London Southend Airport is a compact airport on the edge of Southend in Essex, with its own railway station a two-minute walk from the terminal. Security is easy to pack for, because liquids up to 2 litres stay in your bag. The one thing to plan is the drop-off: there is no free option, the Express zone has a strict ten-minute limit, and you pay online afterwards. This guide covers what is worth knowing before you fly from Southend.
Getting there by car
From the M25, leave at junction 29 onto the A127 and follow the airport signs. The postcode for the sat-nav is SS2 6YF. If you have booked parking, use the postcode in your parking confirmation instead. See parking for the terminal.
Drop-off: ten minutes, and no free option
- Express Pick-up and Drop-off, opposite the terminal next to the Superior car park: £8 per visit, with a maximum stay of 10 minutes.
- There are no barriers and no tickets. Pay online only, by midnight the day after your visit, and do not pay in advance. Overstay or forget, and a parking charge notice follows.
- There is no free drop-off. If you need longer, the Budget car park, a couple of minutes' walk away, starts at £12 for 30 minutes, paid at the machines in the car park.
- Blue Badge holders: no exemption is listed. There are Blue Badge bays in the Superior car park, where charges apply.
Ten minutes is enough for a quick drop if the bags are ready, but not for a long goodbye. For collecting someone, park in the Budget car park and meet them inside rather than circling in the Express zone. If you are parking rather than being dropped off, none of this applies. Our drop-off charges guide compares Southend with every other UK airport.
Security: liquids stay in your bag
Southend's CT scanners let you carry liquids up to 2 litres in your cabin bag, and keep laptops and other large electrical items in your bag at security. Aerosols over 500ml are not allowed, metal containers and flasks must be empty, and liquids may be given an extra test. Many other airports still have a 100ml limit, so pack the bag for home for the airport you fly back from.
How early to arrive
Southend does not publish a single arrival time, so go by your airline's check-in and bag-drop times, on your booking. Then add the transfer from your car park. The Park & Ride we sell is about five minutes from the terminal by shuttle, so allow 25 to 35 minutes from the car park barrier to check-in.
Which parking suits which trip
Before You Fly lists the Southend parking we sell. When we compared prices for an eight-day trip booked about three months ahead, Purple Parking Park and Ride was around £72, about five minutes from the terminal by shuttle.
Prices move with the dates, so compare them for your trip. Book the flexible rate if your dates might move. It can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival for a full refund; see the cancellation FAQs.
Lounge and hotel
The SKYLIFE Lounge is a pay-in lounge open to all passengers, but it is not open every day; when it is closed, SKYLIFE runs a space at the Pilot Café instead. Check the airport's website for the day you fly.
For a very early flight, the Holiday Inn Southend is a few minutes' walk from the terminal. Search Southend hotels to compare rooms.
Getting there by train
Southend Airport station is about a two-minute walk from the terminal. Greater Anglia runs up to three trains an hour on weekdays to London Liverpool Street, via Stratford, taking roughly 50 minutes to an hour.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drop off at Southend Airport?
£8 per visit at the Express Pick-up and Drop-off, with a maximum stay of 10 minutes. Pay online by midnight the day after; there are no barriers or tickets.
Is there free drop-off at Southend Airport?
No. The nearest alternative is the Budget car park, a couple of minutes' walk from the terminal, from £12 for 30 minutes.
Can I take 2 litres of liquids through security at Southend?
Yes. Southend allows liquids up to 2 litres in your cabin bag, and laptops can stay in your bag too. Aerosols over 500ml are not allowed, and metal flasks must be empty.
Is there a train station at Southend Airport?
Yes. Southend Airport station is about a two-minute walk from the terminal, with trains to London Liverpool Street via Stratford in about 50 minutes to an hour.
Sorted before you fly.
