Birmingham ShortRun by Airparks

Overview

ShortRun by Airparks is an off-airport Park & Ride car park around five minutes from Birmingham Airport by shuttle bus. You park the car yourself, keep your keys and take the included transfer to the terminal. Its big advantage over many Birmingham Park & Ride options is the short journey: you still get the potential saving of parking away from the terminal without spending another 15 minutes sitting on a bus.

The car park operates 24 hours a day, with regular transfers between ShortRun and Birmingham Airport. On your return, take the shuttle back from Bus Stop A and your car will be where you left it.

How does ShortRun by Airparks work?

Drive to ShortRun on Bickenhill Parkway and stop at the entrance barrier. A member of the ShortRun team will check your booking, tell you where to park and give you a receipt containing your return instructions.

Park the car yourself and keep your keys. Take your luggage to the nearby shuttle stop and catch the included transfer to Birmingham Airport. The journey takes around five minutes and transfers operate regularly, 24 hours a day.

When you return, make your way to Bus Stop A at Birmingham Airport and take the ShortRun shuttle back to the car park. Keep your parking receipt safe because you may need to show it to the driver. Once back at ShortRun, collect your car and drive home.

Why choose ShortRun by Airparks?

• Around five minutes from the terminal: unusually close for an off-airport Park & Ride.
• Keep your keys: your car stays where you park it while you are away.
• 24-hour operation: transfers run throughout the day and night.
• No key handover: useful if you prefer nobody else to drive your car.
• Secure parking: CCTV, entry and exit barriers and regular staff patrols are in place.
• Short transfer: a useful middle ground between cheaper off-airport parking and the more expensive car parks beside the terminal.

How does ShortRun compare with Airparks Express?

Airparks Express is another keep-your-keys option close to Birmingham Airport. It is based at NEC West and has an even shorter transfer of around three minutes.

Both let you park the car yourself and keep your keys, so this is a useful like-for-like comparison. Check the price for your dates rather than assuming the car park with the slightly shorter transfer will necessarily cost more.

How does ShortRun compare with APH Express?

APH Express Parking uses the same NEC West parking operation as Airparks Express and also has a transfer of around three minutes.

Again, the practical differences are small enough that price should play a large part in the decision. ShortRun gives you a roughly five-minute transfer; APH Express is a little closer. Both allow you to keep your keys.

How does ShortRun compare with Airparks Self Park?

Birmingham Airparks Self Park is based at Mackadown Lane and has a considerably longer transfer of around 12–14 minutes.

Airparks Self Park may compete more aggressively on price, while ShortRun is the stronger option if you want to keep the Park & Ride saving but minimise the time spent travelling between the car park and terminal.

How does ShortRun compare with Birmingham Airport Car Park 5?

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

Both let you park yourself and keep your keys. Car Park 5 has the advantage of being within Birmingham Airport itself, while ShortRun is an off-airport operation designed to compete on price. Compare them directly: if ShortRun is noticeably cheaper, a five-minute bus journey may be a fairly painless way to save money.

Important things to know

Address: ShortRun by Airparks, Bickenhill Parkway, Birmingham, West Midlands, B40 1QB.
what3words: ///trunk.evenly.topped

The postcode covers quite a large area and can sometimes send sat-nav users towards the wrong part of the NEC. Airparks recommends following the directions supplied with your booking; the car park entrance is just beyond the Premier Inn on Bickenhill Parkway.

Standard vehicles must be less than 2.1 metres high, 2 metres wide and 5 metres long. High-sided vehicles, minibuses, motorhomes, lorries, caravans and trailers are not accepted on the standard product. If you have a long-wheelbase or otherwise oversized vehicle, check whether the separate Larger Vehicles option is available for your dates rather than booking the standard product.

If you need accessibility assistance, tell the ShortRun team in advance. Current booking information advises adding this to your booking and contacting the car park before arrival so they can arrange a suitable parking position or assistance with the shuttle.

Directions

The postcode for the car park (B40 1QB) covers a large area and if you use a Satnav, it may take you to the Holiday Inn Express or the Little Owl pub. Therefore, we recommend that you follow the instructions below when you leave the motorway. However, if you do find yourself at the Holiday Inn Express or the Little Owl, please head back to the roundabout and follow the signs towards Elmdon Industrial Estate, Airport and Train Station. You will find the car park on the next roundabout along at the first exit. The entrance is on your left, just beyond the Premier Inn.

The directions to the car park are as follows:
From M6 South:
Leave the M6 at Junction 4. Take the 1st exit and after approx 500 metres take the slip road signposted Brownhills A452. At the next roundabout take the 2nd exit for the B4438. At roundabout take the 2nd exit and continue on the B4438. Take the 1st exit at the next roundabout. The car park will be on your left, just beyond the Premier Inn.

From M6 North:
Leave the M6 at Junction 4. Take the 3rd exit and after approx 500 metres take the slip road signposted Brownhills A452. At the next roundabout take the 2nd exit for the B4438. At roundabout take the 2nd exit and continue on the B4438. Take the 1st exit at the next roundabout. The car park will be on your left, just beyond the Premier Inn.

From M42 North:
Leave the M42 at Junction 6. Take the 1st exit, avoid the slip road to your left and instead follow signs for A45 Coventry. Stay in the N/S lane and take the slip road signposted A452 Brownhills. At the next roundabout take the 1st exit signposted A452 Brownhills and as the road splits bear left N/S lane signposted A452 Brownhills. At roundabout take the 1st exit. At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the B4438. Take the 1st exit at the next roundabout. The car park will be on your left, just beyond the Premier Inn.

From M42 South:
Leave the M42 at Junction 6. Keep right and follow signs for A45 Coventry 4th exit. Avoid the slip road to your left and follow signs for A45 Coventry, stay in the N/S lane and take slip road signposted A452 Brownhills. At the roundabout take 1st exit signposted A452 Brownhills. As the road splits bear left N/S lane signposted A452 Brownhills. At the next roundabout take the 1st exit. At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the B4438. Take the 1st exit at the next roundabout. The car park will be on your left, just beyond the Premier Inn.

Arrival procedure

On arrival, please pull up at the barrier of the car park and one of the ShortRun team will come to your window to confirm your details. They'll show you where to park and give you a receipt with information on what to do when you get back. Please keep this safe. They'll then open the barrier and let you in.

Once you've parked, please head to the bus stop and let the driver help you with your luggage then drop you off at the airport. The journey will take just a few minutes.

Return procedure

On your return, please go back to the bus stop A where the bus dropped you off, hand the receipt you were given when you parked your car to the driver and they will take you back to the car park. They'll help you with your luggage again.

Security

The car park offers security barriers, staff patrols and CCTV.

Disabled facilities

If you have any mobility issues, give the provider a call 72 hours before you fly and they’ll make all the arrangements for you.

Additional information

Maximum vehicle dimensions are 2m wide x 2.1m high x 5m long. The car park cannot accept any high-sided vehicles, minibuses, mobile homes, lorries, caravans, trailers or vehicles larger than these maximum dimensions.

Vehicles with a taxi license plate can be parked on-site but cannot use the Return Greet or Meet and Greet services offered by Airparks.

ShortRun by Airparks - Larger Vehicles

It's a perfect car park option for customers travelling in larger vehicles.