January 2026, London – With February half term approaching and many families preparing to fly abroad, new research from Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com) reveals which of the UK’s busiest airports cater the best for travellers with children.
Available at www.aph.com/familytravel, the APH research compares facilities such as play areas, pushchair policies, baby care rooms, dining options and family-friendly security, at 10 of the UK’s busiest airports, helping parents plan ahead and enjoy a smooth start to the holiday.
Airport Designated Play Areas
When travelling with energetic children, having access to dedicated play areas can help families manage waiting times and let younger travellers burn off excitement before boarding. The APH research found there are a number of UK airports offering dedicated spaces designed to support families travelling with children. For example, Heathrow Airport provides ‘Stay & Play’ soft-play zones in every terminal and the airside play areas are open daily, giving families with young children space to relax before boarding.
Manchester Airport offers its ‘Little Flyers’ play zone in Terminal 1, alongside baby care and feeding rooms across all terminals. Gatwick Airport provides a free child-friendly play area after security in the North Terminal, while Birmingham Airport has Sky Zone play areas located near Gates 1–20, open 24 hours a day and positioned close to departure gates.
Families travelling with neurodivergent members can take advantage of Bristol Airport’s bookable Sensory Room, created to offer calm and support for passengers with additional needs.
Pushchairs, Baby Care and Travelling with Little Ones
Navigating an airport with babies or toddlers can be challenging, and knowing what facilities and items are permitted can help parents feel better prepared.
Pushchair handling policies was found to vary across UK airports. Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted Airports all allow families to take their own pushchairs through security and to the boarding gate, with pushchairs typically returned on arrival. Luton Airport provides complimentary loan pushchairs within the terminal, while Birmingham Airport offers loan pushchairs for a small refundable deposit.
All airports included in the research provide baby-changing or feeding facilities, either through dedicated baby care rooms or facilities within standard washrooms. Most airports allow sufficient baby food, baby milk and sterilised water for the journey, subject to container limits.
Dining Options for Families
With airport waits often overlapping with mealtimes, access to children’s menus and family-friendly dining can help make time at the airport more manageable. It’s good news for hungry tummies with most airports offering a range of family-friendly dining options and children’s menu options. Heathrow Airport stands out for offering a ‘Kids Eat Free’ promotion, which usually runs during school holiday periods for children under the age of 12.
Fast Track and Family-Friendly Security
During peak travel periods, shorter queues and dedicated security routes can be particularly beneficial for families travelling with very young children. Several airports also provide free or directed Fast Track access for families travelling with very young children. Belfast International, Gatwick and Edinburgh Airports offer free Fast Track access for children under the age of two. At Luton Airport, this applies when travelling with an adult Fast Track ticket holder, while Glasgow offers free access for children under three when accompanied by a paying adult.
Nick Caunter, Managing Director of APH.com, said: “February half term is one of the busiest times of year for family travel, and the right facilities can make a real difference to how smoothly a journey begins. Our research helps parents understand what support is available at the UK’s major airports, so they can plan ahead and travel with greater confidence.”
For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) visit www.aph.com
or call 01342 859515.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Images (from left to right)
- Image 1: Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com) has released a guide revealing the UK’s most family-friendly airports. Image Credit Adobe Stock
- Image 2: Heathrow Airport provides ‘Stay & Play’ soft-play zones in every terminal. Image Credit Heathrow Airport
- Image 3: The APH research compares facilities at the UK’s 10 busiest airports. Image Credit Adobe Stock
- High-res images can be downloaded from https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jrkuhkpbe8ance7hsb22m/AIBLcRr9hJxReVQz3QLJaUI?rlkey=6xmrbyuydiz5vk58pqzyirhj9&st=qj56wx59&dl=0
About Airport Parking and Hotels (APH)
Established in 1980, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is an award-winning airport parking operator and retailer, winning the ‘Best Airport Parking Company’ award at the British Travel Awards 2025 for the fifteenth year running. APH also carries Which? Recommended Provider status having been voted as one of the best services available in the airport parking industry in September 2024. In addition to APH’s own car parks serving Gatwick, Manchester and Cardiff Airports, APH also offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels.
Media Enquiries
GEC PR
Sarah Salord, Company Director
020 3907 6824