A flying start
Published
With summer holiday breaks just around the corner, research from Airport Parking and Hotels reveals which of the UK’s busiest airports cater the best for travellers with children. The research compares facilities such as play areas, pushchair policies, baby care rooms, dining options and family-friendly security at 10 of the UK’s busiest airports.
Family/ play areas
Heathrow provides ‘Stay & Play’ soft-play zones in every terminal and play areas are open daily, giving families with young children space to relax before boarding.
Manchester offers its ‘Little Flyers’ play zone in Terminal 1, alongside baby care and feeding rooms across all terminals. Gatwick provides a free child-friendly play area after security in the North Terminal, while Birmingham airport has ‘Sky Zone’ play areas open 24 hours a day and positioned close to departure gates.
Families travelling with neurodivergent members can take advantage of Bristol airport’s bookable Sensory Room, created to offer calm and support for passengers with additional needs.
Pushchair policy
Navigating an airport with babies or toddlers can be challenging and pushchair handling policies vary across UK airports. Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted airports all allow families to take their own pushchairs through security and to the boarding gate. Luton Airport provides complimentary loan pushchairs within the terminal, while Birmingham Airport offers loan pushchairs for a small refundable deposit.
Baby change
All airports included in the research provide baby-changing or feeding facilities, either through dedicated baby care rooms or facilities within standard washrooms. Most airports allow sufficient baby food, baby milk and sterilised water for the journey, subject to container limits.
Family dining options
It’s good news for hungry tummies that most airports offer a wide range of family-friendly dining and children’s menu options. Heathrow Airport stands out for its ‘Kids Eat Free’ promotion, which usually runs during school holiday periods for children under the age of 12.
Fast track and security
During peak travel periods, shorter queues and dedicated security routes can be particularly beneficial for families. Several airports provide free or directed fast track access for families travelling with very young children. Belfast International, Gatwick and Edinburgh airports offer free fast track access for children under the age of two. At Luton, this applies when travelling with an adult fast track ticket holder, while Glasgow offers free access for children under three when accompanied by a paying adult.
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