6-9 March 2025, The NEC Birmingham

Show Information

If you are planning to visit the world's greatest dog show, please browse this section to find answers to any questions you may have about Crufts or the NEC.

 

Please note that unfortunately no dogs other than those that have been invited by The Kennel Club and assistance dogs are permitted into the show.

Accommodation

Click here for information on accommodation whilst visiting Crufts.

Arena seating

Admission tickets now include arena seating for up to 6,000 visitors, apart from the best in show programme which requires an additional ticket (subject to availability).

Bank

There are cash machines available at Birmingham International Station and the Resorts World.

Children's crèche

There will not be a children's crèche available during the show this year.

Cloakrooms

They are situated in the Piazza at the NEC near the main entrance. Luggage can also be left here.

Crufts press centre

The Crufts press centre is situated in the Toute Suite in front of the main doors at the NEC and facilities are available to accredited press only.

Dogs

Please note that unfortunately no dogs, other than those that have been invited by The Kennel Club and Assistance Dogs, are permitted into the show. 

Disabled access

Crufts seek to provide equal opportunity for all to enjoy the show and facilities.

Please visit the NEC website for information such as access, parking and wheelchair hire.

Export enquiries

The Kennel Club’s main information stand are able to deal with all export enquiries.

First-aid centre

There is a first aid centre situated on the Piazza at the NEC.

No smoking

Please note that it is against the law to smoke anywhere inside the NEC and within any enclosed areas of the NEC.

Opening times

The halls are open from 8.15am until 6.30pm (Thursday to Saturday).

On Sunday, the halls close at 6.00pm.

Parking

Parking charges at the NEC per day (payable on the day) are:

  • Cars - £17.95
  • Minibuses - £21.50
  • Coaches - £29.95

If you prepay for your car parking in advance, cars are charged at £12.95. 

Download map of the car park

Prams

Prams or push-chairs may be admitted and wheeled around the show. The organisers reserve the right to refuse entry to prams or push-chairs if it is felt that the halls are overcrowded.

Private filming and photography

Commercial cinematography and television equipment may only be used at Crufts if press accreditation has been issued by the organisers.

Crufts and The Kennel Club are happy for you to take photos, videos and recordings during your visit for your own personal use as souvenirs of your day at Crufts. However, there are certain restriction on the use of cameras for still photography and recording equipment.

Please be aware that all videos and footage taken by The Kennel Club remains copyright of The Kennel Club who will have the right to claim (i.e. monetise) any video containing any such material which is uploaded to the web. If you incorporate such material then your video may be claimed and, in certain circumstances, you may be requested to remove it from YouTube.

The reason we are now doing this is that we are providing extensive live free coverage of Crufts on YouTube and the small amount of revenue we get from adverts on claimed videos on YouTube helps to pay for this service.

Please note: no private filming, photography or recording of any sort is allowed during the best in show section of the arena programme at Crufts.

Official Crufts prints and print products can be purchased online.

Queries

If you have any queries about Crufts, please telephone: +44 (0) 1296 318540 or via email.

Restaurants

Several food and drink outlets will be open to the public during the opening hours of the show. For further details please visit the NEC website.

Results

For all Crufts results visit our Results hub

Travelling to Crufts

Map of the NEC, car park and surrounding area
As The Kennel Club continues to plan the show, a layout of the stands, displays rings and competition rings will be made available.

The show is held at the NEC in halls 1, 2, 3, 3A, 4, 5 and the arena.

Download Map here

Road
The NEC is served by the M6 and M42 motorways and there are extensive car parking facilities on site. For the convenience of the public, shuttle buses operate from the carparks to the main entrance. 

For satnav users the NEC postcode is B40 1NT.

Please note that parking charges at the NEC per day (payable on the day) are:

  • Cars - £17.95
  • Minibuses - £21.50
  • Coaches - £29.95

If you prepay for your car parking in advance, cars are charged at £12.95. 

Download map of the car park

London Northwestern Railway

London Northwestern Railway runs services through the heart of England, connecting London, the Midlands and the North West.

Visit www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk to book train tickets for any national rail journey with advance fares from just £5 – there are no fees and their cheapest fare finder will help you get the best deal.

CrossCountry Trains
CrossCountry runs services to Birmingham from the North East, Manchester, the South coast, the South West and Wales. To buy tickets from anywhere in Great Britain to Birmingham visit www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk and save.

Please check the website for the latest train running information. Unfortunately, CrossCountry Trains are not able to provide carriage for animals on rail replacement buses, with the exception of guide dogs.

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle

With Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, your dog stays with you in the comfort of your car for the speedy 35-minute crossing to Folkestone. It is no wonder 68% of pets coming into the UK choose this stress-free way to travel*.

With its direct motorway links, you will be on your way to the NEC in Birmingham as soon as you drive off the shuttle in the UK. Let your beloved dog join the 1 million happy pets who have already travelled with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle! For more information visit: www.eurotunnel.com/pets or call their contact centre: 08443 35 35 35 (UK) 0810 63 03 04 (France) 070 22 32 10 (Belgium).

*Defra statistics correct as of 2013

Air

The NEC is the busiest exhibition centre in Europe, hosting over 160 consumer and trade events and over 500 conferences and special events. It is located a short 15-minute walk from the airport via the Air-Rail Link and Birmingham International station.

Caravans and motorhomes


Please note: The NEC do not allow caravans or motorhomes to park on their premises overnight. For details of caravan parks near the NEC please visit the Caravan Club's website.

 

Mobility scooters

Although the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) states that single-deck buses should all be accessible by 2016 and double-deckers by 2017, there is no legal obligation for buses to carry mobility scooters.

There is, however, a code which has been drawn up by the Department of Transport and the UK Confederation of Passenger Transport, setting out guidelines for bus operators to follow.

Class 2 scooters may be taken onto public transport and class 3 scooters may not.

Class 2 scooters are lightweight and designed for use on pavements. Class 3 scooters are classified as road-going vehicles; they are bigger and heavier, and not suitable for bus travel.

There are a few more restrictions:

the scooter must be no more than 600mm wide and 1000mm long and have a turning circle of no more than 1200mm

the combined weight of the scooter and the rider must not exceed the safe working load of the ramp used to board the bus, which is normally 300kg

The bus company will only carry a scooter provided that it does not pose a danger to other passengers. This means that your scooter must be maintained in good working order; that it has not been customised in such a way that it becomes an obstruction; and that it isn’t overloaded with shopping or other luggage, making it unstable.

Types of mobility scooter:

  • Class 2 mobility scooters can travel up to 4mph and are only allowed on pavements, apart from crossing the road to get to the other side
  • Class 3 mobility scooters can travel up to 8mph and are allowed on to the roads. This means that they tend to be larger than class 2 scooters

The user doesn’t need a licence to drive one on the road but, all the same, they must respect the highway code.

Class 3 scooters need to be fitted with lights, indicators, a horn, a rear view mirror and rear reflectors.