About Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Liverpool John Lennon Airport originally opened as Speke airport in 1933, officially making it one of the UK’s longest-running operational airports, and has grown to become the 12th busiest in the UK – in 2013 alone, over 4.2 million passengers were taken to and from roughly sixty destinations throughout the UK and Europe. Liverpool Airport parking options are also plentiful with many on-airport and off-site facilities available.

During World War II it was used primarily as an RAF base, but afterwards, it was reclaimed for commercial airlines. It now almost exclusively caters to low-budget airlines and the companies which operate from the airport include Easyjet, Flybe, Ryanair, Wizz Air and Blue Air.

In 2001, 22 years after the death of Liverpool-born John Lennon, it was renamed in his honour, making it the first UK airport to be named after a real person. A seven-foot bronze statue of the Beatles member is outside the main terminal and the airport’s motto is taken from Lennon’s song “Imagine” – “Above us, only sky”. It also has a Yellow Submarine sculpture outside of the terminal entrance in homage to The Beatles.

The airport is accessible by car from the M53 and M56 via the A533/Runcorn Bridge, or via the M57 and M62 from Knowsley Expressway – the airport postcode is L24 1YD, however, it is considered best practice to follow signs to the airport once in the area. The nearest train station is Liverpool South Parkway, two miles from the airport but with regular buses running between it and the airport. There are also multiple buses operating from the airport to and from Liverpool city centre, St Helens, Bootle and Huyton, and coaches between the airport and Shudehill Interchange in Manchester’s City Centre which take approximately 65 minutes.

Taxi journeys to and from the city centre are approximately twenty minutes for a seven-mile journey, and there are also secure cycle lockers available outside the terminal building. To access these lockers, cyclists must proceed first to the Car Park Kiosk in the multi-storey car park to present ID and leave a deposit. There is a range of on- and off-site Liverpool airport parking options, with prices starting from £3.32 – a day, as well as a number of hotels.

Liverpool is a fantastic city and the airport lies very close to its centre, unlike many European airports that share their name with a great city. Whether you are arriving into Liverpool or departing from their it’s more than worth spending some time in the city. A bubbling music scene, a bustling shopping scene and a bursting at the seems bar culture, there’s certainly enough to do. You’re also not far from Manchester or the coast and can visit North Wales at the drop of a hat.

Little need to leave, though there’s plenty to be seen in the city. The airport is a fine establishment that is very well organised and lavishly arrayed with facilities for an airport of its size. Its hotels are certainly impressive. The original terminal building which was built in the 1930’s will be recognisable to some from news footage of the Beatles arriving in Liverpool, as its balconies were overwhelmed by screaming teenage girls.

After losing its purpose in 1986 with the construction of a new terminal building the original was left derelict for a decade, but was eventually renovated as a Marriott hotel. They keep much of the original Art Deco interior though which meant they could keep the buildings’ grade two listed status. That hotel is now the Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport Hotel having been renovated again in 2008. The airport also sits with The Hampton by Hilton Liverpool John Lennon Airport which was built at a cost of £37 million.