London Card Show May 2024: A Weekend of Rare Finds and Football Legends

London, May 14th, 2024 – The London Card Show returned for their 12th event this past weekend, uniting over 4,000 passionate collectors and enthusiasts from as young as 3 years old to grandparents in their 80s. Fans travelled from all across Europe to attend the show as well as some coming from as far as the United States. The event had 475 tables across the weekend offering attendees a vibrant two-day extravaganza filled with trading cards, competitions, and various engaging activities. From cards valued at 50p up to a whopping £100,000, there was no shortage of excitement over the weekend.

WhatNot had a massive streaming zone where some truly incredible pack breaks took place over the weekend. One of the most exciting was a rare Charizard holo pulled from an XY Evolutions set released in 2016 which, if graded a PSA 10, could be worth over £1,500. Topps was also in attendance with a sports card zone where an incredibly rare Ronaldo card was pulled, creating a lot of buzz over the weekend.

Our gold sponsors included Whatnot, Topps, PSA and Vault X. Each of them had a big presence at the show, and guests had the opportunity to explore and discover more about each company at their respective booths.

The show was honoured to welcome ex-England football legends Emile Heskey and John Barnes as headliners. The pair chatted about their venerated football careers and answered questions from the crowd on the main stage. Other highlights on the main stage included a lively Hobby Panel discussion, featuring creators such as the Great Curator, RothCards, MojoSports, PokiChloe and PokedDean, and an exhilarating game of ‘Risk It or Leave’, where guests won a prize and were given the chance to keep it or trade it. 

The event also introduced a host of new entertainment to the London Card Show’s line-up including the gold-standard grading company PSA, taking drop-off submissions. There was also a Retro Gaming Zone showcasing iconic childhood video games such as Street Fighter, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Road Rage. 

Brotherhood Games made their debut organising tournaments at the show, while the bustling marketplace catered to collectors' diverse interests with stalls offering signed football cards, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, NFL, and Formula 1 trading cards. 

The Kids Zone offered a jam-packed schedule of activities for young fans to enjoy including box breaks with PokiChloe and PokeDean, Pack Battles with Vault X, a make your own mascot workshop with the London Card Show’s very own mascot Hector the Collector, and even a special trade zone just for kids. The Kids Zone also has Kids membership sign-ups, where they could take home a personalised membership card and LCS bottle and bag as keepsakes. 

Renowned Lorcana illustrator Kasia Brzezinska also graced the event, delighting attendees with her skills in Lorcana character drawing sessions in the Kids Zone and signing cards for fans over the weekend.

The popular trade night was back on Saturday evening and saw over 500 collectors gather to share stories and trade cards - from Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! to football and Disney.

London Card Show founder and CEO Harry Reynolds reflected, “This weekend has been one for the books. We’ve expanded in so many ways, including playing host to globally-renowned grading company PSA for their inaugural appearance in the UK. We had tournaments at the show for the first time, and were honoured to host ex-England footballers Emile Heskey and John Barnes. Having such big names and brands associated with the London Card Show really shows how far we’ve come, and how much we’re continuing to grow."

The anticipation for the next show, which will be taking place over the 3rd and 4th of August, is already palpable. With plans to build upon the success of past events, attendees can expect even more excitement and entertainment at Europe's Biggest Trading Card event. Tickets are sure to sell out fast, so make sure to secure your spot early!

For media inquiries or interviews with founder & CEO Harry Reynolds and COO Katie Hughes, please contact londoncardshow@plus1comms.com

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Editors notes

Welcome to the London Card Show - The Ultimate Event for Card Enthusiasts!

Founded in 2021, the London Card Show was set up with a singular mission: to bring card collectors of all types under one roof. What initially began as a gathering of 10 tables and 40 attendees has since blossomed into a spectacular weekend-long event, attracting over 4,000 enthusiasts from across the globe. Our journey has been ignited by your passion, and we are honoured to be recently crowned the UK’s Card Show of the Year - a true testament to the incredible card community!

About Harry Reynolds, Founder & CEO of the London Card Show

Harry Reynolds, a natural-born entrepreneur, embarked on his journey at a young age, continually seeking innovative ways to seize opportunities and bridge market gaps. His passion for trading cards began during university, where he turned a £10 investment into an impressive £10,000 after discovering the value of cards. Harry's YouTube live streams and TikTok presence catapulted him into the UK card community, where he gained recognition for his unique trading card mystery box breaks. With unwavering determination, he pioneered the London Card Show, and saw it evolve from a small gathering to Europe's largest card event. Harry's dedication has led to global recognition, and he remains committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive card community for enthusiasts of all backgrounds.

About Katie Hughes, Chief Operating Officer at the London Card Show

Katie Hughes, driven by a passion for creativity ignited during her school years, found her true calling in the world of marketing. After a marketing degree at university and six rewarding years within Hard Rock Cafe's marketing department, she embarked on a remarkable journey with the London Card Show. Initially unsure of what to expect from the card industry, she quickly fell in love with it. Her marketing strategy thrived on ingenuity, emphasising community engagement over traditional methods and achieving an exceptional 7% engagement rate, far surpassing industry standards. Her dedication and vision were instrumental in propelling the London Card Show to unprecedented success, doubling attendance and vendor tables within a year. Her dedication to her role, her family's support, and her commitment to the event's success have made her an indispensable asset to the London Card Show's remarkable transformation.

*card graded by BGS.