Welcome to the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022 at the NEC in Birmingham! We get asked lots of questions about visiting the show about car parking, mobility scooter hire and more. Join me now as we unpack some of the answers to those regularly asked questions.
Arriving at The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022
When you arrive at the Motorhome and Caravan Show by road, you’re directed into the NEC off the M42. Just follow the signs to the Motorhome and Caravan Show car parking.
The car parking is free. When you’ve parked, make a note of the green pillar number car park you’re in – we’re here in N2 Zone E – or make a What Three Words location pin or whatever you do to remember where on earth you parked your vehicle because these car parks here will be rammed every day. It is an easy walk into the halls, and there is a free shuttle bus that will get you there as well. If you prefer to take the bus, they run every 10 minutes or so. It’s about a 10-minute walk from most car parks into the halls.
If you’re coming by rail, Birmingham International railway station is the station to get to. Look out for our Motorhome Matt posters all around the railway station. The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2022 has sold out for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So if you are coming on other days, make sure you buy a ticket before you come in case it was to sell out on your way here.
Toilets and cloakrooms
Now, on arrival, there is a cloakroom where for just a pound you can leave your coat, your bag, your husband or your wife. In fact, someone yesterday tried to leave their husband for a pound, I’m told!
And then all around the atrium are the toilets – just look for the illuminated toilet signs. They’re free to use. They’re all over the atrium. The show is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
Matt’s top tip: bring a bag
My advice is to bring a bag – my top tip – is either something on wheels or something you can carry. We are an industry that loves brochures. You will collect loads of goodies and things to put in a bag. If you don’t come with one, head to our stand in Hall Nine where our guys are giving away tote bags for free. They’ve got some goodies in and they are really handy to carry your brochures in and use next week when you go shopping.
The show guidebook
Now, when you arrive at the show there is a free show guide. It’s absolutely brilliant. The official show guide is entirely free of charge. Every exhibitor is in it. There’s lots of information inside and there are plans for the show floor as well so you can make sure you can find who you’re looking for and you don’t get lost.
Mobility Scooters
One of the questions we often get asked is, ‘Can I book a mobility scooter for my trip to the show?’ The answer is yes, but you must pre-book it and you do that on the NEC website – not the Motorhome and Caravan show website. Head to the NEC website, head to accessibility and you can book your mobility scooter, you can book a wheelchair and you can book a parking space in the disabled car park as well.
The mobility scooters are £15 to hire for the day, £5 for a wheelchair or if you are a blue badge holder, the wheelchairs are free but they are limited in number. It’s really important you pre-book and don’t turn up hoping you can just get one.
When you arrive at the disabled carpark, the NEC offer a free shuttle service that will bring you here to the entrance to Hall Nine to the visitor and business centre where you can then collect your mobility scooter.
Now, I’m not quite ready for one yet, but I have to say I am tempted.
Where to eat
And what about food while you’re here at the show? You may want to bring a packed lunch, and that’s absolutely fine. You’ll find the entire show turns into a picnic site as people sit on anything and everything to eat their lunch.
When you arrive, there’s a Londis here if you fancy a quick bit of chocolate. Behind me, you’ll see there’s a Starbucks. There’s a Wetherspoons maybe for the end of the day and there’s a Cornish bakery over there. Around the show halls, there are also NEC food concessionary outlets too, so there is a lot of choice. If you visit this part of the atrium, make sure you look up!
Free towing experience with The Camping and Caravanning Club
A popular feature at the Motorhome and Caravan Show is the free towing experience. So if you fancy doing just that and you’ve never done it before, you can do so here at the show outside Hall Eighteen. Come along and join Jeep and the Camping and Caravanning Club and tow a caravan completely for free. Pre-booking is all fully booked, so you can’t pre-book. You just turn up and walk in – a bit like my hairdresser.
So if you fancy having a go head outside of Hall Eighteen, you can tow a caravan and have a fantastic holiday experience here at the NEC.
Matt catches up with Nick Harding, Freelance Journalist
Matt Sims
I’m here with an industry celebrity – a proper unknown celebrity. This is Nick Harding. Now, if you’ve ever read the Camping and Caravanning Club magazine, Caravan Club magazine, MMM and Practical Motorhome, then you have read Nick’s words. Nick, how are you doing?
Nick Harding
Oh, very well, thank you. You’ve made me sound very old.
Matt Sims
Well, you are old!
Nick Harding
I’ll be sixty in November.
Matt Sims
Oh, my goodness.
Nick Harding
I have to say, I’ve been reporting on this industry for three decades now.
Matt Sims
Three decades and you’re still running around the aisles before the show opens! Now, I know you’ve got loads to do before the show opens so thank you for stopping and talking to me. I just want to ask you, what’s the highlight of the show for you this year?
Nick Harding
Well, there are loads of good vehicles here, Matt – caravans and motorhomes, campervans, trailer tents, folding campers, you name it. But I have to say the main highlight is just seeing people back here at the show loving life, looking to place orders and looking to get out there and just have a great time.
See Matt on the expert panel
Matt Sims
If you’re looking for inspiration whilst you’re at the show, then make sure you head to the Inspiration Theatre located in Hall Nine. The programme changes every day, but it features people like our friend Kat Bird. She’s talking about travelling the Norwegian fjords and going to Europe with a dog. Andrew is talking about towing a caravan with an electric car and what the future might hold there, and the expert panel are on every day.
I’m on that panel on Saturday and Sunday, so if you’ve got questions that you want to ask the panel make sure you submit them on our website – www.motorhomematt.co.uk/askmatt. The questions will get submitted to Rowland Rivron who’s hosting the sessions and we the panel will make sure we try and answer them. I’ll see you there!
