The historic Olympia exhibition centre in west London has officially reopened its doors following an extensive £1.3 billion redevelopment project. The venue, situated on Hammersmith Road, first opened in 1886 and has undergone a significant transformation over the past six years, aiming to establish itself as a premier cultural, entertainment, and business hub in the capital.
Developers anticipate that the revitalised site will attract approximately 3.5 million visitors annually once fully operational, hosting around 800 events each year. This ambitious project is also expected to create and support approximately 9,000 jobs across London and the broader economy, marking a substantial boost for the region.
For nearly 140 years, Olympia's Victorian exhibition halls have been a fixture for a diverse range of events, from renowned cat and dog shows to the annual Ideal Home Show. Michael Volkert, Chief Executive of Olympia, highlighted the estate's rich history, recalling legendary concerts by artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd, and even past instances of gondolas navigating flooded exhibition halls.
The redevelopment concept was a collaborative effort between designer Thomas Heatherwick, known for the 2012 Olympic cauldron, and London-based architectural firm SPPARC. Heatherwick noted that the site previously felt isolated from the city due to a one-kilometre perimeter wall, describing how the individual halls had accumulated over time, making it less accessible to Londoners. The new design addresses this by incorporating 2.5 acres of public space, including Emberton Walk, an internal pedestrian street, and a large glass rooftop canopy offering panoramic city views.
Live entertainment is central to the revamped Olympia, with the introduction of the British Airways ARC, a new 3,800-capacity music venue operated by AEG Presents. The venue is scheduled to open on 16 June with performances by Mercury Prize nominee Self Esteem, with AEG Presents noting it fills a critical gap for mid-sized venues in west London. The wider campus will eventually feature two new hotels, a 550,000 sq ft office building set to house the Premier League's international content production studios, and a new International Convention Centre designed to complement the heritage halls. The entire transformation is set to conclude in 2027 with the launch of the British Airways Theatre, which will be London's largest new theatre built in over half a century.
Source: Olympia