Honestly, if you have ever stood in a three-hour queue for a lukewarm burger at the ExCeL London while a guy dressed as a seven-foot tall Space Marine accidentally hits you with a foam chainsword, you know exactly what I’m talking about. We are talking about MCM London Comic Con. It is loud. It is expensive. It is, for many of us, the absolute highlight of the calendar year.
People call it "London Expo" sometimes, mostly because that was the old name before the MCM branding took over entirely, but the vibe remains the same. It’s a massive, sweating, vibrant celebration of everything we love—from obscure 90s anime to the latest Marvel blockbusters. You don't just "go" to a London Comic Con; you survive it, you embrace it, and you usually leave with a much lighter wallet and a phone full of blurry photos with people in high-quality spandex.
What Actually Happens Inside the ExCeL?
The scale is hard to explain if you haven’t been. The ExCeL is basically a giant glass tube in the Docklands, and during MCM London Comic Con, it fills up with roughly 100,000 people over a single weekend. It’s a lot.
Usually, the event is split between the North and South halls. One side is typically heavy on the "Pop Asia" stuff—think Artist Alley, where independent creators sell prints, and the massive gaming zones. The other side is where the "Big" stuff happens. This is where you find the major studio booths, the autograph tables, and the main stages where actors from The Mandalorian or Stranger Things tell stories about what it’s like to work on a green screen for ten hours a day.
It's a weird mix of commercialism and pure, raw creativity. You can spend £80 on a signed photo of a voice actor, or you can spend nothing and just sit on the floor watching a K-Pop dance cover group nail a choreography in the fringe area. Both are equally valid ways to spend your Saturday.
The Artist Alley Secret
If you want the real heart of the event, go to the Artist Alley. Forget the giant Hasbro or Nintendo stands for a second. This is where hundreds of individual illustrators, comic book artists, and crafters set up small tables. It is arguably the most important part of MCM London Comic Con because it’s where the actual community lives.
I’ve seen artists who started with a tiny table at the London Expo years ago now working for DC or Marvel. It’s a talent incubator. If you're looking for something unique—not just a mass-produced Funko Pop—this is where you find it. Just be prepared for the "con crunch" crowds; these aisles get tighter than a subway car at rush hour.
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Dealing with the MCM London Comic Con Logistics
Let’s talk about the stuff nobody puts in the glossy brochures. The DLR (Docklands Light Railway).
If you are traveling to Custom House or Prince Regent station on a Saturday morning, you are going to be intimate with a stranger's cosplay props. It’s just a fact of life. The trains are packed. Pro tip: if you can, walk from Canning Town. It’s about 15 or 20 minutes, it clears your head, and you avoid the crush of people trying to squeeze a six-foot wingspan through a train door.
Then there is the food. Look, the ExCeL food is fine, but it’s pricey. We’re talking "London prices plus a convention tax." Most veterans of the London Comic Con scene know the secret: head out to the restaurants around the Royal Victoria Dock or just bring a backpack full of meal deals from the Tesco near the station. You'll thank yourself when you aren't paying £12 for a dry wrap.
The Autograph and Photo Op Reality
I’ve seen people get really frustrated with this. Here is the reality: the big guests move fast. If you’ve paid for a photo op with a major star, you are going to get about 10 seconds of their time. It’s a "hello, pose, flash, goodbye" situation. It's an assembly line.
If you want a more personal interaction, the autograph lines are usually a better bet, though they take way longer. Some actors are incredibly chatty—I remember fans talking about how gracious the cast of Our Flag Means Death was during their London appearances—but others are there to work. Manage your expectations. You're paying for a memory and a physical artifact, not a 20-minute coffee date.
Cosplay: The Unofficial Main Event
You cannot talk about MCM London Comic Con without talking about the cosplayers. They are the reason the event feels like a different planet.
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- The Fringe: This is the outdoor area between the two halves of the ExCeL. Even if you don’t have a ticket, you can usually see dozens of cosplayers hanging out here. It’s the best spot for photography because the natural light is better than the yellow warehouse lights inside.
- The Masquerade: This is the formal competition on the main stage. It’s not just "dressing up." People spend months on these costumes, using 3D printing, foam smithing, and intricate needlework.
- The Etiquette: This is huge. "Cosplay is not consent." It’s a slogan you’ll see everywhere. Don’t touch people’s props without asking. Don’t take photos of people while they are eating. Just be a decent human being.
Most people don't realize that for many cosplayers, London Comic Con is the culmination of a year's worth of work. They are hot, they are probably in pain from wearing 20 pounds of plastic, and they are usually the nicest people you’ll ever meet.
The Evolution from London Expo to Global Giant
Back in the day, the London Expo was a bit more "rough around the edges." It felt like a giant swap meet for nerds. When ReedPop acquired MCM, things changed. It became more professional, more corporate, and significantly more expensive.
Some people miss the old days. They miss the smaller feel. But the trade-off is that we now get much bigger guests. We get world premieres of trailers. We get major brand activations that wouldn't have happened ten years ago. It’s a different beast now, but it’s still the biggest beast in the UK.
There’s a common misconception that these events are only for kids or "hardcore" fans. Honestly? I see families, pensioners who love Doctor Who, and teenagers who only care about TikTok trends. It’s a massive tent.
Why the London Comic Con Still Matters in a Digital Age
You might think, "Why bother? I can see the trailers on YouTube and buy the merch on Amazon."
True. You can.
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But you can’t replicate the feeling of being in a room with 5,000 other people when a surprise guest walks out on stage. You can't replicate the collective gasp or the cheers. There is a specific kind of energy at the ExCeL—a sense of belonging. For many people, especially those who might feel like outsiders in their daily lives, MCM London Comic Con is the one place where they are the majority.
It’s about community. It’s about finding people who love that one obscure 80s cartoon as much as you do. It’s about the sheer, unadulterated joy of being a fan.
Surviving the "Post-Con Blues"
Monday morning after the October or May event is notoriously brutal. Your feet ache. Your "Con Flu" (not a real flu, usually just exhaustion and dehydration) is kicking in. Your bank account is crying.
This is what the community calls the "Post-Con Blues." The best way to beat it? Start planning the next one. Start the next costume. Join the Discord groups. The London Comic Con isn't just a weekend; for many, it's a lifestyle that keeps them connected to their friends all year round.
Practical Steps for Your Next Visit
If you are planning to attend the next MCM London Comic Con, don't just wing it. That is how you end up exhausted and miserable by 2:00 PM on Friday.
- Buy your tickets early. They do sell out, especially the Saturday priority tickets. Don't rely on being able to get them at the door.
- Download the MCM App. The schedule changes. Panels get moved. Guests cancel (it happens, usually due to filming schedules). The app is the only way to stay updated in real-time.
- Pack a power bank. The ExCeL is a notorious dead zone for signal in some spots, and your phone will work overtime trying to find a tower, draining your battery by noon. Plus, you’ll be taking a million photos.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You will easily clock 15,000 to 20,000 steps in a single day. This is not the time to break in new boots, even if they match your costume perfectly.
- Set a budget. Decide how much you are willing to spend on "stuff" before you walk in. It is incredibly easy to get swept up in the excitement and spend £200 on mystery boxes that contain things you don't even want.
The event is a marathon, not a sprint. Take breaks. Go outside by the water to breathe some actual air. Drink more water than you think you need. MCM London Comic Con is a chaotic, beautiful, overwhelming mess of a weekend, and if you go in prepared, it is one of the best experiences you can have in the city.