The show is almost upon us. I’m delighted to say that people are starting to arrive in London to help build the show – and the first commissioner has already arrived with her exhibits.
I’ve looked back in my email archive and can report that the first email I wrote re London 2020 was dated January 2015. It has been a long haul, but we’re all excited to see the show’s opening now just a few days away.
As with much of the philatelic world, the London 2022 Organising Committee has become very familiar with using Zoom rather than travelling for our planning meetings; this has saved us a lot of time and travel expenses – so I guess one good thing to come out of the pandemic. I would like to publicly thank everyone for their help, commitment, enthusiasm and drive to get this show up and running. It has been a true team effort in challenging circumstances.
Exhibits Floor Plan
I know that all exhibitions have last-minute adjustments to their competitive frame list, but in London 2022 there has been a constant flow of late changes due to problems associated with Covid. This has led to a review of the floor plans in the last week, and unfortunately the table of ‘which exhibit is in which room’ has changed from the one that was available when the paper Exhibition Catalogue went to press just after Christmas.
Full details of where to find a specific exhibit is on the website at https://www.london2022.co/exhibits-layout/ and the summary is repeated here for quick reference.
Where to Find an Exhibit
| Class | Half | First Frame Numbers | Location |
| 1: Championship | 2nd Half | 01-0025 to 01-0185 | Atrium Back |
| 2: Postal History | 1st Half | 02-0001 to 02-0748 & 02-1052 | Gallery Hall |
| 02-0749 to 02-1028 | Auditorium | ||
| 02-1036 to 02-1044 | Mezzanine | ||
| 3: Traditional | 2nd Half | 03-0001 to 03-0014 | Atrium Back |
| 03-0022 to 03-0116 | Atrium Right | ||
| 03-0117 to 03-0209 | Atrium Left | ||
| 03-0214 to 03-0982 | Gallery Hall | ||
| 03-0990 to 03-1089 | Mezzanine | ||
| 4: Aerophilately | 2nd Half | 04-0001 to 04-0171 | Room A |
| 5: Revenue | 1st Half | 05-0001 to 05-0124 | Room A |
| 6: Postal Stationery | 1st Half | 06-0009 to 06-0200 | Atrium Back |
| 06-0205 to 06-0213 | Room A | ||
| 7: Thematic | 2nd Half | 07-0001 to 07-0261 | Auditorium |
| 8: Literature | Both | All in Reading Room | Village Green |
| 9: Open | 1st Half | 09-0001 to 09-0076 & 09-0082 | Atrium Left |
| 09-0077 & 09-0090 to 09-0167 | Atrium Right | ||
| 11: Modern | 1st Half | 11-0001 to 11-0019 | Mezzanine |
| 12: Post Cards | 1st Half | 12-0001 to 12-0068 | Room A |
| 13: Youth | 1st Half | 13-0101 to 13-0339 | Mezzanine |
| 2nd Half | 13-0112 | Mezzanine |
General Entry to the Exhibition
We have deliberately made this as simple as possible; all you need to do is make your way to the Business Design Centre and walk in! There is no need to register, there is no entry fee other than on the first day, there is no need to have a Covid passport and there are no Covid tests.
First Day Tickets
On the first day there may well be a queue to get in. Exhibitors will be shown to a separate reception desk to get their complimentary ticket and Exhibition Catalogue. All other visitors will either have to show a previously purchased ticket (on paper or on their phone) or buy a ticket on the door using either cash or a card.
Undoubtedly the quickest way in will be to show a ticket. My best guess is that those paying by cash will get through more quickly than if using a card.
Tickets for the first day can be purchased for £10 now at https://www.london2022.co/london-2022-first-day-entry-tickets/. Many of you have already used this link – and we have had zero problems reported to us.
Children Under 18 will be admitted free of charge on every day.
This will be my final newsletter prior to the exhibition. I’m headed down to London first thing tomorrow – and I hope to see many old and new friends from all over the world very soon.
With very best wishes, Frank Walton RDP FRPSL. Chairman, London 2022 Organising Committee