End of an era at NEC
BBC Gardeners' World Live is leaving the NEC after 35 years, with today, Sunday, June 21, marking the final day at the Birmingham venue. The hugely popular annual event, which attracts thousands of visitors and presenters including Gardeners' World frontman Monty Don, will move to the Packington Estate at Meriden in Warwickshire from 2027.
New location details
The show's website announced: "From 2027, BBC Gardeners' World Live will be moving to a new home at Packington Estate - just a short drive from the A45, M6 and M42, with plenty of parking. Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport are around ten minutes away by car."
The statement continued: "It's the show you love, in a beautiful landscape and with room to grow. Alongside it, the Good Food Festival brings those feel-good summer vibes with seasonal flavours, top chefs and seriously good shopping. Join us from June 17 to 20, 2027 at Packington Estate. We can't wait to show you around!" Tickets for the 2027 event are currently on sale.
Reasons for the move
Show organiser Immediate Live said the move would provide greater scope to develop the event, particularly its outdoor elements, according to reports. The Packington Estate offers a picturesque setting with historic roots: the original house was built in 1693, extended in the 1770s by the 3rd Earl of Aylesford, and restored after a devastating fire in 1979. The present Earl and Countess of Aylesford, their son and daughter-in-law Lord and Lady Guernsey, and their young family now reside there.
About Packington Estate
The venue's website describes Packington Estate as "situated at the centre of the country nestled between Birmingham and Coventry. Its proximity to these two cities has shaped the Estate in becoming a mixed use, diverse hive of activity where the traditional country Estate meets the urban fringe. The mix of farming, forestry, residential, commercial and leisure business make this a truly unique Estate and a bustling community to live, work and play."
