Car Hire Newcastle Airport

Car Hire

Newcastle Airport is the 11th busiest of England’s regional airports and is located just outside the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, some six miles to the northwest. Unusually for a UK regional airport, the complex holds its own light rail metro station, giving a direct link to the city in 22 minutes, with further links to Sunderland and Gateshead on the opposite banks of the River Tyne estuary taking 55 minutes. Bus, taxi and rental car are the alternative means of transport, with car hire in Newcastle Airport the most convenient way to explore this historic region.

Who to Book With
Five international car hire companies are based in Newcastle Airport’s terminal: Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Alamo and National. Their desks are found opposite the Domestic Arrivals gate on the ground floor and are open 24 hours. The cars themselves are easily accessed in the car park adjacent to the terminal.

Need to Know Essentials
The following documents must be provided at the vehicle collection point:

- Your home country driver’s licence
- The credit card used for the online reservation
- A passport or utility bill confirming your ID
- Confirmation of your advance booking

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
The UK drives on the left and most hire cars have manual gear shifts. Driving here is generally straightforward and safe as the vast majority of roads, from motorways to rural lanes, are kept in good condition and British drivers are normally courteous. Speed limits, numerically marked, are 70mph on motorways and most dual carriageways, 60mph on rural roads and 30mph in urban areas. Parking restrictions in cities are rigorously enforced, but Newcastle city has over 100 municipal pay-and-display car parks which operate the EU Blue Badge scheme for disabled drivers. Warning triangles and visibility jackets should be carried and seatbelts must be worn by all vehicle occupants. Mobile phone usage while driving is forbidden unless a hands-free kit is used.

See our guide to the UK for more information on driving here.

Transport

Self-drive from the airport to the city centre is straightforward and fast outside rush hours via the A696/A1 Great North Road which links the airport with the city in an average time of 15 minutes. The metro system runs directly from the airport’s station while a selection of bus and taxi services make up the other onward transportation options.

Trains
Newcastle’s Tyne & Wear Metro is fast and comfortable, terminating at Central Station and stopping at several other city centre destinations. Trains run every 12 minutes from 06:00 to 23:58 daily, and the journey to central Newcastle takes 25 minutes and costs £3.60.

Taxis
Airport Taxis provide the official local and long-distance service at Newcastle Airport, with the rank located just outside the Arrivals area. Cabs can be booked in advance, with the average journey to the city centre taking around 25 minutes and costing £15. Cabs are wheelchair accessible and operate 24 hours on 365 days per year. Discount fares are often available when customers pre-book online.

Taxi prices:
Newcastle Airport to Newcastle city centre is about £15
Newcastle Airport to Alnwick is about £65
Newcastle Airport to Edinburgh is about £210
Newcastle Airport to Glasgow is about £275

Buses
Newcastle Airport offers several Nexus bus services which link with the city centre and nearby towns and villages. The most convenient is bus number 353, which is operated by Stagecoach and runs from the stop immediately outside the terminal to Monument Bus Station in the city centre. Bus travel is the cheapest option, but traffic conditions and frequent stops make it the most time-consuming. Several city centre hotels offer shuttle buses, and routes to Gateshead and Sunderland are also available.

Facilities

Terminals
Newcastle Airport’s single terminal serves over four million passengers a year with full-service and low-cost flights to and from major European cities and a number of domestic destinations. Routes and carriers include British Airways from London-Heathrow and Air France from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and low-cost airlines Jet2 and Flybe offer regional destinations and favourite Mediterranean holiday resorts. Charter airlines Thomas Cook and Thomson also operate from the airport.

Parking
Parking services at the airport offer high security levels and are divided into short, medium and long-stay areas, including a dedicated pick-up and drop-off area. Parking can be booked in advance online, and the short-stay and pick-up areas are located opposite the terminal. The medium-stay car park is a few minutes’ walk away and the long-stay area is up to five minutes’ walk away. Costs vary from around £3 for 30 minutes at the short- or medium-stay car parks to £70 for a week-long stay.

Wi-Fi
Passengers can access Wi-Fi internet services at any of the catering outlets in the terminal as well as in the business lounges.

Information Services
An information desk is found in the terminal’s main hall, adjacent to check-in desk 32.

Useful Numbers
Service Centre: +44 871 882 1121

Accessibility
The airport’s facilities for passengers with reduced mobility comply with EU requirements and include disabled persons’ parking bays in all car parks, a courtesy coach from the long-stay car park, assistance with check-in and boarding if required, adapted toilets, lifts, low-level payphones, wheelchairs and dedicated seating areas.

Restaurants and Bars
Condeco, Greggs bakery and Starbucks are available landside in the main hall, with a good choice between the Woolsington Arms Pub, the Wine and Deli Bar, the Eagle Bar Diner, Upper Crust, Burger King and the Real Food Company offered in the Departures lounge. For great coffee and snacks, Caffe Ritazza is also based here.

VIP Lounges
Servisair Executive Lounge
British Airways Lounge

Money and ATMs
Travelex currency exchange outlets are found landside and airside at the airport, and ATMs are located in the Arrivals and Departures halls.

Shopping
The landside public area has a WHSmith and a Whistlestop Convenience Store for travellers’ basic needs, as well as an impressive list of fashion, accessories, electronics, chocolates and more in the Departures lounge. Duty-free facilities offer wines, spirits, perfumes, cosmetics and tobacco products, and Accessorize, ARG Airport Fashions and several other outlets help while away the waiting time. For a real treat, the Aerospa Beauty Lounge gives relaxation therapies and beauty treatments.