East Midlands Airport

East Midlands Airport (EMA) is located in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, approximately 23 km (14 miles) south of Nottingham, 19 km (12 miles) from Derby, and 35 km (22 miles) from Leicester. The airport serves as the main international gateway for the East Midlands region, handling over 4 million passengers annually.

The airport has a single terminal building with three floors:

• Ground floor: Arrivals hall, car hire desks, Greggs
• First floor: Check-in, security, departures
• Upper departure lounge: Gates, shops, restaurants, Escape Lounge

EMA operates as a focus city for several low-cost and charter carriers:

• Jet2.com: Major operator serving holiday destinations across Europe
• Ryanair: Extensive European network including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland
• TUI Airways: Package holiday flights to Mediterranean and beyond

The airport is also a major cargo hub, serving as the UK base for DHL Air UK and UPS Airlines, making it one of the busiest cargo airports in the country.

Nearby Airports

The East Midlands region is within reach of several other airports:

Birmingham Airport (BHX) - 62 km south

• Larger airport with more long-haul options
• Accessible via M42/M1 motorways (approximately 1 hour drive)
• Better for intercontinental flights

Manchester Airport (MAN) - 86 km north

• UK's third busiest airport with extensive route network
• Direct trains from Nottingham and Derby (approximately 2 hours)
• Best for long-haul destinations not served from EMA

Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) - 50 km northeast

• Smaller regional airport
• Limited scheduled services

East Midlands Airport is located in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, well-connected to the M1 motorway (Junction 23A/24).

Typical journey times:

Destination	By Bus	By Taxi/Car
Nottingham city centre	30-55 min	20-30 min
Derby city centre	35-40 min	20-25 min
Leicester city centre	45-60 min	30-40 min
Loughborough	20-30 min	15-20 min

The airport has no direct rail link. The nearest station is East Midlands Parkway, approximately 5 miles away, connected by on-demand minibus service.

Uber is available at East Midlands Airport. The pickup point is located outside the arrivals hall.

Typical Uber/taxi fares:

Destination	Fare (GBP)	Fare (USD)
Nottingham city centre	£25-35	$32-44
Derby city centre	£25-30	$32-38
Leicester city centre	£40-50	$50-63
Loughborough	£15-20	$19-25
Long Eaton	£10-15	$13-19

Licensed taxis queue outside the arrivals hall. Pre-booked private hire services often offer better rates than black cabs. Local operators include DG Cars and Swift Airport Cars.

Tip: Book taxis in advance for early morning flights, as availability can be limited before 6am.

Skylink Bus Services

Skylink is the primary bus service connecting EMA to the East Midlands region. Buses depart from the Coach Station adjacent to the terminal building (Bays C and D).

Skylink Derby (operated by Kinchbus):

• Route: Derby - Long Eaton - East Midlands Airport - Loughborough - Leicester
• Frequency: Every 15-20 minutes during the day, hourly overnight
• Journey time to Derby: 35 minutes
• Fare: £2 single (with government fare cap), normally £4.70

Skylink Nottingham (operated by Trentbarton):

• Route: Nottingham - East Midlands Airport - Coalville
• Frequency: Every 20 minutes during the day, hourly overnight
• Journey time to Nottingham: 55 minutes
• Fare: £2 single (with government fare cap), normally £5.30

Skylink Express (operated by Trentbarton):

• Route: Nottingham (Trent Bridge) - Clifton - East Midlands Airport
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes, 04:00-23:00
• Journey time to Nottingham: 30 minutes
• Fare: £2 single (with government fare cap), normally £6.60

All Skylink services operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with reduced frequency overnight.

Rail Connections

EMA has no direct rail station. The nearest station is East Midlands Parkway, located 5 miles from the airport on the Midland Main Line.

East Midlands Parkway connections:

• Nottingham: 10-15 minutes
• Derby: 20 minutes
• Leicester: 30 minutes
• London St Pancras: 80-90 minutes

Getting to East Midlands Parkway from the airport:

• Nottsbus On Demand (Z4): On-demand minibus service, approximately 23 minutes
• Taxi: 10-15 minutes, approximately £12-15

Combined tickets: You can purchase combined rail and Skylink bus tickets at any station ticket office.

East Midlands Airport offers extensive parking options. Pre-booking saves up to 75% compared to turn-up prices.

Type	Pre-book Price (8 days)	Turn-up Price (24 hrs)	Distance to Terminal
Short Stay 1/3	From £70	£45/day	2-minute walk
Mid Stay	From £55	£25/day	5-minute walk
Long Stay 1/2	From £40-50	£20/day	3-5 min shuttle
JetParks	From £35	N/A	5-10 min shuttle
Meet & Greet	From £80	N/A	Drop at terminal door

Drop-off and pick-up options:

• Rapid Drop Off: £5 for 15 minutes (directly outside terminal), £1/minute after
• Short Stay: £6 for 30 minutes
• Long Stay 2: FREE for up to 1 hour (£1/minute overstay charge)

Tip: For free drop-off, use Long Stay 2 and walk or take the shuttle to the terminal within 1 hour.

All official parking features ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) for barrier-free entry/exit when pre-booked.

East Midlands Airport has a decent selection of dining options, primarily located airside (after security) in the upper departure lounge.

After Security

• Frankie & Benny's: Italian-American diner, sit-down meals
• Castle Rock: Pub with local ales from Nottingham's Castle Rock brewery, hearty British food
• Alembic: New Mediterranean-style bar with local Derbyshire spirits, light bites
• Burger King: Fast food, affordable and quick
• Pork & Pickle: Regional deli-style cafe, sandwiches and local treats
• Starbucks: Coffee and snacks
• The Yard: British pub food

Before Security

• Greggs: Budget-friendly sandwiches, sausage rolls, and pastries (Arrivals Hall)
• Costa Coffee: Coffee and light snacks

Best options: Castle Rock offers the most character with local ales and proper pub food. Alembic (opened 2025) is the newest addition for those wanting a more refined atmosphere.

Free WiFi is available throughout East Midlands Airport:

• Network name: Search for the free airport network
• Duration: Unlimited
• Speed: Adequate for browsing, email, and video streaming

Connect and accept terms to get online. For faster speeds or more privacy, the Escape Lounge offers premium WiFi.

SIM cards are available at:

• WHSmith (Arrivals Hall and Departure Lounge)
• Boots (Departure Lounge)

UK prepaid SIMs from major carriers (EE, Vodafone, Three, O2) cost £10-30 for data packages. Most include EU roaming.

Tip: Order a SIM online before travel (GiffGaff, Lebara, and others offer free SIMs posted internationally) for better value than airport prices.

ATMs are located in both the arrivals hall and departure lounge areas.

ATM withdrawals are free for UK bank accounts. International cards may incur fees of £1.50-3.

Currency exchange counters (Moneycorp) are available but offer poor rates. Better options:

• Use your debit card at ATMs (check foreign transaction fees first)
• Use a travel card like Wise, Revolut, or Monzo
• Exchange currency before arrival or in city centres

East Midlands Airport has a reasonable selection of shops, all located in the departure lounge after security:

• World Duty Free: Alcohol, tobacco, perfume, cosmetics
• Boots: Pharmacy, health & beauty, travel essentials
• WHSmith + InMotion: Books, magazines, snacks, electronics (Apple, Bose)
• JD Sports: Sportswear
• Accessorize: Accessories and gifts
• Dixons Travel: Electronics
• Superdrug: Pharmacy and beauty
• Traveller: Travel accessories and luggage

Duty-free savings apply to alcohol, tobacco, and perfume for passengers travelling outside the UK.

Escape Lounge

East Midlands Airport has one lounge, the Escape Lounge, located in the upper departure lounge after security.

Access options:

Method	Cost
Pre-book online	From £31.99
Walk-up	£35.99
Priority Pass	Free (with membership)
DragonPass	Free (with membership)
Lounge Key	Free (with membership)
Amex Gold/Platinum	Check card benefits

Amenities:

• Complimentary food (hot and cold selection)
• Unlimited drinks including alcoholic beverages
• Free WiFi
• Newspapers and magazines
• Comfortable seating
• Maximum stay: 3 hours

Opening hours (Winter 2025/2026):

• Monday & Friday: 04:00-17:00
• Tuesday: 04:00-10:30
• Wednesday: 04:00-10:00
• Thursday: 04:00-11:00
• Saturday & Sunday: 04:00-16:00

Tip: Pre-book online for guaranteed entry and a small discount. The lounge can fill up during peak morning departures.

Hotels near East Midlands Airport range from budget to mid-range options. The closest hotel is just a 3-minute walk from the terminal.

Walking Distance

• Leonardo Hotel East Midlands Airport: 4-star, 3-minute walk, indoor pool and spa, from £80/night ($100)

With Shuttle Service

• Premier Inn East Midlands Airport: Budget-friendly, 15-20 minute walk or short taxi, from £60/night ($75)
• Holiday Inn Express East Midlands Airport: Breakfast included, shuttle available, from £70/night ($88)
• Hilton East Midlands Airport: Full-service hotel, shuttle service, from £90/night ($113)
• Radisson Blu Hotel East Midlands Airport: Premium option, from £100/night ($125)
• Crowne Plaza East Midlands Airport: Business-friendly, from £85/night ($107)

For early morning flights, the Leonardo Hotel offers the most convenient access with its direct walking route to the terminal. Budget travellers should look at the Premier Inn, which offers reliable accommodation at good value.

East Midlands Airport's central location makes it a good gateway to several historic English cities and the Peak District:

Nottingham (20-30 min by taxi)

• Nottingham Castle: Newly renovated museum and art gallery
• City of Caves: Underground tour of Nottingham's sandstone caves
• Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem: Claims to be England's oldest pub (1189 AD)
• Lace Market: Trendy area with bars, restaurants, and boutiques

Derby (20-25 min by taxi)

• Derby Cathedral: Historic cathedral with connections to Bonnie Prince Charlie
• Derby Museum and Art Gallery: Joseph Wright paintings and local history
• Derwent Valley Mills: UNESCO World Heritage Site, birthplace of the factory system

Leicester (30-40 min by taxi)

• King Richard III Visitor Centre: Site where the medieval king's remains were discovered
• National Space Centre: Major space museum and planetarium
• Leicester Cathedral: Final resting place of Richard III

Peak District (45-60 min by car)

• Chatsworth House: Stunning stately home and gardens
• Dovedale: Beautiful valley walks and stepping stones
• Bakewell: Historic market town famous for Bakewell pudding

Practical Tips

• Citycard: Nottingham offers a tourist card for attractions and transport discounts
• Weather: The East Midlands has similar weather to the rest of central England - pack layers and a waterproof jacket
• Transport: Hire a car if planning to explore the Peak District; public transport covers city centres well
• Markets: Don't miss the historic markets in Nottingham (Victoria Centre) and Leicester (Leicester Market)