How Can We Help?

Please find answers to some of our most frequently asked questions below. If your query is not answered, please get in touch. For all ticket enquiries, including amending your current order, please contact Customer Service by clicking the link here.

For more information and to book pre-paid parking click here.

Tickets for members of The Quilters’ Guild will be available for purchase from 11am on Tuesday 12th March. General release for admission tickets, workshops, talks and lectures will begin at 11am on Wednesday 20th March – for 24-hour priority access, sign up to our newsletter here.

Please check your junk mail. If you definitely don’t have them, you can request duplicates to be resent using this link from See Tickets:
https://thefestivalofquilts.seetickets.com/customerservice

The show is open from 1st – 4th August 2024. Opening hours are as follows:
Thursday – 9:30am – 5.30pm
Friday – 9:30am – 5.30pm
Saturday – 9:30am – 5.30pm
Sunday – 9:30am – 5:00pm

The show takes place at The NEC, Birmingham.

The show can be easily reached by train, bus, coach, plane or car. 

Click here for full details on how to get to the show

The NEC has 16,500 car park spaces available. Once you’ve parked you can either take a free shuttle bus or walk to the halls 7, 8 and 9 using our sign posted footpaths. Please note that the North car parks are likely to be the ones used for The Festival of Quilts, all car parks are signposted.

Please note the NEC have recently increased their parking fees, so we strongly advice you book your space in advance to save.

The advance parking prices is £13.95, on the day parking is £18.95, and visitor express parking is £24.95.

Visit www.thenec.co.uk/visitors/parking-at-the-nec for more information and to book your space. Pre-pay for parking online before the day of your visit and you can make a saving of £5.

The NEC is accessible to disabled visitors.

Disabled parking spaces will be offered inside Hall 6, which brings you as close to the Hall 7 show entrance as you can get. There will be plenty of spaces available for blue badge holders.

Please book via the NEC in the normal way using this link and remember that you save £5 by booking in advance. 

Please display your Blue Badge clearly in your vehicle. You will be directed to the nearest disabled car park – where you can be dropped off and picked up at the end of your visit. Please note there is £13.95 charge for pre-booked parking – please see our travel page for more parking details.

Please note, you should bring your Blue Badge with you, even if you are arriving by taxi.

If you are being dropped off by taxi/private hire or a friend or family, enter via Gate 3 – if you have a blue badge you will be directed to drop-off outside the Atrium, if you don’t have a blue badge you will be directed to taxi drop-off point in N1b.

The NEC have a fleet of mobility equipment available to hire on a first come, first serve basis. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

Unfortunately due to the current circumstances, they are unable to facilitate telephone bookings at this time. However, you can email your enquiry to [email protected], and a member of their team will contact you within three working days.

Wheelchairs are available free of charge for blue badge holders and £5 for all other visitors. The number of wheelchairs we have available is limited, so if you’ve got your own, please bring it with you.

Scooters are available for £15 per hire for all visitors.

For any visitors who have not pre-booked equipment and arrive on the day, any remaining stock will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Collection can be made at Atrium 2 main entrance (very close to the two show entrances)

Please note: Mobility equipment hire is only available during show open times and we only accept payment by card for any equipment hired.

When accompanying somebody in the capacity of carer, your entry to the show is free of charge.


Carers assisting visitors with a registered disability can select a free carer ticket when booking tickets online or at the show.

Please bring proof of eligibility with you to show on arrival, such as:

• DLA/DWP/PIP award letter

• A Blue Badge

• International Proof of Disability (ISA (international symbol of access) or similar must be printed on it)

All visiting guests except for the carer require a purchased ticket.

The carer themselves must pre-book their entry with the paid admission ticket.

The carer will be allowed access to the VIP lounge but are not entitled to any additional benefits associated with the VIP package.

Yes, assistance dogs are welcome at the show.

Yes, although we do not provide any childminding or crèche facilities. Entry is FREE for children aged 5 – 18, although you will need to order a ticket on our website, or at the Box Office when you arrive on site. Under 5s do not require a ticket.

Cloakrooms will operate but visitors are encouraged to only bring what is essential. Coats will be deposited into a bag prior to being held in the cloakroom. The cloakrooms will take card payments only – £2 per coat or umbrella and £3 per bag or luggage. 

There are no cash machines available within the NEC. Your closest cash machine will be at the train station. Please note the NEC is a cashless venue – cash will be accepted inside the show.

Unfortunately we do not have a floorplan available before the show. However, you can purchase a Show Guide online to be posted prior to the show, or pick one up when you arrive at the show for £7.

Show guides are posted one week prior to the event. If you have not received your show guide within four days of the event please contact us on [email protected].

If you are attending a workshop on Tuesday 1st or Wednesday 2nd August, parking is free and you do not need to book your space.

There will be signage around the site directing you to designated parking in N1a car park via Gate 3.

Please note that you will need an entry ticket for the show as well as your workshop ticket when buying Quick and Easy Classes, Lectures/talks and some Academy classes (those AC1 and AC2).

Yes, workshop tickets are sold online.

Please follow this link for more Workshop information

Please visit the Workshop Booking Desk when you arrive to check availability. Please note tickets are sold on a first come first serve basis and are non-refundable.

If you have booked a Quick & Easy workshop all your materials will be provided for you.

If you have booked an Academy class it will say on your email confirmation whether a supply list is needed – supply lists will be available soon.

For some classes you will need to pay a fee to the tutor for materials, please bring this in cash (again this would of been indicated in your email confirmation) and for some Academy classes everything will be provided for you within the price of the class.

N.B sewing machines are provided for every class that requires them.

As usual, rucksacks larger than 55 x 40 x 20cm will not be permitted into the venue.

The reason for the ban is to help protect the quilts from damage. You can leave bags in the cloakroom for a small fee.

2024 Shuttle Bus route will be confirmed soon.

Customer safety remains a priority at our shows and bag checks on entry to the venue will take place – so please allow a little extra time. These checks are taking place as you enter the building (not the show itself), so there shouldn’t be any more congestion or delays than usual at the entrance. You will be allowed to take any personal belongings with you to the show (including refreshments, cameras etc).

There won’t be a separate entrance for disabled visitors, but disabled visitors / wheelchair users will be given priority access at both entrances (hall 7 and 9).

The transaction fee covers the costs of processing your order, producing your tickets, and in the case
of postal delivery, the packing and delivery of the tickets to you.


The fee applies to postal, print at home and e-tickets to cover the costs of: credit card fees; ticketing technology; onsite scanning staff, customer services and administration, all of which are involved in the processing, production and issuing of your tickets as well as safe and secure access to the event.


We are doing all we can to manage these costs amidst all costs rising to deliver events and constantly reviewing fees and the customer experience and value for money at our events.


The transaction fee applies per order not per ticket. For example, if you purchase six tickets, you only
pay one transaction fee.