Our history
The building of London’s Royal Docks introduced a new world of commerce to the capital.
The docks drew produce and people from all over the world; they survived the bombings of World War II but the final challenge was the creation of containerised cargo.
This far more efficient method of moving goods required much larger ships that could not navigate down as far as the Royal Docks. Gradually the Royal Docks business fell into decline. Despite the difficulties, they survived longer than any other upstream docks finally closing to commercial traffic in 1981.
ExCeL London opened in November 2000, in an area of huge regeneration in London’s historic Royal Docks. Today, ExCeL London has been at the forefront of the regeneration. Every year the venue hosts over 400 events, welcoming 40,000 exhibiting companies and over 4 million people, from across the globe. Events hosted at ExCeL are responsible for delivering £4.5bn in economic impact to London, supporting 37,600 jobs and driving 25% of London’s inbound business tourists.
See the story of how Royal Victoria Dock has emerged to become a hive of industry and activity once again.
1855
The Royal Victoria Dock site, on which ExCeL London will later sit, is opened by Prince Albert as a working dock
1921
King George V Dock opens — the Royal Docks are now the largest enclosed docks in the world
1945
End of World War II — re-building begins across the docks
1981
The docks close; the result of a culmination of factors including containerisation, the increased popularity of air cargo and the move of manufacturing industries away from the river to cheaper locations
1986
Work begins on London City Airport
1988
The Association of Exhibition Organisers (aeo) approaches architect Ray Moxley to locate and design a new exhibition and conference centre within the M25; the Royal Victoria Dock site is found in 1990
2000
ExCeL London opens in November, as one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects
2002
10 millionth passenger uses London City Airport
2004
London International Boat Show held at ExCeL London for the first time
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2005
London wins the bid to host the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games
2009
London’s first International Convention Centre, ICC London, is launched and endorsed by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and London’s Convention Bureau
2010
In May, ICC London opens — on time and on budget
2011
In November, ExCeL opens a new 252 bedroom Starwood Aloft hotel
2011
Westfield Stratford City opens — the largest urban shopping centre in Europe
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2012
ExCeL London is the most complex venue in the history of the modern Olympic Games playing host to 7 Olympic and 6 Paralympic events in the London 2012 Olympic Games
2012
Emirates Air Line Cable Car opens linking ExCeL and The O2
2013
The Connaught Tunnel is enlarged and strengthened to carry Crossrail between Canning Town and Woolwich
2014
ExCeL welcomes its 20 millionth visitor
2015
ExCeL London plays host to Europe’s largest medical association meeting for the European Society of Cardiology
2016
Launch of CentrEd at ExCeL, a brand new training and meeting facility with spaces for 20 to 400 delegates
2017
Events hosted at ExCeL are responsible for delivering £4.5bn in economic impact, supporting 37,600 jobs.
2018
World Travel Market had their largest show ever. Open over 3 days, welcoming 93,000 visitors, 7,500 exhibitors and 120 tourism ministers from around the world.
2019
Launched our No Plastic Campaign. Refill your bottle of one of our water refill stations.
2020
ExCeL London becomes NHS Nightingale, a temporary hospital in the national fight against coronavirus
