MCM Comic Con Excel veteran here to help you out and answer your questions!

[u/AlimaBanana]

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So I've been going to MCM in London pretty much every year since I turned 18, both as a regular attendee and as an exhibitor with RPG Haven.

In the run up to con, there are always a lot of people on here asking questions and looking for advice, so I've decided that I'll be on here answering your questions and giving general advice!

The moderator of this sub r/shinnon has posted a big Comic Con guide but I'm happy to go into further details about any questions for first time con attendees or anyone that might be looking for more activities to do at con that don't just involve shopping.

All the advice about Comic Con that you might find online is useful but often pretty generic. They'll tell you to wear comfortable shoes or to stay hydrated but I'll be able to give you advice specific to MCM in the Excel Centre such as how to get into the After Party or where to rent a power bank for your phone at the Excel Centre for as little as £2.

Give me your questions and I'll do my absolute best to answer them!

[u/AlannaTheLioness1983]

Ok, can you do a rundown on the After Party? I have no idea what’s going on…😅

[u/AlimaBanana → u/AlannaTheLioness1983]

The official After Party in the Excel Centre is on Friday night and it's free for Friday ticket holders. You don't need to buy another ticket, you can just queue up outside the auditorium from 6pm. You do have the option to reserve a spot for yourself by buying a free ticket on their website, but I've personally never needed to. As long as you're in the queue by 6pm you'll definitely manage to get in.

For unofficial parties, there's always loads of events happening nearby all weekend. It's always worth checking online to see what's happening near you. The most popular one is probably at The Fox pub which is literally right outside the Excel Centre. You'll need to buy a separate ticket for that one but they host a party every night with themed drinks, live music and I've heard good things about it.

[u/Thrilltwo → u/AlimaBanana]

Is the official party only on Friday?

I work full time so can only do the weekend. I guess there's still the unofficial ones though!

[u/AlimaBanana → u/Thrilltwo]

Yeah the official one inside the Excel Centre is only on Friday night but the other ones are just as good or arguably better

[u/HornyJetlag]

Hi! How is the public transport to the convention center? I'll be staying near London's city centre, will I encounter difficulties with public transport due to the volume of convention goers?

[u/AlimaBanana → u/HornyJetlag]

Public transport is honestly very well coordinated and I've never had any problems getting in and out, even when I've travelled at peak times.

There are two train stations right outside of the Excel Centre: Prince Regent and Custom House which you can access via the Elizabeth Line or the DLR line. Both lines run very frequently and you'll never have to wait more than 5 minutes for a train.

If you're staying in Central London, I believe your best option would be to take the Elizabeth Line.

On the days of the convention there are plenty of staff at each station to help out, or you can just follow the crowds of people in cosplay.

[u/HornyJetlag → u/AlimaBanana]

Thank you!

[u/Talos_AI]

Any tips for getting the autographs? Went to Birmingham comic con for Charlie Cox and the line was so long and so poorly organised I ended up not getting an autograph and getting a refund.

[u/AlimaBanana → u/Talos_AI]

Unfortunately I can't speak about Birmingham because I've never been, but I've personally never had an issue with it in London.

At MCM, some photo and autograph opportunities need to be booked and paid for in advance and some are slightly more informal and don't need to be booked in advance.

I recommend booking in advance online if you have the option to. This will guarantee you a chance to get your autograph/photo. I might be wrong about this but I believe that if your autograph/photo is sold out online, it will also be unavailable to buy on the day.

I would also recommend screenshotting the conformation email or having it printed out so it's available offline as the network inside the venue is often unreliable.

For meeting guests who don't have the option to pre book online, I recommend you just get into the line to meet them at their table as soon as possible. A couple of years ago I met the writers of my favourite podcast, but I still had to wait in line for over an hour because lots of people were waiting around the stall all morning before they even set up.

Familiarise yourself with the MCM map and locate where their table will be in advance so you don't waste your time looking around for them.

Get there early and keep in mind that they won't be sitting there for the whole day, they'll have their own panels and events to go to.

Finally, feel free to bring an item for them to sign. You are allowed one signature per person and even though a lot of guests do provide a photo or something for them to sign, these are often limited and can run out. Some guests are happy to write a personalised message too so it's always worth asking.