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Car hire at East Midlands Airport - Discovering Central England

East Midlands Airport was originally built in the 1970s but has been continually redeveloped over the years into the modern international air transportation facility it is today. In recent years it has established itself as a hub for low-cost airlines such as Jet2.com and Ryanair (and tour operators like TUI Airways) which serve a wide choice of domestic and European short-haul destinations.

Situated near Castle Donington in the heart of Leicestershire and in close proximity to Loughborough (16km), Derby (20km), Nottingham (23km) and Leicester (32km), it caters for around passengers every year, making it one the busiest airports in the United Kingdom. It is also a major hub for air cargo with increased freight traffic results now putting the aiport in second place after London Heathrow.

With an exciting array of unique and very historic sites to visit, national parks to explore and special events going on throughout the year, there's never a shortage of things to do in this part of central England. With a car hire from East Midlands Airport, you have a choice of several fascinating cities to discover with the added appeal of a host of family attractions, including the City of Caves, Gulliver’s Kingdom and Nottingham Castle, which is closely associated with the legend of Robin Hood.

Auto Europe is a leading travel company with almost 70 years of experience in the heart of the international car rental industry. With competitive rates and the widest choice of vehicles on the market, we offer more than 28,000 convenient pick-up and drop-off points in over 190 of the world's most popular countries. Booking with Auto Europe is a guarantee of quality, so book your next low-cost car rental at East Midlands Airport online now or contact our award-winning rental specialists and they will be happy to find you the best deal.

Furthermore, you can might like to check out the user ratings and comments posted by some of Auto Europe's previous customers in the East Midlands on our dedicated East Midlands car hire reviews page for extra peace of mind before making your reservation.

Airport Information

East Midlands Airport (IATA code: EMA) is a thriving international airport conveniently situated in the very heart of England, just a short drive from Castle Donington, a small town famous for its world-class Formula One Grand Prix racing track. One of the airport's advantanges for passengers is its close proximity to many large and important cities, including Loughborough, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester. Originally built as a base for the RAF (Royal Air Force), it was redeveloped as a civilian airport in 1965 when it was named East Midlands Airport in order to reflect the area it serves.

East Midlands Airport (EMA)
Address: Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2SA, UK
Telephone: +44 808 169 7032
Airlines operating at East Midlands Airport: The list of the most important airlines operating at East Midlands Airport currently includes Aurigny, BH Air, Blue Islands, Flybe, iPS Airways, Jet2, Ryanair and TUI Airways.

Where to pick up my car hire at East Midlands Airport

To pick up your car rental at East Midlands Airport, just head for the Arrivals Hall where you'll see the signs indicating each respective company's welcome desk. The vehicle pick-up point is located close by in the main car park

Car hire operating hours

	Enterprise at East Midlands Airport Arrivals Hall, Castle Donington, UK DE74 2SA +44 1332 812828	Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm (Sat & Sun )am-5pm)
	National at East Midlands Airport Arrivals Hall, Castle Donington, UKDE74 2SA +44 1332 812828	Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm (Sat & Sun 9am-5pm)

Terminals

Large and well-organised, East Midlands Airport has one main passenger terminal divided into two levels. On the ground-floor is both the Departures and Arrivals areas with all the check-in counters, baggage-claim section and several services. The higher level is where travellers can relax the airport's restaurants, bars, cafés and on-site stores whilst waiting for their flight to depart.

Airport Facilities

Despite being a smallish airport in comparison to London Heathrow and Gatwick, for example, East Midlands Airport offers its passengers a comprehensive selection of facilities and amenities, with several places to eat in the departures area, including some global brands such as Burger King and Starbucks. Other familiar names are also present for travellers looking to make a purchase before boarding their aircraft, including JD WH Smith. A large and very well-stocked Duty-free store also caters for people requiring last-minute provision like aftershave/perfume, make-up, skincare products, suntan cream/after sun, sunglasses, mobile phones, computers, cameras, smart devices, etc. The airport also has a chapel, smoking areas, Wi-fi and dedicated assistance staff on the premises to aid passengers of reduced mobility. A major feature of the airport's leisure facilities is the Aeropark where a large number of static aircraft are on public display, the majority produced by British manufacturers. Visitors can also take advantage of two viewing mounds to watch aircraft arriving and departing from the main runway.

How to get to and from East Midlands Airport

When you arrive to pick up or drop off your car hire at East Midlands Airport, you'll find that it is easily accessible not only from the local area but from all parts of the UK, either by road or public transport. Via the M1 (England's main arterial motorway), exit at junction 23a or 24 and you'll see that the airport is clearly signposted. If travelling on the M42, continue until it turns into the A42 and follow the airport signs. EMA is also near the M1, M42 and A50, eaning that airport is within easy reach of many of the main towns and cities in the centre of England. Although the airport currently has no direct access to the rail network (or the Nottingham tram network), it is possible to reach it from the nearest station, which is East Midlands Parkway located just over 6 kilometres away. From there, passenger have regular services to and from Leicester, Derby, Sheffield, Nottingham and London. There are frequent Skylink services operated by Kinchbus and Trent Barton connecting the airport with Leicester and Derby via Loughborough, while the local transport company Trent Barton operates a route from Nottingham to Loughborough via Beeston and Long Eaton. Both services operate every 20 minutes during the day and hourly throughout the night, seven days a week. Skylink Express (also operated by Trent Barton runs via the A453 into Nottingham serving the popular Clifton South Park & Ride tram stop, Nottingham Trent University and West Bridgford. For tips and useful advice on getting around the East Midlands region by car, please take a look at our UK Driving Guide for information on the local road rules, driving distances, etc.

Parking Tips

With a cluster of large towns and cities to explore, most notably Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, etc, visitors who rent a car at East Midlands Airport won't have too much difficulty finding a convenient parking space if they avoid the busy morning and evening rush-hours and plan their trip properly in advance. Depending on where you are travelling, an abundance of car parks (both underground and multi-storey) are available in urban centres and street-parking opportunities can be found with a little time and patience. At East Midlands Airport, both short-term and long-term car parks are available which are bookable on the airport website. The short-term car park is right next to the man terminal building, while the long-term car park is a bit further away with a free shuttle bus service available. The airport also offers a popular meet-and-greet service which allows drivers the luxury of being able to drop off their vehicle at the terminal and have someone park it for them.

Useful links

East Midlands Airport