Birmingham Airport sits about 8 miles east of the city centre, beside the M42 and the A45, with Birmingham International station and the NEC next door. This page covers the road routes from each direction, the train and the Air-Rail Link, and the buses and coaches that stop at the terminal. For drop-off charges, how early to arrive and which parking to choose, see our guide to flying from Birmingham Airport.
By car: the postcode and the last few miles
For sat-nav, the airport postcode is B26 3QJ. Car Parks 2 and 3 and Valet Parking use B26 3AW, and Car Park 7 uses B26 3QW. If you have booked parking off the airport, use the postcode in your booking confirmation.
Almost every route ends the same way: leave the M42 at junction 6, take the A45 towards Birmingham and follow the airport signs. At the airport, follow the signs for your car park or the Drop Off car park, which has its own entrance on Airport Way.
The roads around the terminal are enforced Red Routes, marked with double red lines, so do not stop at the kerb to let anyone out.
Routes from each direction
- From the north-west (Stafford, Stoke, Manchester, Liverpool): take the M6 south and leave at junction 4A for the M42, signed London and Solihull. Leave at junction 6.
- From the north-east (Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Sheffield, Leeds): follow the A42 and M42 south-west to junction 6, then the A45.
- From the east (Coventry, Northampton, the M1): the A45 runs directly between Coventry and the airport. From the M1 and the M6 further east, join the M42 southbound where the two motorways meet north of the airport, then leave at junction 6.
- From the south-east (London, Oxford, Bicester, Banbury): take the M40 north to its end, where it joins the M42 at junction 3A. Head north-east on the M42 to junction 6.
- From the south-west (Bristol, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Worcester): take the M5 north to junction 4A, where the M42 begins near Bromsgrove. Follow the M42 east, past the M40 junction, to junction 6.
- From Birmingham city centre: the A45 Coventry Road runs east from the ring road through Small Heath and Sheldon to the airport.
The newer road from junction 5A
The M42 has a newer junction, 5A, just south of junction 6. It connects to the A4545, a dual carriageway that runs north to the Clock Interchange roundabout on the A45, and there is a dedicated slip road off the A4545 into the airport. It opened fully in June 2025. The airport's own directions still use junction 6, and an older sat-nav may not know the new road, so follow the signs on the day.
When to allow extra time
The airport says congestion is usually limited to the rush hours, roughly 07:30 to 09:00 and 16:30 to 18:00, when the M6 and M42 can slow at the junctions. National Highways shows live delays on the motorways.
By train: Birmingham International and the Air-Rail Link
Birmingham International station is next to the airport and joined to it by the Air-Rail Link, a free monorail. It runs daily from 03:30 to 00:30 and takes about a minute and a half. It runs between the first floors of the station and terminal; take the lift down for check-in.
Direct services from Birmingham International include:
- Avanti West Coast: three trains an hour to London Euston, taking about 70 minutes, plus trains to New Street and Wolverhampton.
- London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway: up to three trains an hour to London Euston, Northampton, Milton Keynes and Rugby, and up to four an hour to Birmingham New Street.
- CrossCountry: hourly to Manchester Piccadilly and to Bournemouth, as well as trains to Birmingham New Street and Coventry.
- Transport for Wales: hourly to Shrewsbury. Every two hours the train continues to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli, and every two hours to Holyhead via Wrexham and Chester.
Birmingham New Street is about 10 minutes away by direct train. If you are coming from London Marylebone with Chiltern Railways, you arrive at Birmingham Moor Street, a short walk from New Street, where you change for Birmingham International. Check times with National Rail before an early flight.
By bus
National Express West Midlands and National Express Coventry run the local buses. Some stop at the terminal; others at Birmingham International station, a short Air-Rail Link ride away.
- X1: Birmingham city centre to Coventry, stopping at the airport at stop K.
- X12: Birmingham city centre to Solihull, stopping at the airport at stop L.
- 96: Kingstanding to Chelmsley Wood, stopping at the airport at stop L.
- 17A and 97A: Birmingham city centre to Birmingham International station and the NEC.
Pay on board by cash or contactless. The Transport for West Midlands journey planner shows live departures.
By coach
National Express and FlixBus coaches stop directly outside the terminal. National Express runs to places including Oxford, Luton, Milton Keynes and Manchester, and FlixBus to places including Oxford and London. Buy tickets online, or from the driver if seats are left.
By taxi
The airport links to two booking services: Complete Taxi Management for black cabs, including wheelchair-accessible ones, and Minicabit for fixed-price private hire.
Inside, our page on food, drink and shops at Birmingham Airport lists what is before and after security. To compare parking for your dates, see Birmingham Airport parking.
Sorted before you fly.
