Olympia London is now just called Olympia. The venue says so itself, and the rename matters more than it sounds, because the thing that used to be a pair of exhibition halls is now a whole district with a 3,800 capacity music venue, two hotels, a rooftop full of restaurants and a theatre still to come. If a ticket or an old listing says Olympia London, it means the same place: the Heritage Halls, which are the Grand Hall, the National Hall and the West Hall.
We read Olympia’s own pages on 10 October 2026.
What opened, and when
The £1.3 billion rebuild of the 140 year old site has been opening in waves. The rooftop, called the Canopy, opened on 15 June 2026 with Bar Arriba, a Mexican bar, Wolves of Tokyo, a Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar, and Lillie’s, which does British small plates with English sparkling wine. The Canopy also holds Arbour, a food hall with four outlets: Fry Baby, The Rambler, Whammy Burger and Café Modo.
British Airways ARC, the 3,800 capacity music venue run by AEG Presents, opened on 16 June 2026 with two nights of Self Esteem. Pillar Hall, a Grade II* listed building from 1886 opposite Kensington (Olympia) station, holds the all day restaurant Idalia and a speakeasy style bar called Pepperbird.
What has not opened yet
Two things are still ahead, and both have been reported with the wrong dates elsewhere.
Upstairs at Pillar Hall, a music and events space for 500 plus, is described by Olympia itself as opening in spring 2027. Several trade reports said it was due in autumn 2026, which has now passed. The British Airways Theatre, at 1,575 seats and billed as London’s largest new permanent theatre in 50 years, opens in 2027, run by Trafalgar Entertainment with Broadway’s Shubert Organization. Olympia calls it the grand finale of its openings.
On the hotels, the operator’s own announcement gives 6 July 2026 for the 204 room Hyatt Regency London Olympia, while earlier trade coverage had said 26 May. The 146 room citizenM London Olympia, inside the listed National Hall, was given only as expected in early summer, and we found no confirmation that it has opened.
Getting in: the practical rules
Bag searches run at many events, and Olympia’s advice is blunter than most venues: do not bring a bag at all if you can avoid it, because it slows your entry. There is a cloakroom during events. Support dogs are welcome and other pets are not.
Parking has to be pre-booked, and Olympia recommends doing it more than 24 hours ahead. The price varies with how long you stay. Vans and lorries up to 7.5 tonnes can park, in limited numbers, but there is no coach parking at all: the nearest coach facility the venue names is Wembley, which is a long way to leave a coach. Most payments on site are by card, though the venue notes it depends on the event, and there are cash machines nearby.
Access
Ramps and lifts serve all main entrances, including the Grand Hall, National Hall and West Hall, the ICC, Pillar Hall and Level 2, with passenger lifts to upper floors. Accessible parking in the Motorail Car Park can be pre-booked, including wide Blue Badge bays, with step-free access from the car park to the entrances.
One exception is worth knowing in advance: the Grand Hall cloakroom is downstairs and is not step-free, although staff will help if you ask. Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed for events in the Halls if you book ahead through the contact page. Accessible toilets run throughout, including unisex and modified cubicles, and the ICC has a Changing Places facility with a hoist, hearing loops, low level reception desks and rooms that can be used for prayer, nursing or quiet time.
Companion tickets are not handled by Olympia. The venue tells you to check the event’s own booking page, or Ticketmaster for live music and sport, which means the answer changes show by show. British Airways ARC works with Attitude Is Everything and Nimbus Disability and has its own access page.
What is on
The halls still run the big consumer shows. The Baby Show is on 23 to 25 October 2026 in the Grand Hall, the Spirit of Christmas Fair runs 2 to 8 November and the Ideal Christmas Show 26 to 29 November, both in the Grand Hall, with the Luxury Travel Fair, What University? and a Match Attax half term event in the National Hall. At British Airways ARC, the Reytons play on 24 October 2026, Khalid in the autumn and Snarky Puppy on 21 April 2027.
Olympia
- Address
- Olympia, Hammersmith Road, London W14
- Nearest
- Kensington (Olympia), opposite Pillar Hall
- Hours
- By event. Olympia says to check the event page, because some shows use timed entry
- Booking
- Through each event's own ticketing, not through Olympia. Companion tickets are handled by the event or Ticketmaster rather than the venue
- Price
- Entry varies by event. Parking is charged by length of stay and should be pre-booked more than 24 hours ahead
- Standing
- The renamed Olympia London, now a district around the Heritage Halls with British Airways ARC, a rooftop of restaurants, two hotels and a theatre opening in 2027
How to get in
Bag searches run at many events and the venue advises bringing no bag. Support dogs are welcome and other pets are not. There is no coach parking, with the nearest at Wembley. The Grand Hall cloakroom is downstairs and not step-free
Where to go next
The Titanic exhibition was held here and has finished, and ExCeL is the other big exhibition venue.
Westfield London is the nearest shopping centre, and Holland Park is a short walk away.
Questions we get asked
Is Olympia the same as Olympia London?
Yes. Olympia is the new name for what was Olympia London, the historic Heritage Halls in West London, which are the Grand Hall, the National Hall and the West Hall. They are now part of a wider destination with music, dining and hotels.
What is British Airways ARC?
A 3,800 capacity live music and entertainment venue at Olympia, operated by AEG Presents. It opened on 16 June 2026 with two nights of Self Esteem.
When does the theatre at Olympia open?
In 2027. The British Airways Theatre seats 1,575 and is billed as London's largest new permanent theatre in 50 years, run by Trafalgar Entertainment with the Shubert Organization. Olympia calls it the grand finale of its openings.
Can you park at Olympia?
Yes, but pre-book it, and the venue recommends doing so more than 24 hours ahead. The cost depends on how long you stay. Vans and lorries up to 7.5 tonnes have limited spaces, and there is no coach parking at Olympia, with the nearest at Wembley.
Is Olympia wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Ramps and lifts serve all main entrances including the Heritage Halls, the ICC, Pillar Hall and Level 2, with accessible parking that can be pre-booked and step-free access from the car park. The Grand Hall cloakroom is downstairs and not step-free, but staff will assist.
Can you take a bag into Olympia?
Yes, but bag searches run at many events and the venue advises not bringing one if you can avoid it, to speed up entry. There is a cloakroom during events.
What is on at Olympia?
The Baby Show runs 23 to 25 October 2026, the Spirit of Christmas Fair 2 to 8 November and the Ideal Christmas Show 26 to 29 November, all in the Grand Hall. At British Airways ARC, the Reytons play 24 October 2026 and Snarky Puppy on 21 April 2027.
Written by Robert J Wills, no. 426 in the guide.
Last checked 10 October 2026 against the venues' own published information. Nobody pays to appear here and we take no bookings.
