Leeds Bradford is the local airport, but it is small — so the right choice often depends more on where you are flying than on which airport is nearest. Here is how the five airports within a sensible drive of Leeds compare.
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
The closest by a wide margin — around 9 miles and 20–30 minutes from the city centre. Good for domestic hops, Jet2 and Ryanair holiday routes, and short-notice trips where you value a quick, cheap transfer over choice.
The catch is the flight network: LBA serves a limited set of destinations, often on fewer days per week, and long-haul is not an option. Fixed transfer from Leeds: £60. Detail on the Leeds Bradford Airport taxi page.
Manchester Airport (MAN)
About 45 miles and 1 hour 10 minutes via the M62. This is the workhorse choice for Leeds travellers: three terminals, the widest short-haul and long-haul network in the North, and multiple daily frequencies on most routes.
If your destination is not on the LBA board, it is almost certainly at Manchester. Fixed transfer from Leeds: £135 for up to 8 — see Leeds to Manchester Airport, or the cost breakdown in how much is a taxi from Leeds to Manchester Airport.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
Around 75 miles and 1 hour 30 minutes, also via the M62. Smaller and quicker to move through than Manchester, with a decent easyJet and Ryanair network to Europe and Ireland.
Worth checking if you want a calmer airport experience and your route is served. Fixed transfer from Leeds: £160 — see Leeds to Liverpool Airport.
Birmingham Airport (BHX)
About 120 miles and 2 hours 15 minutes via the M1 and M42. Usually only worth the drive for a specific route or fare not available at Manchester — a particular long-haul carrier, or a charter flight.
For a group, the fixed £250 fare for up to 8 can still beat the combined cost of train tickets plus the transfer from Birmingham International station. See Leeds to Birmingham Airport.
London Heathrow (LHR)
Around 200 miles and 3 hours 30 minutes down the M1. Chosen for long-haul routes and airline connections that only Heathrow offers, and by groups who would rather travel together door-to-door than manage luggage across a train and the Piccadilly line.
Fixed transfer from Leeds: £450 for up to 8. See Leeds to Heathrow.
How to choose
- Start with the flight, not the airport. Check whether your destination and dates are served from LBA first — if they are, and the fare is reasonable, the short transfer usually wins.
- If LBA does not have it, Manchester is the default. Liverpool is worth a look for European routes if you prefer a smaller airport.
- Only drive to Birmingham or Heathrow for a route or connection you genuinely cannot get closer to home — usually long-haul.
- Travelling as a group of 4+? Factor the transfer as one fixed vehicle cost, not per person — it changes the maths against the train. Our 8-seater transfers page explains how.
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