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Travelling from East Midlands Airport

East Midlands Airport Destinations

Fancy flying from East Midlands Airport (EMA) but not sure exactly where you want to go?

Or maybe you know exactly where, but you’re just not sure if you can get there from EMA?

Either way, all your questions are answered in this comprehensive East Midlands Airport destinations guide.

We’ll get cracking with your EMA destination facts and recommendations shortly. But if you’re not a local and are perhaps taking advantage of a great deal on EMA flights or package holidays, you may want to book a couple of extra day’s leave to explore this stunning part of England.

Renowned for its rolling countryside and spellbinding towns, the East Midlands is also packed with historic castles and abbeys, lovely national parks and a cultural calendar rammed with festivals and events.

One must-see is Chatsworth House, an impressive 17^th-century estate that’s the seat of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. The house, gardens and park are open to the public and it’s a wonderful place to visit.

And the Peak District National Park is another perpetually popular UK attraction. Its iconic hills, valleys and woodlands form a natural playground for rock climbing, hiking and biking, and its charming towns and villages are a joy to explore.

Meanwhile, Wollaton Hall is a gorgeous 16th-century country pile which is now a museum. The manor house hosts a fine collection of paintings and period furniture, while the surrounding grounds include a walled garden and deer park.

For something a little different, you can also visit the National Centre for Birds of Prey. You can watch impressive falconry displays here and see amazing hawks, eagles and owls up close. Alternatively, the National Waterways Museum is the perfect place to learn more about boats, canals and rivers, and if you’re into trains choo-choose the National Railway Museum.

Looking for somewhere nice to slake your thirst while you’re in the area?

The Fox & Hounds is an old-school pub in Barrow Upon Trent with an expansive beer and ale selection and lots of Great British pub grub.

And if you prefer your boozers on the traditional side, another great pick is The Old Bell in the village of Ashby-de-la-Zouch. As well as a fine selection of alcoholic and soft beverages, there’s a superb beer garden.

For something a little fancy, try The Bath Hotel is a luxury hotel in Buxton, with its rooftop bar, or The Green Dragon gastropub in Cropwell Bishop.

If you’re looking for somewhere to rest your head before your big (or small) flight, there are plenty of excellent East Midlands accommodation options. For instance, you can treat yourself to a luxury evening in Chatsworth House Hotel (there’s everything from traditional hotel rooms to cottages and even glamping pods), and Wollaton Hall Hotel is in the grounds of Wollaton Hall. Enough said.

Alternatively, Clumber Park campsite has several cosy lodges you can rent, there are some nice chalets at the National Centre for Birds of Prey, and you’ll find a wide choice of B&Bs and hotels near the National Railway Museum.

East Midlands Airport destinations list

There are lots of lovely locations you can fly to from EMA. Check them out right now.

East Midlands Airport UK destinations

Need to bag a flight to somewhere else in Blighty? East Midlands Airport offers flights to several UK destinations, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast, Aberdeen, Inverness, Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.

East Midlands Airport Europe destinations

You’re covered if you want to fly elsewhere in Europe too. Because EMA has flights to Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, and Madrid, as well as Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens.

East Midlands Airport global destinations

EMA is also well-connected to airports outwith Europe. For instance, you can hop on a flight here to get to destinations like Dubai, Dhaka, Lahore, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat and Bangkok.

What are the best places to fly to from East Midlands Airport?

Choose Amsterdam for canals, coffee shops and multiculturalism. This iconic Netherlands city has long been a honeytrap for stags and hens, but its unique museums, galleries and heritage make it a magnet for culture vultures and history buffs too.
Choose Paris for (arguably) the world’s most romantic city. When the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, and Champs-Elysees are your backdrop, it’s hard not to feel that love is in the air. If you’ve never been before, Paris might surprise you because it feels so manageable – more like a series of charming connected villages than a huge city.
Choose Frankfurt for its big business and banking credentials, as well as its tourist hotspots. In addition to being a popular HQ location for lots of huge corporations, this city is famous for the Messe Frankfurt trade fair and historic Altstadt area.
Choose Madrid for a fiery capital characterized by tapas bars and flamenco dancing. It’s also home to a couple of pretty good football teams, Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid, so if you’re a fan of the beautiful game, maybe you can catch a match while you’re in town.
Choose Barcelona for another great footballing city with some rather spectacular architecture. From Park Guell to the Sagrada Familia cathedral, there’s just so much to please the eye and charm the heart in this captivating Catalan city.
Choose Lisbon for delicious pastel de nata pastries and lively Fado music. For an ancient capital which never feels too hectic, and locals who welcome visitors from around the world, Lisbon is where it’s at.
Choose Rome for Italian art and passion. With iconic attractions like the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum and the Vatican City, this world-famous capital has to be seen to be believed.
Choose Naples for explosive natural features and fabulous football. This is the city where Maradona played in his pomp, and it’s also famous for its local pizza and nearby Mount Vesuvius.
Choose Munich for Oktoberfest and some seriously impressive science. This is the home of the Deutsches Science Museum, the Hofbrauhaus brewery and (last but not least), Oktoberfest.
Choose Vienna for delicious sweet treats and high culture. This Austrian powerhouse is famous for sublime classical music, beautiful Baroque architecture and mouth-watering Sachertorte pastries.

From East Midlands to the world

Choose Dubai for another dimension of luxury. With skyscraping hotels, plush shopping malls and thrilling theme parks, this dynamic destination should be top of your list.
Choose Kuala Lumpur for buzzing nightlife and eclectic architecture. The Malaysian capital is packed with interesting malls and restaurants and features an eye-popping mix of contemporary and ancient architecture.
Choose Doha for Formula 1 action and credit-card melting shopping. You can also spend time in the lap of luxury in one of this city’s sublime hotels.
Choose Lagos for an awesome African experience you’ll never forget. Nigeria’s largest city is renowned for its beaches, markets and thrilling nightlife.
Choose Johannesburg for museums, galleries and Rainbow Nation vibes. As well as urban attractions, this South African city is a great base for safaris where you can see the Big 5 – lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and rhinos.
Choose New York for one of the world’s most popular cities. From outstanding museums like the Guggenheim to wonderful wide open spaces like Central Park, and famous boroughs like Brooklyn to cinematic Manhattan, the Big Apple is always a tasty bite.
Choose Chicago for classic architecture, deep-dish pizza and even deeper House Music. This is the perfect place to relax during the day and party the night away.

Which airlines fly out of East Midlands Airport?

You can take your pick from carriers at EMA. From budget and package holiday airlines like Ryanair, Jet2.com and TUI Airways to Emirates, Etihad and Quatar, there’s a range of options for every taste and budget.

How can I hire a car at East Midlands Airport?

Hiring a car at East Midlands Airport is easy, especially if you do it through Enjoy Travel (if we say so ourselves).

Some of the top car hire companies include Enterprise, Alamo, Europcar and Hertz. But there’s also Avis, Sixt, Budget, Thrifty, National, Enterprise and, for those who appreciate an eco-friendly choice, Green Motion.

With broad and deep fleets, the choice of vehicles is great – whether you fancy a nippy 2-seater sportscar or 9-seater space wagon for all the family, book early enough and take your pick.

Simply book your EMA rental online and bring your rental agreement and ID to the airport to pick up your vehicle – it couldn’t be simpler and smoother.