Arriving at East Midlands Airport, what to expect

If arriving by private or hire car, there are several options for parking. The type of car parking you require will determine where you park your rental or private vehicle, but regardless of your parking requirements it is advisable to pre-book parking to take advantage of financial savings. East Midlands Airport’s website has car parking booking options and they advertise that if you book through them, they will donate £1 to environmental causes to offset your trip to the airport: good news for the environmentally conscious.

It is possible to arrive and leave the airport by public transport, but this is not a convenient option for those with lots of luggage. Depending on where in the UK you are going to or coming from, you will need to get to Nottingham, Leicester or Derby first before continuing your journey to or from East Midlands Airport.

In the airport building, there are a host of shops, cafés and restaurants to keep you busy and refreshed while waiting for your flight. There are duty-free shops for passengers travelling outside the EU and regular shops for those who are taking a break or going on business closer to home. Whether you need something for your trip or just want to browse the shelves, Alpha Airport Shopping, Dixon’s Tax Free, Boots, Rohde and Accessorize will pass the time for you. All shops are well stocked in items particularly suitable for travellers, such as adaptor plugs, travel size toiletries, newspapers, books and magazines.

Depending on what you are looking for, it is possible to make some good savings on electrical goods in the Dixon’s Tax free shop as well as alcohol, cigarettes, after shaves, perfumes and colognes in the duty-free shops.

When at East Midlands Airport, the dining choices are plentiful from fast food at Burger King to a large food hall at Alpha serving a selection of international cuisine and healthy options such as salads and soups. Other dining options in the Departures Hall include Pizza Hut Express, Caffe Ritazza and Soho Coffee Co. If you want to eat while enjoying an alcoholic drink, the Three Cities Bar can serve your dining needs as well as offering a range of international beers, wines and spirits at competitive airport prices.

East Midlands Airport is one of the leading airports in the UK when it comes to installing new technology to enhance passenger experience. The airport has express check in kiosks that enable passengers to avoid long queues and many of the hassles associated with airport check in and to generally save time in the process. The express check in kiosks are located in the main Check-in Hall and the airport has appointed members of staff to help passengers with this service if it is their first time using it.

East Midlands Airport offers an executive lounge, open to all passengers. While appealing mainly to business travellers, the Penauille Servisair Executive Lounge is open to all people for a charge. It provides a quiet area for passengers to relax or work before flying and the lounge has its own dedicated team of staff to attend to customers’ needs.

Car hire is available at East Midlands Airport and is a very convenient option for those wishing to access the cities of Nottingham, Derby or Leicester as well as nearby Sheffield, Stoke upon Trent and Tamworth. We recommend booking car hire online in advance of arrival at the airport to ensure the auto of your choice.

The Thistle Hotel is East Midlands Airport’s on-site hotel. The modern, four-star establishment is guaranteed to meet the needs of travellers and provides the perfect beginning or end to your trip, especially if you are departing early in the morning or arriving late at night. Other nearby hotels include the Best Western Premier Yew Lodge Hotel, Beefeater and Premier Travel Inn, The George Hotel and Melbourne View Hotel, meaning that even at busy times travellers can find accommodation close to East Midlands Airp