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Original poster

How far are you from your nearest airport?

127 replies

IcedTeaForMe · 27/12/2025 15:12

And is it important to you to be close to one?

I’m asking because I moved recently and a friend said that it’s a big advantage as I’m now under half an hour from the nearest airport and said that would factor into her next move. I rarely fly(Because I hate flying) but she is right that it would be useful. So I’m curious if proximity to an airport is a factor that many others consider when moving home? No judgement and I can see what a difference it would make if you travel regularly(For work or leisure).

OP posts:
Runningismyhappyplace50 · 27/12/2025 18:52

40 mins from Gatwick
Less than 30 mins from Heathrow

xSideshowAuntSallyXx · 27/12/2025 19:29

30 minutes from one major one, 40 minutes from another major one, 60 minutes or so from another.

Then 20 minutes from a small regional one where lots of private jets come and go from.

Original poster
IcedTeaForMe · 27/12/2025 19:34

Thanks all. It’s interesting to read everyone’s opinions. It isn’t something that I’d considered but I’m sure that I’ll appreciate it next year when I’ll probably be taking a flight. I admire people who can fly regularly. I’m phobic of flying and find airports so incredibly stressful.

OP posts:
Bandol · 27/12/2025 20:31

Depending on traffic I live around 20 to 35 minutes from my local airport. The crazy taxi drivers can make the trip in 15 minutes! My office is close to the airport which is why we live nearby. I fly quite a bit for work so it's useful to be nearby - especially for flights that depart in the 6am - 7:30am window or arrive back in the late evening.

It's nice to be close to the airport and knowing the local roads and traffic patterns very well (it's my daily commute). It means that when I do take a flight and I'm being dropped off by DH I can leave the house as late as 90 minutes before the flight rather than needing lots of contingency time.

We used to live much closer to the airport and could walk there in 20 minutes (along safe roads with a pavement rather than dicing with death walking along the hard shoulder of a dual carriageway). The downside of that was if you wanted to get a taxi home the taxi drivers weren't overly impressed because they wouldn't get a big fare out if you!

Iloveagoodnap · 27/12/2025 20:47

I did choose a house partly based on how near to a bus stop and a grocery shop it was as I don’t drive so it was important to me to be able to quickly nip to a shop and also be able to get other places easily. Distance from airport never occurred to me. I don’t think I’ve been on a plane for about 20 years. Anyway, we’re about a 45 minute drive from one - or can get to one quite easily on our convenient public transport system.

PluckyChancer · 27/12/2025 20:58

We lived right next to a regional airport, our garden backed onto the long stay car park. ‘Friends’ would park at ours when going on holiday.

We moved and now live about 2 hours away from our nearest airport.

BLISS. 😊

Kpo58 · 27/12/2025 21:02

About 30 mins away from my local airport. I haven't flown for at least 8 years though.

silverbirches · 27/12/2025 21:05

Less than half an hour by car. Never considered convenience as we've lived round here a very long time. It's just there.

Icanflyhigh · 27/12/2025 21:05

10 mins car ride, live right under the flight path and love it!!

boogietrapps · 27/12/2025 21:39

An hour, I’ve never even considered it.

G5000 · 27/12/2025 21:55

10 minutes, not under the flight path. I love it, I travel often and it's brilliant to walk out of the airport and be home in minutes. Or to not worry about traffic jams and adding extra buffer time when catching a flight.

YourZippyHare · 27/12/2025 22:02

West London, near enough to Heathrow but not on the flight path.

I haven't flown since 2010 so... not very important to me!

sanityisamyth · 27/12/2025 22:04

30-45 minute drive. It’s not a major airport though. Bigger one is 90 minutes or so away.

WinterBerry40 · 27/12/2025 22:04

We are 80 miles away from ( Newcastle )

PlazaAthenee · 27/12/2025 22:08

30 mins from Southampton
45 from Heathrow
30 from Farnborough so we can see all the private jets landing.

I never go on holiday but I do love watching all the planes coming and going on a clear day.

OttersMayHaveShifted · 27/12/2025 22:12

An hour and a half on a clear run. I didn't really consider it when moving house, but it would definitely be convenient to be nearer!

Starseeking · 27/12/2025 22:12

It takes me 15 minutes to drive to my nearest airport, then another 15 minutes to navigate the parking system as the airport is so huge now and they’ve done away with the free pick up and drop off spots.

It also means I’m in the flight path, so while it’s handy living near one of the world’s most connected international airports, it does have its downsides.

I also hate going to any other airport, as all the others are at least an hour away, although flights from other airports can be cheaper (not enough to be worth making the journey!).

EconomyClassRockstar · 27/12/2025 22:16

Non rush hour, 20 mins and it's game changing. We live abroad so it's super easy to pick up family and friends that visit and also close enough so that I don't feel bad getting them to take an Uber sometimes. We always take an Uber ourselves because it's cheaper and easier than driving and paying for parking. And we are only in the flight path for certain times of the week so we don't get bothered by overhead noise.

yonem · 27/12/2025 22:18

We’re about 30 minutes from Heathrow and an hour from Gatwick. We often go on holiday with friends who live near smaller regional airports and it does seem like a much bigger hassle for them to either have a limited choice of destinations or have to drive ages and potentially stay over near a bigger airport. It’s not the reason we live where we do but general access to facilities is something that made the area appealing. However we did deliberately decide not to live any closer to Heathrow as we didn’t want additional noise.

tinytemper66 · 27/12/2025 22:25

40 mins but it is a shit airport unless you want to fly Tui. I usually go from Bristol.

OrigamiOwls · 27/12/2025 22:31

About 2.5hrs to a proper airport. There is a regional one about 40 minutes away but it doesn't fly anywhere particularly interesting (very limited flights to actual destinations, mainly flies to oil rigs).

I'd see living near a major airport as a bonus

Ladybugheart · 27/12/2025 23:00

I live the other side of Norwich to the airport so not far. No didn't factor into my decision on where to live, at all. Have never flown from Norwich and I fly abroad every year.

Vetoncall · 27/12/2025 23:03

50 minutes from Belfast International. City of Derry is about 35 minutes but we've never used it. We fly out of Dublin more than Belfast though, it's a 2.5 hour drive.

Kickinthenostalgia · 27/12/2025 23:13

About 45 minutes drive from Gatwick. Not really important as we don’t really fly abroad too much.

Maybeishouldcrochet · 27/12/2025 23:17

5 min walk to the train station. And 45 minutes train to Birmingham international..... Much easier than driving ...