London Heathrow Outshines Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Gatwick and More UK Airports You Need to Arrive to the Earliest in Year End Festive Travel Week, This News Reveals to World, Now Don’t Miss Your Flight

Published on December 26, 2025

By: Tuhin Sarkar

As the Year End and Christmas festive season kicks off, the busiest airports in the UK are gearing up for a surge in holiday travellers, and London Heathrow stands out as the number one airport passengers need to arrive at the earliest. Heathrow, with its towering passenger numbers and long queues, has earned the top spot in this year’s rankings, outshining Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Gatwick, and more. This critical information is now revealed to the world, ensuring that you don’t miss your flight during the busiest time of the year.

The festive travel period is notorious for delays and congestion, especially at major airports. Heathrow, being the busiest with nearly 80 million yearly passengers, faces overwhelming traffic and lengthy security lines. But Heathrow isn’t alone. Birmingham, Bristol, and other major airports are also struggling with long wait times and overcrowded terminals. For travellers, the best advice this year is to plan ahead and arrive as early as possible at these busy hubs to avoid unnecessary stress. Read on to learn why Heathrow tops the list and how to ensure a smooth start to your holiday travel.

As the holiday season kicks into full gear, UK airports are bracing for one of the busiest times of the year. A new study reveals which airports are most likely to delay your travel and the ones where arriving early is essential to avoid chaos. The study, based on traffic data, security queue times, and passenger numbers, shows that passengers travelling through London Heathrow need to prepare for long waits and packed terminals, while those flying from Newcastle will breeze through security with minimal hassle.

Heathrow Tops the List of Airports You Need to Arrive Early For

London Heathrow, already known as the UK’s busiest airport, comes in at number one for the airport passengers need to arrive at the earliest. With a staggering 79.15 million yearly passengers and around 3.17 million vehicles passing through its surrounding areas each year, Heathrow is not just crowded but also notorious for delays. The study found that travelers at Heathrow face an average security wait time of 20 minutes—less than some airports but still a considerable time when dealing with such a large number of travelers.

Birmingham and Bristol Struggle with Long Queues and Increased Delays

In second place, Birmingham Airport sees 11.48 million passengers annually and reports a high level of congestion both inside the terminals and around the airport. With 2.64 million vehicles passing through each year and average security wait times of 24 minutes, the airport is often slow-moving during peak times. Similarly, Bristol Airport ranks third on the list, with a slightly higher 30-minute security wait. Although the airport handles fewer passengers—9.91 million annually—it’s still plagued by long delays, compounded by its busy layout.

Leeds Bradford and Manchester Airports Face Prolonged Waits

Leeds Bradford comes in fourth, scoring 51.4 out of 100. Despite handling only 3.99 million passengers a year, the airport’s small size means that security queues stretch to an average of 35 minutes, making it one of the slower airports. Just behind Leeds Bradford, Manchester Airport, with 28.08 million passengers annually, shares a similar queue time of 24 minutes. This puts Manchester in fifth place, with heavy congestion expected during the festive season, particularly as the UK’s third-busiest airport.

London Stansted and Gatwick: Busy But Efficient

London Stansted, despite ranking sixth, has relatively lower security wait times of 18 minutes, better than many larger airports. With 27.95 million passengers and 1.87 million vehicles annually, the airport provides a smoother experience, but its high traffic volume can still lead to longer delays during peak travel. Gatwick Airport, with 40.89 million passengers annually, follows closely behind. Despite being the second-busiest airport in the UK, it ranks seventh due to efficient operations and shorter queues (16 minutes), making it a better option for travelers looking to avoid excessive wait times.

London Luton and Edinburgh Airports: Less Traffic But Longer Waits

London Luton ranks eighth, with a score of 34.3 out of 100. While it serves 16.4 million passengers per year, its surrounding area sees heavy traffic with 1.74 million vehicles, contributing to longer security queues (19 minutes). Edinburgh Airport, with 14.4 million passengers annually, comes in ninth place, scoring 31.9 out of 100. Its security queue times are relatively short (16 minutes), but the increased passenger numbers can create a bottleneck during peak hours, particularly during the holiday season.

Glasgow International and London City: More Efficient, Less Crowded

In contrast, Glasgow International ranks tenth with just 7.36 million passengers annually and a much shorter security wait time of 13 minutes. London City Airport, which caters to fewer passengers (3.43 million per year) and sees 2.07 million vehicles passing through, is the most efficient in terms of security processing, with an average wait of just 12 minutes. These airports offer less stressful travel experiences, particularly during the busy Christmas period.

Newcastle: The Airport of Choice for Stress-Free Travel

Finally, Newcastle Airport stands out as the best option for avoiding long delays and security queues. With only 4.82 million passengers annually and a low traffic score of 8.66, it remains one of the least congested airports in the UK. Travelers here face a mere 15-minute security wait, making it the most efficient and least stressful airport during the festive season.

Tips for Navigating UK Airports During the Holiday Season

With airports across the UK facing massive increases in traffic and potential delays, experts suggest that travelers should aim to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their flight, especially during peak times. This extra buffer will allow for long queues, unpredictable delays, and additional security checks. Additionally, passengers should keep an eye on real-time updates from their airlines and check social media for the latest airport conditions. By arriving early and planning accordingly, travelers can ensure a stress-free holiday journey.