmingham include:

Parking at NEC Birmingham UK

If you’re coming to stay with us at the Annexe, you’re going to want to have a car. So, it’s useful to know your options for parking at the NEC. The first thing to bear in mind is that some conference tickets will automatically include parking. So, double check your ticket before sorting out parking.

Thankfully, it’s highly unlikely the NEC will run out of parking spaces, with a total of 16,500 on offer. Even so, it may be worth looking into pre-paid options. You can book in advance, pay online, select your space and get a reduced rate. The earlier you book, the bigger the discount. Due to being located a short distance from the motorway, the NEC is easy to get to by car. Even if you don’t pre-book parking, you should find it easy to pay for it when you arrive. Electric charging points, coach, minibus and motorcycle parking are all available too.

Once you’ve parked up, you’ll be able to jump on a shuttle bus straight to the door of the conference centre. These run all day, but if you’d prefer to walk then the route is well signposted and has subways to avoid the roads. If you’ve got questions about NEC parking that aren’t covered here, check out the NEC website.

Extending your work trip to NEC Birmingham

Things to do in and around Birmingham

If you’re intending to explore the Birmingham area during your stay at the NEC, there are absolutely loads of attractions worthy of your time. I’ve included a few seasonal delights in the list, so do make sure your chosen activity is taking place at the time of your visit. These are only brief recommendations, so website links are included so you can find out full details.

  • National Motorcycle Museum: The largest museum of motorbikes in the world. Celebrates motorcycle manufacturing in the UK. A must-visit attraction for motorbike enthusiasts!
  • Frankfurt Christmas Market Birmingham: Packed full of craft stalls, mulled cider, gluhwein, staggeringly good doughnuts and other snacks. Get into the festive spirit and stock up on gifts.
  • Black Country Living Museum: Black Country history brought to life in an interactive museum. Experience what it was like to live in Victorian Birmingham thanks to restored buildings, actors, games, food and drink.
  • Birmingham Back to Backs: National Trust attraction that needs to be pre-booked. Find out how the working class lived from the 1840s to the 1970s on a guided tour.
  • Bull Ring and Grand Central shopping centres: A shopper’s paradise, Bull Ring and Grand Central can both be accessed from Birmingham New Street station without even venturing outside.
  • Cadbury World: Learn all you need to know about the history of chocolate in an interactive museum and sample a few tasty delights. Check the website for shows and events taking place during your visit.

A short break in Warwickshire

If you decide to stay with us at The Annexe, we guarantee you’re going to want to see more of our beautiful countryside and quaint Warwickshire towns. Check out our Local Area page for recommendations of where to eat, drink and visit during your stay.