APH Express Parking

Overview

APH Express Parking is a self-parking Park & Ride car park at NEC West, with a shuttle taking around three minutes to Birmingham Airport. You park the car yourself, keep your keys and take the free 24-hour transfer to the terminal. The service is operated by Airparks on behalf of APH and uses the same underlying NEC West parking operation as Airparks Express.

That makes it one of Birmingham's quickest off-airport Park & Ride options. You get a much shorter transfer than the main APH and Airparks sites at Mackadown Lane while still avoiding the prices that can come with parking directly beside the terminal.

How does APH Express Parking work?

Drive to the APH / Airparks Express car park at NEC West and pull into the arrivals area. A member of the team will check you in and direct you to a parking space.

Park the vehicle yourself and keep your keys. Make your way to the nearest shuttle stop and take the free transfer to Birmingham Airport. The journey takes around three minutes and transfers operate throughout the day and night.

APH currently describes the service as having on-demand transfers, while its detailed arrival instructions state that buses run at intervals of around 15–25 minutes. Allow enough time for check-in and the transfer rather than assuming a bus will leave immediately.

When you return, make your way to Bus Stop A at Birmingham Airport. The return journey takes around three minutes. Once back at NEC West, collect your vehicle from the space where you left it and drive home.

Why choose APH Express Parking?

• Around three minutes from the terminal: one of the shortest Park & Ride transfers at Birmingham Airport.
• Keep your keys: your vehicle stays where you park it.
• 24-hour operation: transfers operate throughout the day and night.
• No key handover: nobody needs to drive your vehicle while you are away.
• Blue Badge bays: designated accessible spaces are available.
• Wheelchair-accessible buses: the transfer buses are suitable for wheelchair users.
• Secure parking: the site has CCTV, perimeter fencing, floodlighting, barrier-controlled access, 24-hour staff and regular patrols.

How does APH Express compare with Airparks Express?

Airparks Express is the most important comparison because both products use the same NEC West parking operation. Airparks operates APH Express on APH's behalf.

Both involve self-parking, both let you keep your keys and both have the same roughly three-minute journey to Birmingham Airport. If both appear in your search results, compare the price and booking conditions rather than assuming that the different branding means you are getting a substantially different car park.

How does APH Express compare with ShortRun?

ShortRun by Airparks is another keep-your-keys Park & Ride option close to Birmingham Airport. Its shuttle journey takes around five minutes, compared with around three minutes from APH Express.

Both are close enough that price should probably matter more than a couple of minutes on the bus. Compare them directly for your dates.

How does APH Express compare with APH Birmingham Self Park?

APH Birmingham Self Park operates from Mackadown Lane and has a considerably longer transfer of around 14 minutes.

Both let you park the car yourself and keep your keys. APH Self Park may be worth considering if getting the lowest price matters most; APH Express is the stronger option if you want to minimise the transfer between the car park and terminal.

How does APH Express compare with Birmingham Airport Car Park 5?

Birmingham Airport Car Park 5 is official on-airport parking around a 5–10-minute walk from the terminal, with a free shuttle also available.

Car Park 5 gives you the option of walking and keeps you within the airport's own parking estate. APH Express is off-airport but has a very short bus journey. Compare the prices rather than assuming the official car park will automatically be the better choice.

Important things to know

Address: APH Express Parking, NEC West Car Park, Bickenhill Lane, Birmingham, B37 7BQ.
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APH specifically advises customers not to use the postcode alone. Follow the signs for Birmingham Airport and NEC, then for NEC West Car Park and APH / Airparks Express.

The maximum vehicle height is 2.1 metres. Vehicles must fit within a standard bay approximately 2 metres wide × 5 metres long. Only non-commercial vehicles with fewer than eight seats are accepted. Trailers, caravans, motorhomes, minibuses and lorries are not permitted.

Blue Badge bays are available and the shuttle buses are wheelchair accessible.

APH currently offers a discretionary grace period until midnight if you return later than booked. After that, its current published charge is £20 per additional day, although this is subject to change, so check the booking conditions if your return arrangements change.

Directions

Please do not use the postcode alone for directions.

If heading from the direction of Birmingham, follow the A45 and signs towards the airport.

On slip road, follow signs to Airport (Keeping to the left).

When joining the main carriageway (Bickenhill Lane) move into right hand lane coming up to the roundabout.

Take 3rd exit (coming back on yourself). Follow signs to NEC west car park.

At roundabout take 1st exit to APH/Airparks Express


There are roadworks in the area of Birmingham Airport connected to the HS2 project which you should allow extra time for. APH/Airparks Express is located at NEC West Car Park and both our directions and the NEC West signposts will bring you to the correct location.

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Arrival procedure

Drive to Airparks Express and pull up in the arrivals area, a member of the team will check you in and then will guide you into a space.

This service is a self-park car park, so you keep your keys. Make your way to the nearest bus stop, the journey takes around 3 minutes to get to the terminal. Transfers run every 15 - 25 minutes.

Please ensure you allow sufficient time to complete your vehicle check-in and airport transfer.

Return procedure

On your return, make your way to bus stop A, which will then take just 3 minutes to get back to the car park, so you can be on your way home as soon as possible.

Security

24-hour staff, security fencing and flood lights.

Important information

Vehicles must fit into a standard parking bay (2.4m x 4.8m).

This car park offers a grace period until midnight which is at their own discretion. Any longer than this, will result in the daily overstay charge which is £25.