East Midlands Airport sits beside the M1 between Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, near Castle Donington in Leicestershire. It has one terminal and no railway station. This page covers the roads, the nearest stations, and the buses and coaches. For drop-off charges, how early to arrive and which parking to choose, see our guide to flying from East Midlands Airport.
By car: the postcode and the last few miles
For sat-nav, the airport postcode is DE74 2SA. If you have booked parking, use the postcode in your booking confirmation instead.
The last stretch is the same from almost every direction: the A453, which runs past the airport between M1 junction 23A and junction 24. Both junctions are signed for East Midlands Airport. Then follow the signs for your car park or for drop-off.
Routes from each direction
- From the south (Leicester, Northampton, London): take the M1 north and leave at junction 23A, then follow the A453 to the airport.
- From the north (Sheffield, Chesterfield, Leeds): take the M1 south and leave at junction 24, then follow the A453 to the airport. Southbound, do not wait for junction 23A: the southbound exit there does not connect to the A453.
- From Birmingham and the south-west: take the M42 north-east past Tamworth. At its junction 11 near Appleby Magna it becomes the A42, which carries on past Ashby-de-la-Zouch to M1 junction 23A. Follow the A453 from there to the airport.
- From Derby, Stoke-on-Trent and the west: the A50 runs east from Stoke past the south of Derby and meets the M1 at junction 24. From there, follow the A453 to the airport.
- From Nottingham: the A453 runs direct from Nottingham, past Clifton, to M1 junction 24 and on to the airport.
National Highways shows live roadworks and delays on the motorways and trunk roads.
By train: the nearest stations
There is no station at the airport, but four nearby stations have a link to the terminal.
East Midlands Parkway
East Midlands Parkway, beside the A453 at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, is the closest station, about five miles away according to the airport. It is on the Midland Main Line and served by East Midlands Railway, with trains to London St Pancras via Loughborough and Leicester, and north to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.
There is no regular shuttle bus from Parkway; earlier shuttles were withdrawn. The link today is Nottsbus On Demand, in its West Rushcliffe zone, which lists both East Midlands Parkway and East Midlands Airport as stops. It runs daily from 7am to midnight, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. You book a seat through the Nottsbus On Demand app, either when you need it or the day before. It starts at 7am, so for an early flight use a Skylink from one of the stations below, or a taxi.
Derby, Long Eaton and Nottingham
- Derby station: the Skylink to Leicester stops at the station and runs to the airport around the clock. The airport suggests Derby for trains from Sheffield, Chesterfield, Birmingham and the north and west.
- Long Eaton station: Skylink Nottingham stops at the station on its way to the airport, about seven miles away. The airport suggests Long Eaton for trains from London and the south.
- Nottingham station: Skylink Express stops at the station, and Skylink Nottingham runs from the city centre. The airport suggests Nottingham for Lincoln and the east.
By bus
Buses use the coach station beside the terminal, a few steps from the arrivals hall. Most routes are run by trentbarton.
- Skylink (Derby, Loughborough, Leicester): Derby bus station and train station, Shardlow, Castle Donington, the airport, Kegworth, Hathern, Loughborough and Leicester St Margaret's bus station. Every 15 minutes during the day and hourly at night, 24 hours a day.
- Skylink Nottingham: Nottingham city centre, Beeston, Long Eaton and Castle Donington to the airport, about every 20 minutes during the day and hourly at night, 24 hours a day. Some buses carry on to Shepshed and Coalville, hourly between about 04:00 and 19:00.
- Skylink Express: Nottingham city centre (Friar Lane), Nottingham railway station, West Bridgford and Clifton park and ride, then non-stop down the A453 to the airport. Every 30 minutes from about 04:00 to 22:00, taking about 35 minutes from Friar Lane, but not overnight.
- my15: Ilkeston, Stapleford, Long Eaton and Castle Donington to the airport, every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays.
- Diamond service 9: Burton upon Trent, Swadlincote, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Melbourne and Castle Donington to the airport, up to every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and roughly hourly on Sundays, until about 21:30, and not on bank holidays.
Check the operator's timetable for the time you need; Traveline plans journeys across all of them.
By coach
Long-distance coaches use the same coach station next to the arrivals hall. The airport does not publish a list of coach routes, so search the coach operator's website for East Midlands Airport as a stop. Luggage allowances vary between companies.
By taxi
Arrow Cars is the airport's official private hire firm, running 24 hours a day with pick-up and drop-off points outside the terminal. You can book online or at its desk in the arrivals hall. Fares are fixed and paid in advance.
Inside, our page on shops, food and drink at East Midlands Airport lists what is before and after security. To compare parking for your dates, see East Midlands Airport parking.
Sorted before you fly.
