A Leicester to Birmingham Airport taxi covers roughly 38 to 42 miles. The drive from Leicester city centre usually takes around 50 minutes to an hour, mostly via the M69 and M6. At rush hour, it can take up to an hour and a half.
This guide explains how to plan a pickup time that leaves a sensible margin, where your taxi drops you at the airport, and how the return journey works when you land. It also covers when Birmingham makes more sense than East Midlands Airport.
Leicester to Birmingham Airport at a glance
| What you need to know | Details |
|---|---|
| Distance | Roughly 38 to 42 miles, depending on your address |
| Typical journey time | Around 50 minutes to an hour; longer at rush hour |
| Main route | M69 to the M6, then the M42 to Junction 6 |
| Airport drop-off | Premium Set Down or the Drop Off car park |
| Pricing | Fixed fare agreed when you book |
| Vehicles | Saloons for up to three passengers; the V-Class for up to seven |
Journey times are typical, not guaranteed. Roadworks and heavy traffic can add time on the day.
How long does a taxi from Leicester to Birmingham Airport take?
The usual route
Most journeys leave Leicester on the M69, pass Hinckley, and join the M6 near Coventry. From there, drivers take the M6 towards Birmingham and switch to the M42 for Junction 6, the airport exit. Depending on where in Leicestershire you start, your driver may use the A5 or other roads instead.
What slows the journey down
The M6 between Coventry and Birmingham is one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the region. Weekday rush hours, Friday afternoons and the start of school holidays all add time. Major events at the NEC, next door to the airport, also bring extra traffic around Junction 6.
HS2 motorway works across the West Midlands in 2026 can cause delays at short notice as well. For that reason, we plan pickup times using a realistic journey time rather than the best case.
Planning your pickup time
Work backwards from your flight’s departure time. Your airline’s check-in and bag drop deadlines give you a starting point. After that, allow time for security, add the drive time, and then include a buffer for traffic.
For a morning flight, a pickup that avoids the M6 peak can save a lot of time. A 5am or 6am departure usually means leaving Leicester in the middle of the night, when roads are clear but public transport isn’t running. Our guide to late-night and early-morning taxis explains how these bookings work.
When you book, we’ll suggest a pickup time for your address. If you’d like more margin, just ask.
Where your taxi drops you at Birmingham Airport
Birmingham has one terminal building, with signed check-in zones inside. Drivers use one of two drop-off options:
- Premium Set Down: directly outside the terminal, about a minute’s walk from check-in. The charge is currently £7 for up to 15 minutes. Blue Badge holders get 30 minutes free.
- Drop Off car park: about 400 metres from the terminal via a covered walkway. The first 10 minutes are free.
Stopping on the approach roads isn’t allowed, and cameras issue penalties automatically. With NET Airport Transfers, the price you agree when you book is what you pay, with nothing added afterwards.
If you’re travelling with heavy luggage, young children or someone with limited mobility, tell us when you book. We’ll plan the drop-off around the terminal entrance.
Getting home: your pickup when you land
The return journey is where a pre-booked taxi helps most. We track your flight rather than relying on the scheduled time, so an early landing or a delay moves your pickup with it. Your driver waits inside the terminal with a name board, so you won’t need to search the car park or queue at the rank.
Share your flight number when you book, and keep your phone switched on after landing. If your bags are slow or you’re held up at passport control, your driver will already know your flight has landed. They’ll be waiting for you in arrivals.
Need a fixed price for your trip? You can get a quote online for a one-way or return journey between Leicester and the airport.
Taxi or train from Leicester to Birmingham Airport?
There’s no direct train from Leicester to Birmingham International, the station linked to the airport. Most rail journeys involve at least one change, often at Birmingham New Street or Nuneaton. From Birmingham International, the free Air-Rail Link takes you to the terminal.
| The train suits you if… | A taxi suits you if… |
|---|---|
| You’re travelling alone with a small bag | You’re travelling as a family or group |
| You live near Leicester station | Your home is away from the station |
| Your flight leaves during the day | Your flight leaves early morning or lands late at night |
| You’re happy to change trains | You have heavy luggage or mobility needs |
For a wider look at these trade-offs, see our taxi vs public transport comparison.
Birmingham or East Midlands Airport from Leicester?
For many Leicester addresses, East Midlands Airport is the shorter drive. It’s a good choice when it has the flight you need. However, Birmingham usually has a wider range of routes and airlines, including more long-haul services, so many Leicester travellers end up flying from BHX anyway.
Before booking a flight, compare the fare, the flight times and the journey to the airport together. If East Midlands suits you better, we also run East Midlands Airport transfers. For more about BHX itself, see our main Birmingham Airport transfers page.
Choosing the right vehicle
- Up to three passengers: the Mercedes E-Class suits couples and small families with standard holiday luggage.
- Families and groups of up to seven: the Mercedes V-Class keeps everyone together, with room for suitcases.
Tell us how many cases you’re taking, as well as how many passengers. Luggage often decides the vehicle more than passenger numbers do. Child seats are available on request, so mention them when you book.
Business travel from Leicester
If your company flies staff out of Birmingham regularly, our corporate travel service invoices journeys monthly instead of charging per trip. It’s also useful for visitors flying in to meetings in Leicester who need a reliable airport pickup.
What to tell us when you book
- Your pickup address in Leicester or Leicestershire
- Your flight number, date and departure time
- Number of passengers and suitcases
- Any child seats, mobility aids or accessibility needs
- Your return flight details, if you’d like a pickup when you land
- A mobile number that will work on the day
Our coverage area page lists the towns we serve. Fares on this route are fixed at the time of booking, and our guide to fixed-price and metered taxis explains why that helps on motorway journeys.
Book your Leicester to Birmingham Airport taxi
NET Airport Transfers runs pre-booked, fixed-price taxis between Leicester and Birmingham Airport in both directions. Every booking includes flight monitoring and meet and greet on arrival. Share your flight details, and we’ll plan a pickup time with a sensible margin. Book your airport taxi online, or contact us for group bookings and return journeys.
