Birmingham Airport is at the heart of the UK motorway network, enabling easy access for up to 35 million people who are within a 2 hour driving time.
How to get Birmingham Airport by car or motorcycle
You’ll find Birmingham Airport about 8 miles east of the city and right in the heart of the UK’s motorway network, making it one of the country’s most convenient air transport hubs. In addition to being well served by the road network, the airport links directly to Birmingham International Train Station, courtesy of a dedicated monorail, with a journey time of around one and a half minutes.
If you’re using sat-nav, the airport postcode is: B26 3QJ
Parking
Birmingham Airport has several on and off-site cark parks, motorbike parking, and disabled spaces, all within easy access of the terminal building.
Throughout the year our car parks can get busy, the best way to guarantee your parking space is to pre-book direct with us online.
Further information about getting to our car parks can be found below. For everything else related to our car parks, please visit our parking pages.
Our car parks
Post code: B26 3QJ
what3words location: ///patrol.league.quiet
Leave the M42 at junction 6 and proceed along the A45 following the signs to the airport. On arrival at the airport follow the signs for Car Park 1.
Post code: B26 3AW
Car Park 2 - what3words location: ///windy.filed.flats
Car Park 3 - what3words location: ///discrepancy.spend.plays
Leave the M42 at Junction 6 and proceed along the A45, following the signs to the airport. On arrival at the airport follow the signs for Car Parks 2 & 3.
Post code: B26 3QJ
what3words location: ///soccer.stream.flank
Leave the M42 at Junction 6 and proceed along the A45, following the signs to the airport. Once you’ve arrived, follow the signs for Car Park 4.
Postcode: B26 3QJ
what3words location: ///ship.mount.peanut
Leave the M42 at junction 6 and proceed along the A45 following the signs to the airport. On arrival at the airport follow the signs for Car Park 5.
Post code: B26 3QW
what3words location: ///cool.crest.saving
Follow the M42 to Junction 6. From Junction 6 follow the A45 to Birmingham. When you see the control tower on the right, move to the right-hand lane.
At the lights take the right-hand filter into Terminal Way, signposted: Air Cargo Centre/Gateway Estate/Hotel.
Take the 2nd right onto Falcon Way and the entrance to Car Park 7 is 300 meters along the road on the left.
Postcode: B26 3QJ
what3words location:
Premium Pre-Booked: ///since.among.native
Premium Set Down: ///firmly.bake.fruit
Leave the M42 at Junction 6 and proceed along the A45, following the signs to the airport. On arrival, follow the signs for the Premium Set Down car park.
Postcode: B26 3AW
what3words location: ///taken.deputy.fault
Leave the M42 at junction 6 and proceed along the A45 following the signs to the airport. On arrival at the airport follow the signs for Valet Parking.
Post code: B26 3QJ
what3words location: ///degree.draw.vibe
Leave the M42 at junction 6 and proceed along the A45 following the signs to the airport. At the roundabout with the birds sculpture, continue straight ahead following the signs for the Drop Off car park. You can gain access via a dedicated entrance on Airport Way, the main approach road to the terminal, which is clearly signposted.
Travelling by car
The airport is the biggest in the region and can be easily accessed at any time of the day. Congestion only tends to occur around the usual rush-hour times, in the morning, between 07:30 and 09:00 and 16:30 and 18:00. If you’re driving to the airport around these hours, leave some extra time for traffic delays, particularly if you’re taking the M6 or the M42. These major routes can become slow going during the main rush hours, especially at the junction turn-offs.
From the north-west (Stafford, Stoke, Manchester, Liverpool): Take the M6 and leave at Junction 4A, onto the M42, which is signposted for London and Solihull. Leave at Junction 6, which will take you onto the A45, and then follow the signs for the airport.
From the north-east (Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Sheffield, Leeds): Leave the M42 at Junction 6, onto the A45, and follow the signs to the airport.
From the east (Coventry, Northampton): Follow the M6 to the A45 and then follow the signs to the airport.
From the south-east (Banbury, Oxford, Bicester, London): Follow the M40, before joining the M42 in Coventry. From there, follow the signs to the airport.
From the south-west (Worcester, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bristol): Take the M5 to the M42 in Coventry, before following the signs to the airport.
Already pre-booked your parking?
To ensure your holiday starts smoothly, we’ve installed number plate recognition systems in all of our car parks. If you’ve pre-booked a space with us, the ANPR cameras will read your registration number to raise the barriers automatically. If for some reason this doesn’t happen, just push the help button and a member of our customer services team will assist you. Don't worry if you've not pre-booked your space, we welcome customers who prefer to turn up on the day. There is a wide range of options for parking that range from a short stop for dropping passengers off through to longer stays. More information about our Turn Up Parking prices can be found here. Please note non-booked spaces are available on a first come, first served basis.
Useful links
The AA Route Planner can be used to plan specific directions to the airport, and is especially useful if you want to avoid motorway routes. Live traffic information from Highways England will keep you updated on the status of the traffic and to help you dodge any delays.
Red Routes
Red routes operate around the airport site to maintain the flow of traffic and the safety of our passengers, visitors, and staff. On Red Routes, drivers are not permitted to stop, unload, or park. These routes are clearly marked with double red line road markings and highlighted with signs. To prevent congestion and to keep our customers safe, vehicle monitoring and enforcement operations are in place, with significant fines for those who do not observe the Red Route policies.
EV charging points
We have GRIDSERVE electrical vehicle charging points available in our Premium Set Down car park, with the following connectors - CCS, CHAdeMO and Type 2.
The chargers accept contactless payment and no membership is required, GRIDSERVE prices apply.
For more information about our EV charging points and its prices, please visit the our Premium Set Down car park page.
