Birmingham Airport is 13 km from the city center. The train makes this one of the cheapest and fastest airport-to-city trips in the UK.
Train — fast and affordable
Birmingham International station is connected to the airport terminal:
- Off-peak single: £4.70 (~€5.50)
- Peak single: £5.50-7.00 (~€6.40-8.20)
- Journey: 12 minutes to Birmingham New Street
- Frequency: Every 10-15 minutes
- Buy tickets: At the station machines, Trainline app, or tap your contactless card
From New Street, you're in the heart of the city. Most hotels, the Bullring, and the business district are within walking distance.
Pro tip: If you have a contactless debit/credit card, just tap in and out. It charges the best fare automatically.
Bus — cheaper but slower
- Route 900: Direct to the city center
- Fare: £2 single (UK bus fare cap) or £4-5 for a day ticket
- Journey: 40-50 minutes
- Frequency: Every 20-30 minutes
The bus is the cheapest option but the time penalty isn't worth the saving for most people.
Uber and Bolt
| Service | Price to center | Wait |
|---|---|---|
| UberX | £15-22 (~€17-26) | 3-10 min |
| Uber Comfort | £20-28 (~€23-33) | 5-15 min |
| Bolt | £13-20 (~€15-23) | 3-10 min |
Prices surge during rush hour (M42 traffic), events at the NEC, and Friday/Saturday nights.
Taxi
Metered black cabs and private hire vehicles from the rank:
- To city center: £20-30 (~€23-35)
- To NEC: £8-12 (~€9-14)
- To Solihull: £12-18 (~€14-21)
Taxis are more expensive than Uber but require no app and are immediately available.
Pre-booked transfer
| Vehicle | Price to city (EUR) | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Economy sedan | €25-32 | 3 pax, 2 bags |
| Executive sedan | €32-42 | 3 pax, 3 bags |
| Minivan | €35-55 | 6-7 pax, 6 bags |
| Luxury (Mercedes) | €50-70 | 3 pax, 2 bags |
Complete comparison
| Transport | Cost | Time to center | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus (route 900) | £2 (~€2.30) | 40-50 min | Basic |
| Train | £4.70 (~€5.50) | 12 min | Good |
| Bolt | £13-20 (~€15-23) | 25-35 min | Good |
| UberX | £15-22 (~€17-26) | 25-35 min | Good |
| Taxi | £20-30 (~€23-35) | 25-35 min | Good |
| Transfer (sedan) | €25-42 | 25-35 min | Premium |
Going to events at the NEC?
The National Exhibition Centre is literally next door — 2 km from the airport. You can walk (15 min), take a very short taxi (£8-12), or there are shuttle services during major events.
Going further afield
Birmingham Airport is well-positioned for the Midlands:
| Destination | By train | By taxi |
|---|---|---|
| Coventry | 20 min, £5-8 | £30-40 |
| Warwick | 25 min, £7-10 | £35-50 |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | 45 min (with change), £10-15 | £50-70 |
| London Euston | 75 min, £20-60 | Not practical |
| Manchester | 90 min, £25-50 | Not practical |