Guide to
THE LONDON BOOK FAIR 2027
New venue: Excel London 16 - 18 March 2027
PLAN YOUR TRIP The LONDON BOOK FAIR 2027
THE LONDON BOOK FAIR 2027 Whether it is your first time or your 30th time, attending The London Book Fair requires some planning. Lonely Planet has produced trusted guides for many over the years, and the LBF team are delighted to be working with them to help you plan your LBF trip.
TOP TIP Google Maps sometimes has an odd route from the station to the venue. Follow the signs rather than Google. For more on getting there and around, see p6.
This Guide This guide contains food recommendations, ideas for drinking holes and information on transport links, as well as general tips on the area around LBF’s new home at Excel London. If we know publishing, before long you will have many of your own suggestions to add to the list, and we’ll look forward to hearing about them. The London Book Fair The LBF has a long history of helping people find stories. Whether you are looking for the most up-to-date academic data, a new debut voice or want to sell a romantasy series that might even turn into a film, LBF has it covered. With over 100 nationalities represented, a myriad of seminar sessions and the chance to catch up with friends and colleagues, it’s a must in London’s spring for anyone in search of the best stories.
LOCATION Excel London One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL
SHOW DATES & TIMES Tuesday 16 March 2027 09:00–18:30 Wednesday 17 March 2027 09:00–18:30 Thursday 18 March 2027 09:00–17:00 2
DISCOVER EAST LONDON
SVET FOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK
PLAN YOUR TRIP
DISCOVER
Excel London
EAST LONDON Welcome to East London. This is your handy guide to navigating your way to Excel London, which sits in the Docklands area of the city. Then discover where to eat, drink and dip into London culture within a short journey of the venue, travelling either on fast and efficient trains, by bike or on foot. This part of the city is full of soul, character and culture. From drinking in ancient pubs to eating Punjabi food to quirky after-parties, we hope you enjoy the journey.
Helena Smith @helenasmithpix Helena is a former Hackney dweller who now enjoys living a stroll away from Borough Market. She writes about eco travel and community. 3
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PLAN YOUR TRIP Get Prepared
GET PREPARED NEED TO KNOW
CURRENCY UK Pounds (£)
LANGUAGE English
Getting There
TIME ZONE GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
by the Gatwick Express (30min), which runs to Victoria Station, and by mainline trains to City Thameslink, London Blackfriars and London Bridge (35min). Stansted Airport is connected by the Stansted Express to Liverpool St Station in central London (35min). London City Airport sits adjacent to Excel, just two stops away on the DLR.
However you arrive in London – by train or plane – you’ll find swift connections to Excel, with Elizabeth Line and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) trains delivering visitors to its doors. EUROSTAR & UK TRAINS
High-speed trains between London and Paris, Brussels and other destinations arrive at St Pancras International, from where the Underground connects with the Elizabeth Line. Nearby King’s Cross is a major hub for travel from Scotland and the north of the UK.
Getting Around
London is enormous, but extremely well connected, and Elizabeth Line trains can whiz you from Excel to some key attractions. The oldest Underground railway system in the world is often the most reliable way to beat the notorious London traffic. Other options include the driverless Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which runs above ground. London’s famous red buses are ubiquitous, offering affordable rides along some of central London’s most scenic streets.
FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTRE
Heathrow Airport is connected to central London via the Elizabeth Line (43min to Custom House) and Heathrow Express (15min to Paddington). Luton Airport Parkway is a 10-minute train ride from the airport and connected by mainline train to St Pancras station (20–30min). Gatwick Airport is served
PLAN YOUR TRIP Click or scan the QR code to view The London Book Fair floor plan, where you can find the locations of exhibitors, industry sectors and theatres. Download the TfL Go app to access maps, journey planning and live updates on bus and train times. 6
PLAN YOUR TRIP
JUSTYNA TROC/SHUTTERSTOCK
Get Prepared London Cable Car
One of the cheapest and quickest ways to get around during the day (once you have dumped your book bag) is by renting a Santander, Forest or Lime bike – Excel sits near superhighway bike route CS3. E-scooters can be rented through Voi and Lime. Download the relevant app to find bikes or scooters near you. Famous Black taxis can be flagged down in Zones 1 to 3 – they’re an experience, but not cheap. Rideshares such as Uber, Bolt and FreeNow can be booked via apps, as can local minicabs. The city’s quirkiest transport option is on Excel’s doorstep: the London Cable Car, taking you 90m above the Thames for a ride (15min) between the Royal Docks and North Greenwich.
WALKING TO EXCEL LBF will have exclusive use of the east end of the Excel venue. The Elizabeth Line arrives at the west entrance and it’s best to allow 10 minutes from the moment you step off at Custom House to the moment you walk through the LBF arches. If you are coming from the Prince Regent DLR station, you will only need 2 to 3 minutes to reach the east entrance.
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Discover Excel & East London In addition to the cafes and eateries inside Excel, here are our suggestions for grabbing a quick coffee and croissant on the way to the venue, as well as some easy-to-access highlights a Tube stop or two away. And finally a couple of suggestions for unusual outings once your day at LBF is done.
SIMONOROI/SHUTTERSTOCK
PLAN YOUR TRIP DISCOVER EXCEL & EAST LONDON
LOCAL DELIGHTS
Canary Wharf 8
Liverpool Street Continuing on the Elizabeth Line to Liverpool Street Station, you’re a 15-minute walk from 93 Feet East (MAP:h D2; @93feeteast), a longstanding Brick Lane venue with underground sounds, classic hip-hop and reggae beats.
Canning Town A couple of DLR stops away at Canning Town, Breadmeister Artisan Bakery (MAP:7 G3; insta gram.com/breadmeister) gets ecstatic reviews for its cinnamon buns and Danish pastries.
Greenwich Peninsula From Excel, ride the London Cable Car (MAP:1 G4) high above the Thames to the O2 and check in at Mamma Mia! The Party (MAP:2 G3; mammamiatheparty. co.uk) for a Skopelos-tastic immersive night out, with Greek food, live music and dancing.
Shadwell The DLR takes you a few more stops west to Shadwell and the Prospect of Whitby (MAP:m E3; greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greaterlondon/prospect-of-whitby), which first opened its doors in 1520. Canary Wharf On the Elizabeth Line, one stop west of Custom House is Canary Wharf, where all-day English breakfasts are dished up at Docklands Diner (MAP:9 F3; docklandsdiner. co.uk), located in historical Cannon Workshops. Come the evening, check out Theatreship (MAP:s F4; theatreship.co.uk), a 1913 steelhulled cargo barge hosting poetry, cinema and live-music events.
Stratford The DLR will spirit you north to V&A East (MAP:3 F1; vam.ac.uk/ east). Open till 10pm on Thursdays and Saturdays, this museum is the newest major addition to London’s contemporary art scene. Displays were selected from the V&A’s holdings as part of a collaboration with a local youth collective. 9
DISCOVER EXCEL & EAST LONDON
Whitechapel Head another stop along the Elizabeth Line to Whitechapel to sample the area’s outstanding Punjabi and Bengali cuisine: Tayyabs (MAP: see e D3; tayyabs. co.uk) restaurant is a classic for tandoor-cooked mince skewers and masala fish, while basic but friendly Shalamar Kebab House (MAP:e D3) provides the most reasonably priced and tastiest curries in all of East London.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Around Excel London A sunflower-yellow coffee van right by Excel, Mrs Bee Coffee (MAP:c H3; mrs-bee-coffee.com) offers great açai bowls and vegan pastries, as well as coffees and smoothies. From Excel, cross the footbridge over the dock to Little Hudson Cafe (MAP:b H3; littlehudsoncafe. com), a dedicated and delicious brunch spot. Close by, Whashoku Sushi & Bar (MAP:g H4; whasho ku.com) is acclaimed for its sashimi, mochi and ramen.
PLAN YOUR TRIP BEYOND EAST LONDON
BEYOND EAST LONDON
Eating & Drinking These are our recommendations for cafes, restaurants and bars that you can reach on the Elizabeth Line from Excel: all our selections are ten minutes’ walk or less from the station stops listed below.
FARRINGDON
Hoop & Grapes
TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD
Dating back to the 13th century, this pub survived the Great Fire, but the current structure probably dates from the 17th century. Some say the pub hides a tunnel that once led to the Tower of London. hoopand grapes.co.uk; Map: k B3
Admiral Duncan
Ye Olde Mitre
Brasserie Zédel
Reportedly the spot where Queen Elizabeth I danced with her rumoured lover Sir Christopher Hatton around a cherry tree – the stump of which is inside the pub. yeoldemitreholborn. co.uk; Map: q B3
A true testament to queer community resilience; after being horrifically bombed in 1999, it quickly bounced back, flags hoisted high. It’s the oldest gay pub in Soho and retains a relaxed neighbourly vibe. admiral-duncan. co.uk; Map: o D5 For Parisian romance, this French restaurant has a glamorous old-time grand brasserie feel inside a 1930s Piccadilly building. brasseriezedel.com; Map: 6 C6
Cahoots
Guests sip spiffing cocktails in a photofriendly 1940s train 10
SEE p4 FOR MAP OF LOCATIONS
station consisting of a Tube carriage, ticket hall and signal station, as vintage live entertainment strums. cahoots. co.uk; Map: j C2
Mr Fogg’s Pawnbrokers
Dean Street cocktail den immerses guests in a Victorian-era collection of global treasures, with drinks designed to reflect their stories. mr-foggs.com; Map: l D5
Pizza Pilgrims
At this London-born pizzeria, you’ll get a quality pizza and drink for less than £15 on Dean Street. pizza pilgrims.co.uk; Map: d D5
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
Opened in 1959, Ronnie’s is one of the world’s oldest and most renowned jazz clubs. The star-studded house band has included
PLAN YOUR TRIP
OLESEA VETRILA/SHUTTERSTOCK
BEYOND EAST LONDON Admiral Duncan
Ernest Ranglin and Stan Tracey, and through the decades the club has hosted Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Jimi Hendrix, to name a few. ronniescotts.co.uk Map: r D5
She Soho – Ku Bar The only dedicated lesbian (and pals) bar around, with regular drag-king shows and burlesque for your pleasure. ku-bar.co. uk/she; Map: n D5
Yard Bar
This mixed-crowd queer bar’s fairy-lit courtyard gives guests space to talk before the debauchery. yardbar. co.uk; Map: p C5
Benares
BOND STREET
Amazónico
This eclectic restaurant delivers trendy rainforest vibes and Chilean bass, transporting diners to South America with hints of Japan. amazonico restaurant.com; Map: 4 A6
Artesian
Superb award-winning creative cocktails for the most discerning drinks fans, in the plush Langham Hotel bar. artesian-bar.co.uk; Map: i B4 11
One of Mayfair’s many Michelin spots, this is upscale Indian cuisine that marries authentic spices with seasonal UK ingredients. benares restaurant.com; Map: 5 A6
Claridge’s
Hosts a seasonal selection of sweet and savoury treats, and also has its own exquisite tea blend, all served in the grand art-deco-inspired Foyer & Reading Room. maybourne.com/ en/hotels/claridges; Map: 8 A5