Before you travel
There are no restrictions for international arrivals to the UK at this time. You should always check the travel advice for the country you are travelling from and the latest UK Government advice on travel. If you are travelling through an airport in the Schengen area en route to the UK, you may need an Airport Transit Schengen Visa.
Please note that from 2 April 2025 everyone entering the UK (except British or Irish citizens) will require immigration permission before they travel. For non-visa nationals, this will be in the form of an electronic travel authorisation (ETA).
Page updated 11 February 2025.
What to bring with you
Please do not bring a lot of heavy luggage with you! You will be able to get most things you need when you arrive and settle in (clothes, food, spices, toiletries, computer equipment, cooking utensils, etc) and you will be charged extra on bus transfers. As a guide, you can bring either:
- one small piece of hand luggage with either one large suitcase (75cm x 50cm x 32cm, maximum 20kg), or
- two medium-sized suitcases (70cm x 45cm x 30cm, maximum 20kg each).
Our advice would be to 'think minimum' and 'think light' when packing. Please watch our videos here for advice from our international students, and read the National Express luggage policy.
Arriving in the UK – at the airport
All passengers will be required to make a customs declaration by selecting the 'green channel' (nothing to declare) or the red channel (goods to declare). EU citizens are able to use eGates if travelling on a biometric passport. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA can also use eGates.
Please note the checklist below of documents you will need to bring with you and present at the airport.
For more information please visit the UK Government website.
You should be prepared to bring the following immigration documents that you'll be asked to present:
- your CAS statement email and documentation relating to your studies at NTU
- your visa decision letter
- details of your accommodation in the UK, including your full address
You must bring printed copies of these documents. Do not rely on electronic copies.
If you will be travelling to the UK through Ireland you will not pass through UK immigration control.
Make sure you keep evidence of your travel to the UK as you do not receive a stamp in your passport. This could be a boarding card, ticket or booking confirmation. The evidence should include your name / passport number and photocopies or screenshots of these documents are acceptable.
You must present these documents when you enrol at NTU and to your accommodation provider.
There is further information on the UKCISA website about travelling to the UK via Ireland.
Travelling to Nottingham from UK airports
To plan your journey to Nottingham, please read the travel options open to you by coach, rail or taxi listed below.
We are working with National Express coaches to offer free airport transfers to new international students starting at NTU in January 2025. The offer is for London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester Airports to Nottingham. We will send details on how to book using this offer in December 2024. Please check your email regularly.
Travelling by National Express coach to Nottingham
Journey time approximately 2 hours, this journey will require changing buses as there are currently no direct services to Nottingham. Coaches leave from Terminal 1.
Tickets cost approximately £10 - £20 and you can book online in advance on the National Express website.
You must print the e-ticket and show this to the driver.
Travelling by train to Nottingham
Tickets cost approximately £25 -£50.
Journey time 1 hour and 30 minutes approx.
Take the Air-Rail Link from the terminal building to Birmingham International train station. This is a free service which operates approximately every two minutes.
You will need to change trains at Birmingham New Street and get on the train for Nottingham.
Book your journey with East Midlands Railway.
It is cheaper to buy your ticket in advance online.
Travelling by National Express coach to Nottingham
Journey time 6-8 hours.
Tickets cost approximately £20 - £50 and you can book online in advance on the National Express website.
You must print the e-ticket and show this to the driver.
Coaches leave from both North and South terminals.
There are other coach operators available, Megabus and Flixbus. Check the pick-up and drop off points as they are often ‘near the bus station’ and not ‘in the bus station’. All coach operators have a luggage allowance and you will have to pay for extra bags, please check their websites.
Travelling by train to Nottingham
You can take the Gatwick Express train to London Victoria, then take the London Underground to London St Pancras, where you can take a direct train to Nottingham.
Journey time 3 hours 30 minutes approx.
Tickets costs approximately £60 - £90.
Book your journey with East Midlands Railway.
It is cheaper to buy your ticket in advance online.
Travelling by National Express coach to Nottingham
Tickets cost approximately £25 - £50 and you can book online in advance on the National Express website.
You must print the e-ticket and show this to the driver.
The journey to Nottingham takes approximately 3 - 5 hours (3 hours and 30 minutes direct). The Central Bus Station at Heathrow is a short walk from Terminals 2 and 3. If you need to travel between terminals for your coach please use these travel instructions.
There are other coach operators available, Megabus and Flixbus. Check the pick-up and drop off points as they are often ‘near the bus station’ and not ‘in the bus station’. All coach operators have a luggage allowance and you will have to pay for extra bags, please check their websites.
Travelling by train to Nottingham
Journey time 3 hours 30 minutes approx.
You can take the Heathrow Express train to London Paddington then the London Underground to London Kings Cross. A 5-minute walk from there is St Pancras where you can catch an onward train to Nottingham.
If you are planning to use the Underground for part of your journey, try to avoid the peak periods of 8-9am and 5-7pm. Also, please be prepared to carry your luggage up escalators (see our luggage advice before you travel).
Tickets cost approximately £80 - £130 and you can book your journey with East Midlands Railway.
It is cheaper to buy your ticket in advance online.
Travelling by National Express coach to Nottingham
Journey time approximately 4- 7 hours (no direct coaches).
Tickets cost approximately £25- £40 and you can book online in advance on the National Express website.
You must print the e-ticket and show this to the driver.
The coach stop is approximately a two-minute walk from the terminal building.
Travelling by train to Nottingham
Journey time approx 3 hours and 30 minutes.
You first need to take the train from Stansted Airport to Tottenham Hale. Next take the London Underground to Kings Cross/St Pancras station and then a direct train from St Pancras station to Nottingham.
Tickets cost approximately £30 - £80.
Book your journey with East Midlands Railway.
It is cheaper to buy your ticket in advance online.
Travelling by National Express coach to Nottingham
Journey time is approximately 4-5 hours, this journey will require changing buses, as there are currently no direct services to Nottingham.
Tickets cost approximately £20 and you can book online in advance on the National Express website.
You must print the e-ticket and show this to the driver.
Travelling by train to Nottingham
Take a train from Manchester Airport Station with one change at Manchester Picadilly to Nottingham.
The journey time is 3 hours approximately.
Tickets cost approximately £20 - £50. You need to change trains so please check this and ask at the ticket office if you are unsure.
Book your journey with East Midlands Railway.
It is cheaper to buy your ticket in advance online.
There are other coach operators available, Megabus and Flixbus. Check the pick-up and drop off points as they are often ‘near the bus station’ and not ‘in the bus station’. All coach operators have a luggage allowance and you will have to pay for extra bags, please check their websites.
Travelling by coach to Nottingham
24-hour Skylink Express (not National Express) bus service travels frequently to Nottingham and stops at NTU Clifton and Broad Marsh Bus Station (for our City Campus).
Journey time approx 40 minutes.
You can catch the Skylink bus directly outside the terminal building. Tickets cost £2-£6 per person and you can buy your ticket from the bus driver as you get on the bus.
If you plan to travel by taxi, we recommend these local Nottingham taxi companies who provide a door-to-door service from the airport to your accommodation:
- DG Cars 0115 950 0500
- Nottingham Cars 0115 970 0700
- Yellow Cars 0115 981 8181
Please note this is the most expensive travel option.
You should expect to pay around the following for a standard size taxi:
- London Heathrow £190
- London Gatwick £229
- London Stansted £180
- London Luton £165
- Birmingham £100
- East Midlands £40
- Manchester £130
How to book a taxi
To book a journey with one of these companies, you will need to book and pay at least 5 days before you travel. You can do this online, or by calling the Nottingham taxi company directly. To book, you’ll need to give the following information:
- your confirmed flight number
- the number of suitcases you will bring
- the number of passengers travelling in the taxi
Please note that the number of passengers determines the size of the taxi and there may be an increased cost.
After booking, you’ll get a confirmation email and text and the taxi company will confirm the driver’s name and contact details before you travel.
Delays and cancellations
Don't worry if your flight is delayed, the taxi company will monitor the flight arrival times so the driver will be aware of the situation.
If you need to cancel or change your booking, you’ll need to give the taxi company at least 12 hours’ notice or you may have to pay for part, or all, of the charge.
You can check the cancellation policies online:
Arriving with no taxi reservation
We highly recommend that you pre-book your taxi before you travel.
If you can’t do this, you’ll be able to hire a taxi when you arrive at the airport. Please note, however, that it is likely you’ll have to pay a higher price than a pre-booked journey with these Nottingham companies.
Your arrival into Nottingham
We advise you to have your mobile phone data plan in place for arrival so you can call home or order a taxi or Uber.
Please note: if you're arriving early in the morning or late at night, you must check you’ll be able to get into your accommodation by contacting your accommodation provider before you arrive.
Nottingham train station has taxi ranks clearly signposted, advance booking is not normally necessary unless you are arriving early in the morning or late at night. Coaches arrive at Broadmarsh Bus Station, and the nearest taxi rank is located on Trent Street, which is a five-minute walk away.
Please note Ubers are not permitted to use taxi ranks or stop outside the bus station so you will need to arrange a pick-up location nearby with the driver.
To keep you safe and informed, please read 'local taxi types explained'.
The larger black cabs have a fare meter and can be flagged down or pre-booked using Free Now app. They are permitted to stop at the bus station and they can easily fit 2 people and 4 large suitcases.
Taxi price guide from the city centre: to City campus £10 - £20, Clifton Campus £25, Brackenhurst £50.
The Broadmarsh Bus Station, including waiting areas, is open 24 hours with security.
Some National Express coaches from London Heathrow and Gatwick stop at Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Campus (opposite the main gate). All of these coaches require a change in London Victoria Coach Station. Clifton Campus accommodation is a short walk; New Hall (5 mins), Peverell and College Drive (10 mins). Please note there is no taxi rank here, you will need to pre-order a taxi for onward travel to your accommodation.
Local Nottingham taxi companies (private hire).
- DG Cars 0115 950 0500
- Nottingham Cars 0115 970 0700
- Yellow Cars 0115 981 8181
Alternatively, there are public transport options available to all campuses from the city centre.
Travelling to London Campus from UK airports
London Campus is very well connected, there are easy connections from all London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City airport). London Campus address: 41 Commercial Road, Whitechapel, London, E1 1LA.
London's extensive public transport system is easy to use. We recommend using the Transport For London journey planner. Check the timetables if you are arriving early in the morning or late at night.
If you are planning to use the Underground for part of your journey, try to avoid the peak periods of 8-9am and 5-7pm. Also, please be prepared to carry your luggage up escalators (see our luggage advice before you travel).
London Underground (Tube)
The closest Tube stations to the London Campus are Whitechapel and Aldgate East (District, Hammersmith and City lines) and Shadwell (DLR). All are 10 minutes walk. You'll find all the information you need on the London Underground information and journey planner.
London Buses
London Campus is served by many Transport for London bus routes.
Buses travelling from East to West (towards Liverpool Street or Tower Hill) stop at Henriques Street immediately outside the London campus. Buses travelling from West to East (towards Limehouse) stop opposite the London Campus. Services to these stops include route numbers: 15, 115, 135, N15 and N550.
You'll find more information on the London Bus information and journey planner.
There are taxi alternatives from each of the airports. Taxis will be expensive, possibly over £70. Use only registered, metered taxis from taxi ranks and confirm the approximate price before starting the journey.
More about Nottingham
Life in Nottingham
Whether you’re looking for a night out or want to relax and unwind in a quiet cafe, Nottingham has something for everyone in its affordable variety of attractions, shopping venues, nightlife, and natural spaces.
Nottingham travel
Two hours from London, three hours from Scotland – Nottingham’s in the centre of England and very well connected to other parts of the country. Find travel advice on getting to Nottingham and getting around the city.