Travel to Leicester by air

Airports

East Midlands (now called Nottingham East Midlands Airport)

The nearest public airport to Leicester is East Midlands. Its web site has information about the nearest hotels and where to park. Main telephone number for the airport is +44 (0) 871 919 9000

There is no direct rail link from the airport to Leicester. It would be necessary to travel to either Nottingham, Derby or Loughborough to catch a train.

There are direct bus services from Nottingham East Midlands to the surrounding cities. The Airport is very close to the M1 Motorway.

East Midlands International Airport
Castle Donington
Derbyshire
DE74 2SA

Phone: 01332 852852

International: +44 (0)1332 852 852

Fax: 01332 850393

There is another web site with information on East Midlands Airport This site gives information on how to get to the airport by rail, bus and road.

East Midlands Airport
Castle Donnington
Derby
DE74 2SH

Phone: 0332 850 700

Other airports serving Leicester

You can also get to Leicester from Birmingham, Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow airports. See below.

Birmingham

Birmingham International Airport

The Airport has a train station at Birmingham International.

Local buses provide links to Birmingham and surrounding areas. National Express coach services provide links to most cities and other airports via Birmingham Digbeth Coach Station.

There are frequent train services from Luton Airport to Leicester. Coach and bus services also run from the airport.

Further afield

London (Heathrow) Full details about how to travel to and from Heathrow are given on their website. Further information on transfers is available from the Travellers Toolkit site.

Gatwick Airport

By train

The rail station is directly linked to Gatwick's South Terminal and is just a few minutes from North Terminal via a free transit train link. Rail information and ticket desks are located in the rail station and within the arrival areas of both terminals.

You can take a train from Gatwick to Leicester via Virgin Trains.

When you arrive at Leicester Station there is always a plentiful supply of taxi cabs (for more details see our rail page.) Both Universities are approximately 10 minutes taxi ride from the station. Leicester University Halls of residence are about 20 minutes taxi ride from the station.

By coach

National Express coaches operate from the upper terminal forecourt (South Terminal). The majority of services also call at the North Terminal (on the lower level outside International Arrivals).

Coaches arrive in Leicester at St. Margarets Bus Station. Taxis are available from there at all times.

Tickets can be bought at National Express ticket desks in Arrivals in both the North and South and terminals. There is also a ticket desk and covered waiting area in the South Terminal coach station.

Tickets for a majority of coach services to and from Gatwick can be booked in advance via the operator's website (see our buses page for links.)

You can link to the National Express coaches web site from our Buses page. You should check when purchasing a ticket, if their are luggage weight restrictions.

Please note: most coach services are not wheelchair accessible, but will carry wheelchairs for passengers who are able to board the vehicle unaided. 

Baggage limit: two medium sized suitcases per person and one piece of hand luggage.

For more detailed information, visit the Gatwick Airport website.

Manchester Airport

There is a frequent train service between the Airport and Manchester Piccadilly

Traveling to or from Gatwick? Stay at Gatwick Hotels

The Complete UK and Ireland Airport Guide

Other airports

Leicester

A small flying club facility, this can handle Executive Jets and helicopters. See the Leicester Aeroclub website.

Coventry

Coventry is a small airport handling business jets, freight and flying schools. It is close to the M69 Motorway which carries traffic into Leicester and Coventry. See the Coventry Airport website.

Flights

British Midland Fly bmi | Sales center 0870 60 70 555 (UK only) +44 1332 854854 (Outside of UK)

bmi fly from East Midlands airport to Amsterdam, Belfast, Brussels, Dublin, Edinburgh, Faro, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Guernsey, Jersey, Malaga, Nice, Palma Mallorca, and Paris.

Bus connections

There are bus (coach) connections between Leicester and Luton, Heathrow and Gatwick. The operator is National Express . For further information or bookings see National Express

More information

Travelling from overseas to the UK? See our links page for more information that could help you to prepare for you visit.