Travel Logistics & Airport Guides

London Heathrow (LHR) 🇬🇧

Category Logistics
Terminals Four operational terminals: T2, T3, T4, and T5.
Terminal Transit T2 & T3: 10-minute walk via subway. T4 & T5: Transit via free train/tube; you need a contactless card/phone or free ticket for the barrier. T4 is via London Underground (up to 30 mins) and T5 is via Heathrow Express (up to 40 mins).
Coach Drop-Off (School to LHR) Coaches arriving from school drop off in front of Departures at Terminal 3, Lane 2. What3Words: ///office.pens.trial (For parents meeting, please park in Short Stay).
Coach Rendezvous (LHR to School) All coaches leave from Terminal 3. Students must rendezvous in T3 Arrivals Hall, near the stairs down to the subway and the general seating area (near the Giraffe Stop café/Market Gardener). What3Words: ///glory.tigers.ends
Arrivals (Taxi Pick-Ups) Taxis collect from the Arrivals terminal. For car pick-up, you must park in the Short Stay Car Park. Waiting is not permitted on the forecourt.
Car Drop-Off Fee A £6 Terminal Drop-Off Charge is levied by the airport for all forecourt drop-offs (as of January 2025).
Train Links Heathrow Express direct to Paddington. London Underground (Tube) to Zone 1. Both are accessed from the pedestrian subway between T3 and T2.

Birmingham Airport (BHX)

Category Logistics
Terminals One main terminal for arrivals and departures.
Coach Rendezvous All coaches leave from outside the terminal. Students must rendezvous in the Arrivals Hall (near Costa Coffee and Marks & Spencer food shop). The coach lane is nearest to the terminal.
Train Links Connected to Birmingham International train station by a free, continuous overhead Maglev shuttle.
Car Drop-Off Premium Set Down: Right outside the terminal, 1-minute walk. £4 for the first 15 minutes. Standard Drop Off: 5–10 minute covered walk. Free for up to 10 minutes. No return within one hour policy.
Car Pick-Up Car Parks 1, 2, & 3 (adjacent multi-storey) are most convenient. Tariffs start from £7.50 for up to an hour.

London Gatwick (LGW) 🇬🇧

Category Logistics
Terminals Two terminals: North Terminal and South Terminal.
Terminal Transit A free shuttle train operates continuously between the North and South terminals.
Coach Drop-Off/Pick-Up Coaches depart from directly outside the terminal doors. North Terminal: Lower level outside International Arrivals (Bus Stops 4 & 5). South Terminal: Lower forecourt (Stops 1 to 5).
Car Drop-Off Fee A minimum £7 charge applies for using the forecourt drop-off zones (up to 10 mins). This must be paid online by midnight the next day.
Car Pick-Up Use the Short Stay car parks or the Long Stay car parks (free for 2 hours), which requires a free shuttle bus transfer.
Train Links The train station is under the South Terminal, with links to London Victoria via Gatwick Express.

London Stansted (STN) 🇬🇧

Category Logistics
Terminals One main terminal.
Coach Drop-Off/Pick-Up The bus/coach station is just a 2-minute walk opposite the main terminal entrance.
Car Drop-Off Charged Express Set Down: Directly outside Departures. £7 for up to 15 minutes. Free Option: Located at the Mid Stay Car Park, free for up to 60 minutes, followed by a free shuttle bus to the terminal.
Car Pick-Up Pick-up can be done in the Short Stay Car Parks (charged) or the Mid Stay Car Park (free for up to 60 minutes).
Train Links Stansted Express trains link to London Liverpool Street.

Manchester Airport (MAN) 🇬🇧

Category Logistics
Terminals Three terminals: T1, T2, and T3.
Terminal Transit All three terminals are connected to the train station via the covered Skylink walkways (5–10 minute walk).
Coach Drop-Off/Pick-Up Coach services operate from the Manchester Airport Station (integrated transport hub).
Car Drop-Off Fee Barrierless drop-off zones: £5 for up to 5 minutes or £6 for up to 6 minutes. Payment must be made online by midnight the following day.
Car Pick-Up Pick-up options are available at The Station or in the Short Stay car parks (charged).
Train Links Manchester Airport Train Station (The Station) is situated between T1 and T3.

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Category Logistics
Terminals One main terminal.
Taxi Pick-Up (Central Taxis) Go to Lane 1 on the ground floor of the car park. Pupils should NOT use the taxi rank due to most drivers not being PVG checked.
Coach Drop-Off/Pick-Up The coach park is to the south of the multi-storey car park. Minibuses (8+ seats) must use the coach park (charged, e.g., £9 for 10 mins).
Car Drop-Off/Pick-Up Charged Quick Stop: In the ground floor of the multi-storey car park (outside the terminal). £6 for up to 10 minutes. Free Option: Located in the Long Stay Car Park (free for up to 30 minutes). Allow for a 10-minute walk to the terminal (no shuttle).
Train Links The airport is connected to the city centre via the Tram, which links to mainline rail services.