One Western Gateway, Docklands, E16 1XL
Tel: 020 7069 5000

Excel is the Docklands version of the massive exhibition and conference spaces in Earls Court and Olympia which for years ruled unchallenged as the only space for trade shows, showcases, fairs and awards ceremonies. Excel is bigger, and arguably much better, but the difficulty of reaching it has seen shows like the Boat Show and the Brit Awards revert to West London.

If there is something on that catches your eye (a beer trade show? a comics retrospective? a compulsory work seminar?) then your efforts to get out here will be rewarded. Excel is brilliantly equipped with shops and restaurants and makes an impressive setting for a concert or exhibition.

This place has two further drawbacks: it is named after a Microsoft product that equates to soul destroying data munching. And it hosts London's shameful, world beating annual arms fair. Thanks a lot, warmongers.