APH Birmingham Self Park

Overview

APH Birmingham Self Park is an off-airport Park & Ride car park around 14 minutes from Birmingham Airport. You park the car yourself, keep your keys and take the free shuttle to the terminal. Transfers run around every 25 minutes and the car park operates 24 hours a day.

The service is operated by Airparks on behalf of APH from the Mackadown Lane site. It is a straightforward option if you want to keep control of your keys and are prepared to spend a little longer on the transfer in return for a potentially lower price.

How does APH Birmingham Self Park work?

Drive to the car park at Mackadown Lane and follow the signs to the arrivals area. A marshal will check your booking, give you a ticket and direct you to your parking space.

Park the vehicle yourself and keep your keys. Head to the waiting area and show your ticket to the shuttle driver. The transfer to Birmingham Airport takes around 14 minutes and buses run approximately every 25 minutes.

When you return, make your way to Bus Stop A at Birmingham Airport, which is the same place where you were dropped off. Show your ticket to the driver and take the shuttle back to the car park. Collect your vehicle from the space where you left it and scan your ticket at the exit barrier.

Why choose APH Birmingham Self Park?

• Keep your keys: your car remains where you park it while you are away.
• 14-minute transfer: free buses run between the car park and Birmingham Airport.
• Transfers every 25 minutes: regular services operate throughout the day and night.
• 24-hour operation: suitable for early departures and late returns.
• No key handover: nobody else needs to drive your vehicle.
• Accessible buses: APH says all transfer buses are equipped for easier access.
• Secure parking: CCTV, 24-hour staff and regular security patrols are in place.

How does APH Birmingham Self Park compare with Airparks Self Park?

Birmingham Airparks Self Park is the most important comparison because it uses the same Mackadown Lane parking operation. Airparks operates APH Self Park on APH's behalf.

Both involve self-parking, both let you keep your keys and both use the same roughly 14-minute transfer. If both appear in your search results, compare the price and booking conditions rather than assuming the different branding means you are getting a completely different car park.

How does APH Self Park compare with APH Express?

APH Express Parking is considerably closer to Birmingham Airport, with a shuttle taking around three minutes from NEC West.

Both let you park yourself and keep your keys. APH Express is the convenience upgrade; APH Self Park is the one to compare if you are prepared to spend longer on the bus for a potentially lower price.

How does APH Self Park compare with ShortRun?

ShortRun by Airparks has a transfer of around five minutes, making it considerably quicker than the 14-minute journey from Mackadown Lane.

Again, the decision is mostly convenience versus price. If APH Self Park is noticeably cheaper, an extra few minutes on the shuttle may be a reasonable trade-off.

How does APH Self Park compare with APH Drop & Go?

APH Drop & Go operates from the same Mackadown Lane site, but the parking process is different. With Self Park, you find your own space and keep your keys. With Drop & Go, you leave the keys with the parking team and they park the vehicle for you.

If you prefer nobody else to drive your car, Self Park is the obvious choice. If you would rather hand over the keys and avoid finding a space yourself, compare the Drop & Go price.

Important things to know

Address: APH Birmingham Self Park, 100 Mackadown Lane, Birmingham, B33 0JD.

Vehicles must be under 2.1 metres high and fit within a standard bay approximately 2 metres wide × 5 metres long. Only non-commercial vehicles with fewer than eight seats are accepted. High-sided vehicles, minibuses, motorhomes, lorries, caravans and trailers are not permitted.

If you need additional assistance, APH asks customers to call the car park around 30 minutes before arrival. The transfer buses are equipped for easier access and staff can provide additional help where possible.

Bikes, surfboards and similar large items cannot be carried on the transfer coaches, although skis and snowboards are permitted.

The car park currently offers a discretionary grace period until midnight on the booked return day. After that, APH currently lists an additional charge of £20 per day, although this is subject to change.

Directions

Leave the M42 at Junction 6 and stay in the left lane to take the A45 exit to Birmingham East Airport/NEC & Coventry. At Bickenhill Interchange roundabout take the fourth exit onto the A45 slip road to Birmingham/Birmingham International Airport.
Merge onto Coventry Road/A45 and stay left. Take the exit, almost immediately, towards Solihull/Southampton/Bickenhill/Catherine-de-Barnes and stay left. Keep left at the fork and follow signs for the airport.
At the roundabout take the third exit onto Airport Way/B4438.
Take the first exit at the next roundabout onto Bickenhill Lane/B4438. At the next roundabout take the second exit to stay on Bickenhill Lane/B4438.
Take the second exit at the next roundabout onto Bickenhill Parkway/B4438.
Take the first exit, almost immediately, onto Coleshill Heath Road. Take the first exit at the roundabout onto Bickenhill Road.
Bear right, continuing on Bickenhill Road. Continue onto Station Road. Take the second exit at the roundabout onto Holly Lane. At the next roundabout, take the first exit onto Tile Cross Road. Turn left onto Tile Cross Road. Turn left again onto Mackadown Lane. You'll find the car park on the right.

Arrival procedure

When you arrive at the car park follow signs for the arrivals area where you will be met by a marshal who will check you in and direct you to your space. You'll need to show them your booking confirmation and they will then give you a ticket, which you'll need to keep hold of.
Make a note of where you are parked and then catch the bus from the waiting area to the airport, the journey takes around 15 minutes. You'll need to show your ticket to the driver.

Return procedure

Catch the shuttle bus back to the car park from Bus Stop A at the terminal - show the ticket you were given on arrival to the driver.
When you get back to the car park drive to the exit barrier and scan your ticket and it'll open automatically for you.
If you lose your ticket don't worry, the car park will ask you to answer some security questions and show a photo ID, so make sure you have one with you.

Security

The car park has been awarded the Park Mark which means that it has high security measures including CCTV, fencing, and 24-hour patrols.

Disabled Facilities

The buses lower, and have ramps and space for a wheelchair. If you need any further assistance call APH 30 minutes before you arrive.