5 Best UK airports for travellers

Summer might be over, but UK airports are still set to see plenty of travellers passing through over the coming months. Last year, in December alone, an estimated 17.8 million passengers travelled to and from airports across the country.

So, whether holiday-makers are seeking some winter sun, or hitting the slopes in the run up to Christmas, which airports offer the best experience?

To find out, travel insurance experts at PayingTooMuch have analysed 30 of the UK’s busiest airports, ranking them based on factors such as lounge experiences, accessibility, shopping and leisure facilities, and family-friendly amenities. 

According to the research, Manchester Airport has been crowned the best airport in the UK. In particular, it ranks as the number one airport for those with special assistance requirements, receiving a score of 10 out of 10 for accessibility. The airport is one of only four airports in the UK to have RoomMate audio description available and it has the highest number of Changing Places toilets, with three located in the airport. 

Manchester airport is also deemed to be relatively relaxing, with four lounges across the airport’s three terminals, and an average customer review score of 4.3 for these. It also has one of the highest family-friendly scores of 6.4, thanks to its dedicated kid zones, and affordable children’s lounge fees (£20). 

With an overall score of 7.2 out of 10, Gatwick follows closely behind in second place. Those travelling with kids might want to consider flying from Gatwick, as it ranks as the most family-friendly airport on the list. With specific breastfeeding facilities and play areas available onsite, London’s second biggest airport is well-equipped for families with young children. 

The airport also scores highly for its shopping and leisure facilities (7.6). With 30 shops and 20 restaurants across its two terminals, there’s plenty of options available for travellers wishing to pass some time before their departure. 

In third place is Birmingham, with an overall score of 7 out of 10. The airport’s single terminal offers travellers 16 shops to browse and a further 12 restaurants to grab a bite, making it the third best airport in the UK for shopping and leisure, with a score of 8.6. 

The Midlands’ biggest airport also ranks as the fourth best for relaxation, with a score of 7.3. It has four lounges for its one terminal, and significantly fewer passengers travelling through than the likes of Gatwick. Birmingham sees around 799,600 holiday-makers each month, while Gatwick sees an average of 1.4 million people per terminal.

Coming in fourth place is another of London’s airports, Luton, which has an overall score of 6.9. Luton is the second most family-friendly airport in the UK, with a score of 6.9. As with Manchester and Gatwick, the airport advertises specific breastfeeding facilities and designated kid’s play areas on its website, and the cost of an airport lounge for a child (£21.49) is significantly less than that for adults (£37.99). 

Rounding off the top five best airports in the UK is Edinburgh, with an overall score of 6.7 out of 10. The Scottish airport is the best place to keep you busy and fed while you wait for your plane, with 23 shops per terminal and the second highest number of food and drink facilities (11). 

Edinburgh is also the second best rated for lounge and relaxation experiences (7.4), with four lounges to choose from, despite having just one terminal. The customer satisfaction scores of Edinburgh’s lounges are also relatively high, at 3.9 out of five.