Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our East Midlands Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
The security staff are the spawn of Satan himself, they delight in letting you just get off to sleep and then they wake you up by shouting at you. -Vince
EMA Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at East Midlands Airport.
What to Expect
East Midlands Airport (code: EMA) has a single terminal that serves a wide variety of low-cost carriers and seasonal routes. Amenities include several eateries and shops, though none are open 24 hours. WiFi is free for four hours. For added comfort while you wait, economy class passengers can pay to enter an airport lounge. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.
Sleeping in East Midlands Airport
Older reviews say that overnight sleepers have no issues from airport staff. It seems there are padded, armrest-free benches both landside and airside, comfortable enough to catch some Z’s. It may be a bit noisy or cold, so bring along your earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones and dress in layers. For uninterrupted sleep, hotels are nearby. See the Airport Hotels section below for more info or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s web site for current information. For more airport information continue scrolling down to explore more in our East Midlands Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 24 hours.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near East Midlands Airport:
- Jurys Inn East Midlands Airport – No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
- Premier Inn East Midlands Airport Hotel – No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
- Holiday Inn Express East Midlands Airport Hotel – No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
- Radisson Blu Hotel East Midlands Airport – Airport shuttle available for a fee. For airport pick-up, use courtesy phone in the Arrivals Hall. » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near East Midlands Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and to also find out how you can gain lounge access with just an economy class ticket!
- The Escape Lounge – Location: Airside. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
Related Pages: East Midlands Airport Lounges
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
More Airport Information
Aeropark – Learn about past aeronautical technology or observe the modern jets of today at The Aeropark, an aviation museum and viewing area located at the northwest corner of airport property. This is a great spot for plane-spotting and photography! You will need a vehicle to reach this location. Derby Leicester SKYLINK buses also stop here. Hours: 11:00AM – 5:00PM (Thurs, Sat – Sun). Fee: £5.00 per person aged 16 and older.
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so be sure to check your bank’s fee schedule and your daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: unknown. The Travelex ATMs dispense British Pounds, Euros and US Dollars.
Baby Care Facilities – Breastfeeding is promoted at any place within the airport. Although if you are travelling with an infant and would prefer more privacy, there are baby care rooms for breastfeeding and diaper changing. Location: Next to women’s washrooms landside and airside.
Baggage Carts – Need a hand with your bags? Luggage trolleys are available for a fee of £1, which is refundable upon return.
Changing Room – A height-adjustable free-standing adult changing bench and toilet are available on the 1st floor. You’ll need a key to enter the area, which you can pick up from Castle Rock Top Room & Kitchen, also on the 1st floor. Hours: Available 24 hours a day.
Children’s Play Area – Not available.
Currency Exchange – Not available.
Drinking Water – Information is unavailable. Does the airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.
Duty Free & Shopping – In addition to a World Duty Free store, you will find an Accesorize • Boots • Dixons Travel • In Motion • JD Sports • Traveller • Superdrug • WH Smith.
Fast Track Service – As a premium service, customers with Fast Track security passes will be given priority service to ensure that waiting is kept to a minimum. Cost: £5. Book Online.
Food & Drinks – Food concessions throughout the airport operate according to flight schedules. The airport advertises that a selection of food concessions are available 24-hours a day however it is not known which outlets and the locations, plan ahead. Food options include: Burger King • Castle Rock Tap Room & Kitchen • Flat White Coffee Club • Frankie & Benny’s • Grab and Fly • Greggs • Leon • Pork & Pickle • Proof 65 • Starbucks. Vending Machines are also available landside and airside.
Information Desk – Location: Main Terminal Building, Landside.
Luggage Storage & Lockers – Not available.
Massage Chairs – Unwind in one of the airport’s massage chairs located throughout the departure area.
Mobile Charging – At the time of this update, we did not have any information about mobile charging availability. If you know, click here to update this guide.
Postal Services – Drop off your last minute postcards to friends and family from the airport’s mailbox. Location: Check-In Hall.
Prayer Room – Hours: open 24 hours
Showers – Not available.
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Smoking – Smoking is prohibited in the airport except in a designated smoking area. Location: Airside, Mezzanine Level.
Spa Services – Temporarily Closed – If you would like to be pampered before take-off, visit the Beautifly Spa. Hours: Unknown. Location: Airside, Ground Floor, next to Gate 8.
WiFi/Internet – Free internet access is available at the East Midlands Airport for 4 hours. Connect to the “EMA Public Wifi” network. Premium service is also available for purchase should you require faster service. Rates: from £5.00 (per hour) • £10.00 (per day) • £30.00 (per month).
Bus and Coach
Skylink offers 24-hour bus service, with departures available every 20 minutes during the day, and hourly at night. Reservations are not required, and tickets are sold onboard the bus. All buses stop directly in front of the passenger terminal. For fares, destinations and schedules, visit the East Midlands Airport website.
National Express offers coach service to a variety of destinations throughout the UK.
Car Rentals
Onsite car rental agencies include Alamo • Avis • Budget • Enterprise • Europcar • Hertz • National • Sixt. Location: Arrivals.
Hotel Shuttles
At the time of this update we were able to find only one hotel offering an airport shuttle: Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport.
See also Airport Hotels above.
Taxis
Taxis are available 24-hours a day in the ground transportation area. Arrow Cars has an office, open 24 hours a day, opposite the Arrivals Area. Credit cards are accepted, and taxis can be pre-booked and paid for online or via smartphone app.
Train
East Midlands Parkway Station is the nearest train station to the airport, linked by bus service (see the Skylink Bus details above).
Last updated: 2024-01-30
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.