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Planning your journey

All the information you need to plan your journey to Nottingham from UK airports, including luggage advice and guidance on what to bring with you.

If you're a Confetti London student, you'll also find travel advice on this page.

Before you travel

There are no restrictions for international arrivals to the UK at this time. You should always check the travel advice for the country you are travelling from and the latest UK Government advice on travel. If you are travelling through an airport in the Schengen area en route to the UK, you may need an Airport Transit Schengen Visa.

Page updated 29 January 2024.

What to bring with you

Please do not bring a lot of heavy luggage with you! You will be able to get most things you need when you arrive and settle in (clothes, food, spices, toiletries, computer equipment, cooking utensils, etc) and you may be charged extra. As a guide, you can bring either:

  • one small piece of hand luggage with either one large suitcase (75cm x 50cm x 32cm, maximum 20kg), or
  • two medium-sized suitcases (70cm x 45cm x 30cm, maximum 20kg each).

Our advice would be to 'think minimum' and 'think light' when packing. Please watch our videos here for advice from our international students, and read the National Express luggage policy.

At the airport

Airport arrivals

All passengers will be required to make a customs declaration by selecting the 'green channel' (nothing to declare) or the red channel (goods to declare). EU citizens are able to use eGates if travelling on a biometric passport. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA can also use eGates.

Please note the checklist below of documents you will need to bring with you and present at the airport.

For more information please visit the UK Government website.

You should be prepared to bring the following immigration documents that you'll be asked to present:

  • your CAS statement email
  • your visa decision letter
  • your NTU confirmation email, which you'll receive when you've met all your offer conditions
  • details of your accommodation in the UK, including your full address

You must bring printed copies of these documents. Do not rely on electronic copies.

If you will be travelling to the UK through Ireland you will not pass through UK immigration control.

Make sure you keep evidence of your travel to the UK as you not receive a stamp in your passport. This could be a boarding card, ticket or booking confirmation. The evidence should include your name / passport number and photocopies or screenshots of these documents are acceptable.

You must present these documents when you enrol at NTU and to your accommodation provider.

There is further information on the UKCISA website about travelling to the UK via Ireland.

Travelling to Nottingham from UK airports

To plan your journey to Nottingham, please read the travel options open to you by coach, rail or taxi listed below.

We recommend using National Express coaches if you are arriving into London Heathrow as they provide the most frequent, direct and best value option. Please note that travelling by taxi is the most expensive option.

Travelling by National Express coach to Nottingham

Journey time approximately 20 minutes from the airport to Birmingham and 1 hour 45 minutes from Birmingham to Nottingham.

Tickets cost approximately £10 - £20  and you can book online in advance on the National Express website.

You must print the e-ticket and show this to the driver.

Coaches leave from Terminal 1 (Terminals 1 and 2 are next to each other - it is just a few minutes walk between them).

**You need to change coaches at Birmingham Coach station, Digbeth - ask the driver if you need help with this**

Birmingham airport


Travelling by train to Nottingham

Tickets cost approximately £25 -£50.

Journey time 1 hour and 30 minutes approx.

Take the Air-Rail Link from the terminal building to Birmingham International train station. This is a free service which operates approximately every two minutes.

You will need to change trains at Birmingham New Street and get on the train for Nottingham.

Book your journey with East Midlands Railway.

It is cheaper to buy your ticket in advance online.

Birmingham airport

Travelling by National Express coach to Nottingham

Journey time 6-8 hours.

Tickets cost approximately £20 - £50 and you can book online in advance on the National Express website.

You must print the e-ticket and show this to the driver.

Coaches leave from both North and South terminals.

London Gatwick airport


Travelling by train to Nottingham

You can take the Gatwick Express train to London Victoria, then take the London Underground to London St Pancras, where you can take a direct train to Nottingham.

Journey time 3 hours 30 minutes approx.

Tickets costs approximately £30 - £90.

Book your journey with East Midlands Railway.

It is cheaper to buy your ticket in advance online.

London Gatwick airport

Travelling by National Express coach to Nottingham

Tickets cost approximately £25 - £50 and you can book online in advance on the National Express website.

You must print the e-ticket and show this to the driver.

The journey to Nottingham takes approximately 3 - 5 hours (3 hours and 30 minutes direct). The Central Bus Station at Heathrow is a short walk from Terminals 2 and 3. If you need to travel between terminals for your coach please use these travel instructions.

London Heathrow airport


Travelling by train to Nottingham

Journey time 3 hours 30 minutes approx.

You can take the Heathrow Express train to London Paddington then the London Underground to London Kings Cross. A 5-minute walk from there is St Pancras where you can catch an onward train to Nottingham.

If you are planning to use the Underground for part of your journey, try to avoid the peak periods of 8-9am and 5-7pm. Also, please be prepared to carry your luggage up escalators (see our luggage advice before you travel).

Tickets cost approximately £80 - £130 and you can book your journey with East Midlands Railway.

It is cheaper to buy your ticket in advance online.

London Heathrow airport

Travelling by National Express coach to Nottingham

Journey time approximately 4- 7 hours (no direct coaches).

Tickets cost approximately £25- £40 and you can book online in advance on the National Express website.

You must print the e-ticket and show this to the driver.

The coach stop is approximately a two-minute walk from the terminal building.

London Stansted airport


Travelling by train to Nottingham

Journey time approx 3 hours and 30 minutes.

You first need to take the train from Stansted Airport to Tottenham Hale. Next take the London Underground to Kings Cross/St Pancras station and then a direct train from St Pancras station to Nottingham.

Tickets cost approximately £30 - £80.

Book your journey with East Midlands Railway.

It is cheaper to buy your ticket in advance online.

London Stansted airport

Travelling by National Express coach to Nottingham

Journey time is approximately 4-5 hours, this journey will require changing buses, as there are currently no direct services to Nottingham.

Tickets cost approximately £20 and you can book online in advance on the National Express website.

You must print the e-ticket and show this to the driver.


Travelling by train to Nottingham

Take a train from Manchester Airport Station with one change at Manchester Picadilly to Nottingham.

The journey time is 3 hours approximately.

Tickets cost approximately £20 - £50. You need to change trains so please check this and ask at the ticket office if you are unsure.

Book your journey with East Midlands Railway.

It is cheaper to buy your ticket in advance online.

Manchester airport

Travelling by coach to Nottingham

24-hour Skylink Express (not National Express) bus service travels frequently to Nottingham and stops at NTU Clifton and Broad Marsh Bus Station (for our City Campus).

Journey time approx 40 minutes.

You can catch the Skylink bus directly outside the terminal building. Tickets cost £2-£6 per person and you can buy your ticket from the bus driver as you get on the bus.

Nottingham East Midlands airport

If you plan to travel by taxi, we recommend these local Nottingham taxi companies who provide a door-to-door service from the airport to your accommodation:

Please note this is the most expensive travel option.

You should expect to pay around the following for a standard size taxi:

  • London Heathrow £240
  • London Gatwick £280
  • London Stansted £200
  • London Luton £180
  • Birmingham £110
  • East Midlands £40
  • Manchester £170

How to book a taxi

To book a journey with one of these companies, you will need to book and pay at least 5 days before you travel. You can do this online, or by calling the Nottingham taxi company directly. To book, you’ll need to give the following information:

  • your confirmed flight number
  • the number of suitcases you will bring
  • the number of passengers travelling in the taxi

Please note that the number of passengers determines the size of the taxi and there may be an increased cost.

After booking, you’ll get a confirmation email and text and the taxi company will confirm the driver’s name and contact details before you travel.

Delays and cancellations

Don't worry if your flight is delayed, the taxi company will monitor the flight arrival times so the driver will be aware of the situation.

If you need to cancel or change your booking, you’ll need to give the taxi company at least 12 hours’ notice or you may have to pay for part, or all, of the charge.

You can check the cancellation policies online:

Arriving with no taxi reservation

We highly recommend that you pre-book your taxi before you travel.

If you can’t do this, you’ll be able to hire a taxi when you arrive at the airport. Please note, however, that it is likely you’ll have to pay a higher price than a pre-booked journey with these Nottingham companies.

Your arrival into Nottingham

We advise you to have your mobile phone data plan in place for arrival so you can call home or order a taxi or Uber.

Please note: if you're arriving early in the morning or late at night, you must check you’ll be able to get into your accommodation by contacting your accommodation provider before you arrive.

Nottingham train station has taxi ranks clearly signposted, advance booking is not normally necessary unless you are arriving early in the morning or late at night. Coaches arrive at Broad Marsh Bus Station, and the nearest taxi rank is located on Trent Street, which is a five-minute walk away.

Please click the below button to see a taxi video which shows the exact route from the coach station to the taxi rank. To keep you safe and informed, please read 'local taxi types explained'.

Please note Ubers are not permitted to use taxi tanks or stop outside the bus station so you will need to arrange a pick-up location nearby with the driver.

Taxi price guide: to City campus £10 - £20, Clifton Campus £25, Brackenhurst £50.

Local Nottingham taxi companies (private hire).

Alternatively, there are public transport options available to all campuses from the city centre including the tram, which goes to the City and Clifton campuses, and bus services throughout Nottingham.

The National Express office is by the coach stop and is open 7 am - 7 pm. The bus station, including waiting areas, is open 24 hours.

Travelling to London from UK airports (Confetti London students)

NTU Confetti London is very well connected, there are easy connections from all London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City airport). Confetti London address: 41 Commercial Road, Whitechapel, London, E1 1LA.

London's extensive public transport system is easy to use. We recommend using the Transport For London journey planner. Check the timetables if you are arriving early in the morning or late at night.

If you are planning to use the Underground for part of your journey, try to avoid the peak periods of 8-9am and 5-7pm. Also, please be prepared to carry your luggage up escalators (see our luggage advice before you travel).

London Underground (Tube)

The closest Tube stations to Confetti’s Commercial Road site are Whitechapel and Aldgate East (District, Hammersmith and City lines) and Shadwell (DLR). All are 10 minutes walk. You'll find all the information you need on the London Underground information and journey planner.

London Buses

Confetti is served by many Transport for London bus routes.

Buses travelling from East to West (towards Liverpool Street or Tower Hill) stop at Henriques Street immediately outside Confetti. Buses travelling from West to East (towards Limehouse) stop opposite Confetti. Services to these stops include route numbers: 15, 115, 135, N15 and N550.

You'll find more information on the London Bus information and journey planner.

There are taxi alternatives from each of the airports. Taxis will be expensive, possibly over £70. Use only registered, metered taxis from taxi ranks and confirm the approximate price before starting the journey.