Airports in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom is a very popular tourist destination, whether we talk about England, Scotland, Wales or Nothern Ireland. It has great connections to the rest of the world thanks to a high number of international airports. So, if you’re travelling to UK, check out our guide to know your options.

Airports in England

The majority of airports in the UK are located in England. That is no wonder since London is one of the most popular destinations with 6 major airports. You will find the biggest airports in England listed below.

Heathrow Airport London

IATA code LHR – (~ 80 Mio. passengers)

London Heathrow Airport is world’s second and Europe’s number one busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic. The airport is located 23km west of central London. It has three runways (last one approved in 2016) and 4 operational terminals. It is the primary hub for British Airways and the primary operating base for Virgin Atlantic. The fastest way to reach central London by bus running every 15 minutes. You can also use London subway system via Piccadily Line. Heathrow Airport has a coach which links it to more than 500 destinations accross Britain. The system is so well organized that you will be able to reach any destination at any time of the day, for example London – Manchester or some international routes like Amsterdam, Paris or Glasgow.

Gatwick Airport London

IATA code LGW – (~ 46 Mio. passengers)

London Gatwick Airport is a major international airport in southeast England. It is situated almost 50km from London city centre. It is the second busiest airport by total passenger traffic in the United Kingdom, after London Heathrow and ninth busiest in Europe. The airport has two terminals, the North and the South Terminal. Frequent coach services which depart every 15 min link Gatwick to more than 400 UK towns and cities. Gatwick has also developed a very functional rail system, so you can different parts of London, Brighton, Horsham, etc. Gatwick Airport is 30 minutes from Victoria in central London via the non-stop Gatwick Express. There are also direct services to City Thameslink, London Farringdon and Clapham Junction.

Manchester Airport

IATA code MAN – (~ 28 Mio. passengers)

Initially known as Ringway Airport, Manchester Airport is an international airport situated 14km southwest of central Manchester. It’s country’s third busiest airport by the number of passengers. The airport provides connections with over 200 destinations worldwide. A big number of coach services run daily from ‘The Station’ at Manchester Airport, the integrated transport hub, linking Manchester Airport with rest of the region and other major UK cities. You can go to Birmingham, Liverpool, London, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Stansted Airport London

IATA code STN – (~ 28 Mio. passengers)

London Stansted Airport is an international airport located in the district of Uttlesford, Essex, 50km northeast of central London. It serves more than 170 destinations accross Europe, Africa and Central and North America and more European destinations among all UK airports. It is a base for many European low-cost airlines, especially for Ryanair which offers more than 130 routes from this airport. See how to get from the airport to the London city center.

Luton – London Airport

IATA code LTN – (~ 16.5 Mio. passengers)

London Luton Airport is an international airport 3km east of the town centre of Luton in Bedfordshire and 47km of the London city centre. The airport serves as a base for EasyJet, Monarch, Thomson Airways and Ryanair. Most of the routes served are within Europe, although there are some charter and scheduled routes to Northern Africa, the United States and Asia. See how to get from the airport to the city center of London.

Birmingham Airport

IATA code BHX – (~ 12 Mio. passengers)

Birmingham Airport is an international airport situated 10km east of Birmingham city centre. It has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction. Birmingham Airport is a base for Flybe, Monarch, Ryanair, Thomas Cook Airlines, and Thomson Airways. It takes around 30 minutes to reach the centre of Birmingham.

Bristol Airport

IATA code BRS – (~ 8.6 Mio. passengers)

Bristol Airport is an international airport located in North Somersten and serving the city of Bristol and its surrounding area. It is 13km away from the city centre. It serves as a base for EasyJet, Ryanair, Thomas Cook, Thomson Airways and BMI Regional. See here how to get from the airport to Bristol city centre.

Newcastle Airport

IATA code NCL – (~ 5 Mio. passengers)

Newcastle Airport is an international airport 10km northwest of Newcastle city centre. According to the statistics from 2018, it was the 11th busiest airport in the UK and the second busiest in Northern England after the airport in Manchester. See here how to get from the airport to the city center

East Midlands Airport – IATA code EMA – (~ 5 Mio. passengers)

Liverpool Airport – IATA code LPL – (~ 5 Mio. passengers)

London Airport – IATA code LCY – (~ 4.8 Mio. passengers)

Leeds Bradford Airport – IATA code LBA – (~ 4 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: /
  • Nearby cities: Horsforth, Shipley, Pudsey
  • To Leeds city from the airport: shuttle bus – 40min, train – 30min
  • To Bradford city from the airport: shuttle bus – 40min, train – 30min

Exeter Airport – IATA code EXT – (~ 0.9 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: /
  • Nearby cities: Topsham, Crediton, Broadclyst
  • To Exeter city from the airport: train – 15min, public transport – 15min

Isle of Man Airport – IATA code IOM – (~ 0.8 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: Ronaldsway Airport
  • Nearby cities: Onchan, Braddan, Union Mills
  • To Douglas city from the airport: public bus – 20min

Bournemouth Airport – IATA code BOH – (~ 0.6 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: Hurn Airport
  • Nearby cities: Poole, Christchurch, Broadstone
  • To Bournemouth city from the airport: public bus – 10min

Norwich Airport – IATA code NWI – (~ 0.5 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: /
  • Nearby cities: Thorpe End, Cringleford, Bawburgh, Spixworth
  • To Norwich city from the airport: public bus – 30min

Newquay Airport – IATA code NQY – (~ 0.4 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: Cornwall Airport
  • Nearby cities: Crantock, St Columb Minor, Tregurrian
  • To Newquay city from the airport: taxi

Southampton Airport – IATA code SOU – (~ 2 Mio. passengers)

Jersey Airport – IATA code JER – (~ 1.6 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: /
  • Nearby cities: St Clair, St Aubin
  • To St Helier city (Channel Islands capital) from the airport: public bus – 30min

London Southend Airport – IATA code SEN – (~ 1.4 Mio. Passengers)

Doncaster Sheffield Airport – IATA code DSA – (~ 1.2 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: Robin Hood Airport
  • Nearby cities: Rotherham, Scunthorpe, Worksop
  • To Doncaster city from the airport: shuttle bus – 15min
  • To Sheffield city from the airport: shuttle bus – 25min

Humberside Airport – IATA code HUY – (~ 0.2 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: /
  • Nearby cities: Brigg, Hull, Scunthorpe, Bridlington
  • To East Riding of Yorkshire from the airport: shuttle bus – 40min

Durham Airport – IATA code MME – (~ 0.1 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: Tees Valley Airport
  • Nearby cities: Thornaby, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Darlington
  • To Durham city from the airport: train – 15min, public bus – 20min

wizzair

Airports in Scotland

Scotland has the biggest number of airports after England. Airports in Edinburgh and Glasgow are the largest international airports where most passengers land when visiting Scotland. Here is the list of the biggest Scottish airports.

Edinburgh Airport

IATA code EDI – (~ 14 Mio. passengers)

Edinburgh Airport is an international airport located 10km west of the Scottish capital and the country’s busiest airport. It is sixth busiest airport in the UK in terms of passenger number. The airport features two runways and one passenger terminal. See here how to reach the city centre from the airport.

Glasgow Airport

IATA code GLA – (~ 10 Mio. passengers)

Formerly known as Abbotsinch Airport, Glasgow Airport for international traffic is located 11km west of Glasgow city centre. It is Scotland’s second busiest airport, after Edinburgh Airport and the eighth busiest in the UK. It serves mostly western Scotland. It is a hub for Loganair (currently Flybe). The buses from Glasgow Airport runs every 10 minutes.

Sumburgh Airport – IATA code LSI – (~ 0.2 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: /
  • Nearby cities: Laxo, Brae, Lerwick, Gremista, Skeld
  • To Lerwick city from the airport: shuttle bus – 45min

Aberdeen Airport – IATA code ABZ – (~ 3 Mio. passengers)

Inverness Airport – IATA code INV – (~ 0.9 Mio. passengers)

Glasgow Airport – IATA code PIK – (~ 0.6 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: Prestwick Airport
  • Nearby cities: Paisley, Rutherglen, Laurieston, Bishopbriggs
  • To Glasgow city from the airport: shuttle bus – 50min

ryanair-flight

Airports in Wales

There is a dozen of airports in Wales of which Cardiff Airport is the busiest. You can check out the main airports in Wales below.

Cardiff Airport – IATA code CWL – (~ 1.5 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: /
  • Nearby cities: Newport, Barry, Caerphilly
  • To Cardiff city from the airport: shuttle bus – 25min, train – 15min

Anglesey Airport – IATA code VLY (~ 15 000 passengers)

  • Also called: Maes Awyr Ynys Môn
  • Nearby cities: Anglesey, Gwynedd
  • To Angelesey city from the airport: shuttle bus

Airports in Northern Ireland

The smallest number of airports in the UK are located in Northern Ireland. The largest and busiest airports serve Belfast from where passengers can continue to other regional airports. Here are the main airports in Northern Ireland.

Belfast Airport – IATA code BFS – (~ 6 Mio. passengers)

Belfast Airport – IATA code BHD – (~ 2.5 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: George Best Airport
  • Nearby cities: Lisburn, Comber, Bangor, Holywood
  • To Belfast city from the airport: shuttle bus – 20min, public bus – 25min

Derry Airport – IATA code LDY – (~ 0.2 Mio. passengers)

  • Also called: Londonderry Airport, Eglinton Airport
  • Nearby cities: Campsey, Prehen, Burnfoot, Muff
  • To Derry city from the airport: public bus – 20min

Airport bus near the small airplane

Airports in Ireland

Although not part of the UK, Irish airports are often considered when travelling to the UK. There are several airports in Ireland, but regardless where you’re flying from, you will probably land in Dublin and Cork airports, the mos busiest ones.

Airports in neighbouring countries:

Airports in Belgium Airports in the Netherlands

Airports in France

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *