Knowledge base

Transport to fairs in the UK, how to arrange it

How to arrange goods transport to UK fairs: slots, ATA carnet, post-Brexit customs and the return after the event.

Transporting goods to UK fairs combines carriage, post-Brexit customs and, when goods return unchanged, an ATA carnet. Delivery is planned around venue slots (e.g. ExCeL London), with documents and the GMR number prepared ahead of time. The return after the event is booked together with the delivery, not once the hall closes.

Keep in mind

Slots and bookings per venue rules.
ATA carnet for goods returning unchanged.
Customs and GMR for the Dunkirk-Dover crossing.
Post-show logistics: collection and return.

At OTSL we run the whole process A to Z. See exhibition logistics and ATA carnets.

Related service: Exhibitions

Frequently asked questions

Do goods returning from a fair in the United Kingdom need customs clearance again?

Yes, the return to the EU is another customs border crossing. If the goods travelled on an ATA carnet and come back unchanged, the carnet closes the case without duty or VAT. Without a carnet you need standard clearance both ways. That is why post-show logistics is planned together with the delivery, not only after the event.

What is a delivery slot at an exhibition venue and what happens if you miss it?

A slot is the time window in which the venue accepts a delivery to the hall, assigned under the event rules. A truck arriving outside its slot waits or is turned away, and the stand build is delayed. That is why transport to a fair is planned backwards from the slot, with a booking and a time buffer for the unexpected.

What about goods that do not return from the fair, for example items sold on site?

The ATA carnet covers only goods returning unchanged. Anything that stays in the United Kingdom, for example sold goods or handed-out materials, requires normal import clearance with duty and VAT. This split has to be agreed before departure, so the documents match what actually comes back home.

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