Every wargamer has their bucket list events, and for many of us, Salute sits firmly at the top. Hosted by the South London Warlords, it’s the UK’s premier wargaming convention—featuring an incredible trade hall, jaw-dropping participation games, and a chance to meet fellow enthusiasts from all over the world. This year, I’m making the journey from Gozo, Malta, to London to experience it firsthand, and I know of at least one other Maltese gamer—Ric—who will be attending as well. We connected through a Reddit post about Flames of War in Malta, though we’ve yet to meet in person.
The Plan: Shopping, Gaming, and Connecting
With Malta’s limited local wargaming stockists, one of my primary objectives is to take full advantage of Salute’s trade hall. Many of the specialist wargaming products—be it terrain, miniatures, rulebooks, or accessories—are simply unavailable here. As usual, I’ll be travelling with two empty suitcases to fill up with wargaming supplies. I plan to stock up on things I’ve had my eye on for months and grab a few impulse buys because, let’s be honest, it wouldn’t be Salute without a little bit of that!
Beyond shopping, I’m particularly excited about the participation games. Salute has a well-earned reputation for hosting some of the best demo and participation games in the world, covering everything from historical battles to sci-fi skirmishes. The historical wargaming focus at Salute is especially appealing, as it’s something we don’t get as much in Malta but is quite popular here on Gozo. Whether it’s Napoleonic clashes, Vietnam firefights, or Warhammer 30k battles, I’ll be getting hands-on with as many as possible. Of course, I’ll also be taking a ton of photos to document the experience—both for the blog and to share with fellow historical wargamers in Malta and Gozo who couldn’t make it.
Event Highlights: Exclusive Miniatures and Exciting Games
One of the standout features of Salute is the exclusive miniatures offered to attendees. This year, the first 5,000 guests will receive a goodie bag containing the official Salute 52 miniature: Lieutenant Colonel James Macdonell, renowned for his defense of Hougoumont farmhouse during the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Additionally, a digital miniature of a Highlander Mech Pilot will be available as a free download via a QR code in the show guide.
The event will also showcase a variety of participation and demonstration games. While specific game titles are still being finalized, past Salute events have featured a diverse range of historical and fantasy scenarios, ensuring there’s something for every wargaming enthusiast.
Vendors to Watch: Must-Visit Stalls at the Trade Hall
The trade hall at Salute is a treasure trove for wargamers, featuring a vast array of vendors offering unique products. Here are some of the exhibitors I’m particularly excited to visit:
- Anvil Industry Ltd: Known for their high-quality miniatures and conversion bits.
- Bad Squiddo Games: Specializing in female miniatures and unique sculpts.
- Battle Foam: Offering protective storage solutions for miniatures.
- Brigade Models Ltd: Providing a range of miniatures across various genres.
- Caliver Books: A go-to source for wargaming literature and rulesets.
- Perry Miniatures: Renowned for their extensive range of historical miniatures.
- Warlord Games Limited: Offering a variety of historical and sci-fi miniatures and games.
- TTCombat: Known for their terrain and accessories.
- Mantic Games: Providing a range of fantasy and sci-fi miniatures and games.
- Osprey Games: Publishers of a wide array of wargaming rules and resources.
- Baccus 6mm: Specializing in 6mm scale miniatures.
- Black Scorpion Miniatures: Offering a variety of resin miniatures.
- Crooked Dice Game Design Studio: Known for their 7TV skirmish games.
- Deep-Cut Studio: Providing gaming mats and terrain.
- Empress Miniatures: Specializing in historical miniatures.
- Essex Miniatures: Offering a wide range of historical figures.
- Mierce Miniatures: Known for their high-quality resin miniatures.
- North Star Military Figures: Providing a variety of miniatures and accessories.
- Plastic Soldier Company: Specializing in plastic historical miniatures.
- Sarissa Precision Ltd: Offering laser-cut terrain and buildings.
- Victrix Limited: Known for their historical plastic miniatures.
Travel and Accommodation: A Guide for Historical Wargamers in Malta and Gozo
If you’re considering making the trip to Salute next year (or even at the last minute this year), here’s what you need to know:
- Flights: Direct flights from Malta to London are plentiful, with options from Air Malta, Ryanair, and easyJet. Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted are all viable options, with good connections to ExCeL London, where Salute is held.
- Accommodation: Staying near ExCeL can be pricey, but there are more affordable options in Stratford or Canary Wharf, both of which have great public transport links. Budget hotels like Premier Inn or Travelodge are solid choices, or you can go for Airbnb if traveling with a group.
- Transport: The Elizabeth Line and DLR are your best bets for reaching ExCeL. An Oyster card or contactless payment card makes getting around London easy.
- Tickets: Salute tickets can be bought online in advance or on the day at the venue. Buying ahead is recommended to avoid queues and get in early.
Join Me at Salute!
If you’re in Malta and thinking about attending, drop me a message! Whether it’s for this year or planning for 2026, it would be fantastic to get a group together and represent the historical wargaming scene from Malta and Gozo. Salute is an event that needs to be experienced in person, and I’d love to see more of us making the trip. Stay tuned for my post-event write-up, and if you’re heading to Salute, let’s connect!