Just priced up how much it would cost to visit PAX East for four days in Boston and it's a bank breaking ￡1000 Coupled with the fact I could probably qualify for E3 but can't afford to go, I'm desperate to go to a good gaming convention. Are there ever any in the UK? I've Googled but it seems like all the good ones are held in the US which is, unfortunately, outwith my budget.

Eurogamer Expo is fairly new but it's a British gaming convention. I believe the last event had a good showing but it's only moderately sized.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Games_Convention in Germany is very large (~200,000 people) and probably a more affordable option if you want to go to a major convention. I also know Bethesda goes to GC every year if that's something that interests you. I believe Gen Con also has a UK event but I don't know the details.

When I went to eurogamer a few years ago I really enojyed.

Leeds (Royal Armouries)
London (Not sure where)

Also the tickets where only ￡20 something.

I know Emz, I hate the cost of flying to America too. I want to go to the youtube conference Vidcon hosted by the vlogbrothers in Los Angles, I have to save $2,750 not including tickets, food and drink and money for souvenirs.

How about
http://www.londonexpo.com/
Its a comic/gaming convention. Don't worry about it being comics too though. Theres Anime conventions here in Australia and America that focus almost as strongly on Anime as on video games.

I believe there is also a Game Developer Conference in the UK, but I could be wrong. The GDC is a great place to attend if you want to learn about the gaming industry and what's coming down the pipe. Love to go again, but the trip to Cal where it was held cost me a bundle. Hotel wasn't bad, but the air fair + expenses were the main pain in the butt. If they held a GDC in Orlando I would go in a heartbeat, but I don't think that will happen.