Liverpool John Lennon Airport is in Speke, about seven miles south-east of Liverpool city centre, with links to the M62, M57 and M56. The nearest station, Liverpool South Parkway, is about three miles away, with frequent buses to the terminal. For drop-off charges, how early to arrive and which parking to choose, see our guide to flying from Liverpool Airport.
By car: the postcode and the last few miles
For sat-nav, the airport postcode is L24 1YD. If you have booked parking, use the postcode in your booking confirmation. Close to the airport, follow the road signs for your car park or the drop-off area.
Most routes end on the A561 Speke Boulevard: leave it at the junction with Speke Hall Avenue and follow the airport signs. Some routes are tolled, so choose yours before you set off.
Routes from each direction
- From the north-east, east and Manchester: the airport's recommended route has no tolls. Take the M6 to junction 21A, a split junction, and make sure you take the slip road signed Liverpool. Follow the M62 west to junction 6, then take the second exit onto the A5300 Knowsley Expressway. At the end, turn right at the roundabout onto the A561 Speke Boulevard and follow it to Speke Hall Avenue.
- From the north of Merseyside (Southport, Ormskirk, and Preston via the M58): take the M57 south. It ends at Tarbock Island, the same roundabout as junction 6 of the M62, where you join the A5300 and follow the route above.
- From the south (Birmingham, Stoke, Cheshire): you can stay on the M6 to junction 21A and use the untolled route above. The alternative is to leave the M6 at junction 20, take the M56 west to junction 12 and follow the airport signs over the Mersey Gateway Bridge, which is tolled. From the bridge, the A562 Speke Road leads west towards Speke and the A561.
- From the Wirral: at busy times the airport suggests the M53 and M56 to junction 12 and the Mersey Gateway. The Mersey Tunnels, also tolled, are the other way.
- From North Wales and Chester: take the A55 to join the M56 eastbound, then follow the route from the south from junction 12.
- From Liverpool city centre: the A561 runs south along Aigburth Road past Garston and becomes Speke Boulevard. From south-east Liverpool (Allerton, Woolton, Hunts Cross), the A562 runs out along Menlove Avenue and Hillfoot Road towards Speke.
Paying the Mersey Gateway toll
The Mersey Gateway and the neighbouring Silver Jubilee Bridge are both tolled by Merseyflow. There are no booths: cameras read your number plate, and you pay online in advance or by midnight the day after you cross, or risk a penalty charge.
Roadworks in autumn 2026
Tarbock Island (M62 junction 6) is being rebuilt until January 2027, with some slip roads closed, including the M57 southbound exit, and overnight closures until mid-November. From late October 2026, Speke Boulevard's eastbound side is also closed for six to eight weeks for bridge repairs, with a contraflow on the westbound side. Follow the diversion signs and check the traffic news before an early flight.
By train: Liverpool South Parkway
The airport has no station of its own. The nearest is Liverpool South Parkway, about three miles away, where the 80A and 86A buses link the station and the terminal in around 15 minutes. If you buy a rail ticket to "Liverpool Airport Bus", the bus leg is included.
Trains calling there include:
- Merseyrail: Northern Line trains across Merseyside, including from Liverpool Central. There is engineering work with replacement buses from 11 October to 6 November 2026.
- Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway: to Runcorn, Crewe, Birmingham and London Euston.
- Northern and TransPennine Express: to Warrington, Manchester, Sheffield and Cleethorpes.
- East Midlands Railway: to Sheffield, Nottingham and Norwich.
- Transport for Wales: direct to Chester and the North Wales coast as far as Llandudno.
By bus
Arriva runs most airport buses. Merseytravel's journey planner shows times for all of them.
- 500: the quickest bus from Liverpool city centre, via Aigburth to Liverpool ONE Bus Station and Great Charlotte Street (for Lime Street). It runs from about 04:00 to midnight and takes around 30 to 40 minutes.
- 86A: airport to Liverpool ONE via Garston, Liverpool South Parkway, Allerton and Mossley Hill. It runs about every 10 minutes in the daytime on weekdays, and takes about 13 minutes to South Parkway.
- 80A: a similar route via South Parkway to Liverpool ONE, less often.
- 82A: from Runcorn and Widnes, continuing to Liverpool ONE. The 81A runs to Bootle.
- X3: an express bus to St Helens, started in September 2026. The 89 also runs to St Helens, and the hourly 3A to Halewood and Huyton.
By coach
National Express coaches do not stop at the airport. They use Liverpool ONE Bus Station in the city centre, where you can change to the 500, 80A, 82A or 86A, and through tickets covering the bus are available. FlixBus also stops at Liverpool ONE Bus Station.
By taxi
Black cabs wait at the rank outside the terminal exit, take cards and are wheelchair accessible. A pre-booked private hire taxi must pick up and drop off in one of the car parks.
For the terminal itself, our page on shops, food and drink at Liverpool Airport lists what is where. To compare parking for your dates, see Liverpool Airport parking.
Sorted before you fly.
