While many international travellers will fly in and out of the UK via London Heathrow Airport, there are actually a number of alternate international airports which may be more conveniently located for you.
Here’s what you need to know about the UK’s international airports.
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
- London Stansted Airport (STN)
- London Luton Airport (LTN)
- London City Airport (LCY)
- Manchester Airport (MAN)
- Newcastle International (NCL)
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
- Birmingham International Airport (BHX)
- Glasgow International Airport (GLA)
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
- Cardiff Airport (CWL)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Closest city: London
Airport Connections/Transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from LHR.
- The Heathrow express train takes 15 minutes to get into central London.
- Both London taxis and Uber taxis can be accessed from outside each of the airport terminals.
Website: London Heathrow Airport
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
Closest city: London
Airport connections/transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from LGW.
- The Gatwick express train is a non-stop service from LGW airport to London Victoria. This departs twice an hour and takes 30 minutes.
- Southern train services cover London and the South, including Victoria, London Bridge, Clapham Junction, Brighton, Southampton, Eastbourne and Portsmouth.
- Great Western Railway runs an hourly service between Gatwick Airport and Reading.
- Both London taxis and Uber taxis can be accessed from outside each of the airport terminals.
Website: London Gatwick Airport
London Stansted Airport (STN)
Closest city: London
Airport connections/transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from STN.
- The Stansted express departs from STN airport every 30 minutes and takes 50 minutes to get to London Liverpool Street.
- Both London taxis and Uber taxis can be accessed from outside of the airport terminals.
Website: London Stansted Airport
London Luton Airport (LTN)
Closest city: London
Airport connections/transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from LTN.
- Both London taxis and Uber taxis can be accessed from outside of the airport.
- The shuttle bus from the airport terminal to Luton Airport Parkway train station takes 10 minutes. From there, trains can be taken to St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink and London Blackfriars. Trains are every 10 minutes, and the average train journey is 40 minutes.
Website: London Luton Airport
London City Airport (LCY)
Closest city: London
Airport connections/transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from LCY.
- Both London taxis and Uber taxis can be accessed from outside of the airport. The journey to London takes circa 30 minutes.
- The London Underground train network can be accessed from the airport.
Website: London City Airport
Manchester Airport (MAN)
Closest city: Manchester
Airport connections/transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from MAN.
- Taxis can be accessed from outside of the airport. This journey takes circa 20-25 minutes.
- The train from Manchester Airport to Manchester city centre can be accessed from the station at the airport, taking around 15 minutes.
Website: Manchester Airport
Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
Closest city: Newcastle
Airport connections/transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from NCL.
- Taxis can be accessed from outside of the airport to the city centre. This journey takes circa 20-25 minutes.
- The metro train connects the airport with Newcastle city centre and Sunderland. The airport station is directly connected to the terminal.
Website: Newcastle International Airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
Closest city: Liverpool
Airport connections/transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from LPL.
- Taxis can be accessed from outside of the airport to Liverpool city centre.
- The closest station is Liverpool South Parkway. To Liverpool Lime Street (city centre), the journey is circa 10 minutes.
Website: Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Birmingham International Airport (BHX)
Closest city: Birmingham
Airport connections/transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from BHX.
- Taxis can be accessed from outside of the airport to the city centre.
- The airport is connected to over 100 towns and cities via Birmingham International Station. The journey time into the city centre takes circa 40 minutes by train.
Website: Birmingham Airport
Glasgow International Airport (GLA)
Closest city: Glasgow
Airport connections/transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from GLA.
- Glasgow Airport Express service 500 connects the airport to the city centre in 15 minutes.
- An airport taxi to the city centre takes circa 20 minutes.
Website: Glasgow International Airport
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
Closest city: Edinburgh
Airport connections/transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from EDI.
- The local train stations are Edinburgh Gateway, Edinburgh Park and Haymarket station. These are easily accessed by tram – which departs every 7 minutes – from the airport.
- Taxis can be accessed from outside of the airport to the city centre.
Website: Edinburgh Airport
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Closest city: Cardiff
Airport connections/transport
- Connecting flights to other UK destinations can be taken from CWL.
- There is a rail link that connects Rhoose Cardiff International station with Cardiff Central and Bridgend. Trains run in each direction every hour and connections to stations around the country can be made from Cardiff.
- Taxis can be easily accessed from outside of the airport to Cardiff city centre.
Website: Cardiff Airport
If you’re interested in working in the UK and would like to discuss the positions available in your specialty, and how we can assist you, please contact our team.
