Into the West: a sneak peek of the new Olympia
Paul Harvey pulls on his hard hat and high-vis for a glimpse of the future of events in West London.
For nearly 140 years, Olympia has stood proud in West London. Born in 1886 as a grand hall for exhibitions, it has seen fashions change, history spark, and culture reinvent itself.
Now it's embarking on a new chapter - and what a chapter it's set to be. I donned my hard hat and steel toecaps as I got a sneak peek of the future.
Make no mistake, this is no ordinary facelift. At £1.3 billion, Olympia’s regeneration is one of the most ambitious projects of its kind ever seen in the UK.
By 2026, as Olympia celebrates its 140th anniversary, the site will be reborn as a cultural destination - where entertainment, education, business, and leisure blend seamlessly. And it's also set to have a rejuvenating effect on the West London events scene.
If the development has a beating heart, for event planners it will surely be the International Convention Centre.
Seven thousand square metres of versatile space across three interconnected levels, two theatre-style auditoriums, breakout rooms, a business lounge, and The Addison - a private members’ club designed for modern networking.
Walking into the ICC from the main entrance on Hammersmith Road, even in its embryonic form, you can already feel the scale and ambition. The art deco facade gives way to a light-filled atrium with sweeping staircases and lifts up to the main lobby.
The ICC extends Olympia’s capacity to 20,000, fully integrated with heritage halls, yet future-proofed for global gatherings. You can already feel that this is a venue where deals will be struck, where ideas will cross-pollinate, and even where the events industry will find a new base in London.
Level 1 of the ICC is set to pay homage to Olympia’s Art Deco heritage while embracing the very latest in event technology. The main auditorium, with cutting-edge AV and flexible seating, will offer organisers myriad possibilities to create high-impact experiences, while four breakout rooms will provide space for more intimate seminars or meetings.
Moving upstairs to Level 2 the options multiply, as a large conference room will host up to 400 delegates in theatre style.
And then there’s The Addison, which is set to be a jewel in the crown. Spread across Levels 2 and 2M, this members’ club will offer a sophisticated extension to any event. Ideal for networking receptions, private dining, or stylish drinks gatherings, The Addison is set to bring a sense of exclusivity and elegance that will make even simple gatherings memorable. For planners seeking to impress clients or create standout moments, this will be the kind of space that delivers both atmosphere and impact.
The foyer
The foyer
Step outside, and you’ll discover something just as vital: Olympia Way.
A newly pedestrianised street running through the development, framed by 10 striking pavilions and 2.5 acres of public space, it's been designed not as a corridor, but as a destination. Here, food, culture, and spectacle spill out into the open air. An enlivenment programme will turn the street into a stage, pavilions alive with performance, exhibitions spilling onto the pavements, the buzz of 10 million annual visitors gathering, not just to attend an event, but to be part of one.
Theatres, hotels, music venues, restaurants - yes, Olympia will have them all. But Olympia Way promises something rarer: energy, creativity, and connection in everyday moments. A place not only to visit, but to belong.
One thing that particularly impressed me is the way that the new interacts with the old - the arches and curves of Olympia's famous Grand Hall are reflected in the design of the new development in a way that's cohesive and characterful. Sightlines from the new Olympia Way allow you to see beyond the venue to the chimneys and rooftops on the West London skyline, which gives you a real sense of place.
"We’re creating a global destination built to make events thrive," says Andy Price, marketing and communications director, Olympia Events. "West London has been captivating audiences for decades, and with this new chapter, we’re set to deliver even more standout moments in the months and years ahead.
For Price, it's not just about building new venues, theatres, and event spaces - it's about building on West London’s legacy as a cultural powerhouse.
"It’s more than just bricks and mortar," he says. "We’re creating a destination that honours the creative energy of the past while fuelling the breakthroughs of the future."
Olympia will remain the home of major exhibitions, but the new development is aimed at bringing the whole of the events industry - every genre of event - to West London.
"From Victorian trailblazers to modern-day media powerhouses, West London has always dared to dream differently," says Price. "The culture, the craft, the characters - it’s all still here. And Olympia is proud to help write the next chapter.
"Because while the East might shout the loudest, West London has always set the tempo."
Accommodation is also well thought out. Olympia already boasts more than 13,000 hotel rooms within a two-mile radius, many of them within easy walking distance; to this we will be able to add two on-site hotels - the 146-room CitizenM London Olympia and the 205-room Hyatt Regency London Olympia.
From historic charm to cutting-edge facilities, from flexible breakout spaces to the exclusivity of The Addison, Olympia is set to make planners rethink what’s possible for events in London. And as I walked through the site, I could already imagine the vast array of events that will soon come to life here.