Custom House for ExCeL — DLR station in London's Royal Docks

Layout and facilities

The station provides platforms for trains in both directions and is configured to handle the passenger flows associated with events at ExCeL. Facilities typically include ticketing points, customer information displays and accessible routes; newer stations in the Docklands network are designed with step-free access and level changes accommodated by lifts and ramps. The station entrance sits close to the exhibition centre entrance and pedestrian routes toward the Royal Docks.

History and development

The name reflects two local landmarks: the historic Custom House that once stood nearby and the modern Exhibition Centre, London (ExCeL). The DLR extension and station provision in this area were part of late 20th- and early 21st-century transport improvements aimed at regenerating the Royal Docks, supporting commercial and residential growth, and improving links to east London. Proposals have also linked the site to wider rail projects to improve orbital and cross‑city connections.

Services, connections and usage

As a DLR stop, the station connects to other Docklands branches and offers interchange opportunities with buses and nearby river services on the Thames and docks. It is a key arrival point for trade fairs, conferences and concerts at ExCeL, so service patterns are often adjusted to cope with event peaks. For onward travel and more detailed timetables visitors consult transport operator information and journey planners.

Notable facts and context

• The station takes its name from the former Custom House and the adjacent ExCeL exhibition centre.
• Its riverside setting places it among a cluster of regenerated docks and mixed‑use developments in the Royal Docks area; see the Royal Docks for regional context.
• It lies within the administrative area of the London Borough of Newham, which has overseen much of the area's redevelopment.
• Travel information and zoning are provided under central London fare maps, including Zone 3 guidance.

For practical travel planning, station facilities and event-day arrangements, consult official transport sources and the exhibition centre's visitor information pages via local transport websites and operator guidance.