With February half term fast approaching and thousands of families preparing to jet off on trips, new research has revealed which of the UK’s busiest airports are best equipped for travelling with children.
A study by Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com) assessed ten major UK airports, comparing facilities such as play spaces, pushchair rules, baby care facilities, food options and family-friendly security, to help ensure a stress-free airport experience.
Nick Caunter, Managing Director of APH.com, said: ‘February half term is one of the busiest times of year for family travel, and the right facilities can make a real difference to how smoothly a journey begins.
‘Our research helps parents understand what support is available at the UK’s major airports, so they can plan ahead and travel with greater confidence.’
Read on to discover how you can plan ahead and ensure a smooth start to your family’s holiday.
Airport Designated Play Areas
Dedicated play spaces are especially beneficial before long flights as they help children burn off energy before boarding.
While Heathrow Airport offers ‘Stay & Play’ soft-play areas in every terminal, Manchester Airport has its ‘Little Flyers’ play zone in Terminal 1, alongside baby facilities across all terminals.
Children’s play spaces can help young and restless flyers burn off energy before boarding, with airports such as Heathrow, Manchester and Gatwick providing free soft play areas (stock image)
Gatwick provides a free play area after security in the North Terminal, Birmingham has 24-hour Sky Zone play areas near Gates 1-20, and Bristol Airport offers a bookable Sensory Room for neurodivergent passengers.
Pushchairs, Baby Care and Travelling with Little Ones
Moving through an airport with young children can be tricky, but understanding what’s allowed can help smoothen the experience.
Pushchair policies can differ by airport – Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted allow pushchairs through security and to the gate, while Luton offers free loan pushchairs, and Birmingham provides them for a refundable deposit.
All airports included in the research offer baby-changing and feeding facilities, and most allow essential baby food, milk and sterilised water through security within set limits.
Dining Options for Families
With airport waits often overlapping with mealtimes, access to children’s menus and taking advantage of family-friendly meal offers can help make time at the airport more manageable.
Most airports provide family-friendly dining options, with Heathrow standing out for its ‘Kids Eat Free’ offer during school holidays.
Access to children’s menus and family-friendly meal deals can help make time at the airport more manageable (stock image)
Some airports, such as Belfast International, Gatwick and Edinburgh, offer free or directed Fast Track access for families with very young children (stock image)
Fast Track and Family-Friendly Security
During busy holiday periods, shorter queues can make a big difference – especially when travelling with babies or toddlers.
Several airports offer free or directed Fast Track security access for families with very young children.
Belfast International, Gatwick and Edinburgh provide free Fast Track for children under two, while Luton extends the benefit when travelling with an adult Fast Track ticket holder.
Glasgow Airport offers free access for children under three when accompanied by a paying adult.
