Where can and can’t you have a last-minute cigarette or ‘vape’ before you fly from major UK airports?
Here’s all the information you need to plan your nicotine intake ahead of your flight with our guide to ‘after-security’ smoking rules and locations at Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and all large UK airports.
Smoking at UK airports
Here’s your at-a-glance guide to smoking rules at UK airports
| Airport | Smoking after security | Where |
| Aberdeen |
Yes
|
Near Gate 5 |
| Birmingham |
No
|
N/A |
| Bournemouth |
Yes
|
Follow signs, near Departure Gate |
| Bristol |
Yes
|
Next to Gate 4 |
| Cardiff |
Yes
|
Airside in the departure lounge |
| Doncaster |
Yes
|
First Floor, follow signs |
| Durham Tees |
No
|
N/A |
| East Midlands |
Yes
|
Follow signs, located at the Castle Rock Bar |
| Edinburgh |
No
|
N/A |
| Exeter | No | N/A |
| Gatwick |
No
|
N/A |
| Glasgow |
No
|
N/A |
| Heathrow |
No
|
|
| Leeds Bradford |
Yes
|
Follow signs in departures lounge |
| Liverpool |
Yes
|
Lower level – follow signs |
| London City |
No
|
N/A |
| Luton |
No
|
N/A |
| Manchester Terminal 1 |
Yes
|
Clearly marked in departure lounge |
| Manchester Terminal 2 |
Yes
|
Clearly marked in departure lounge |
| Manchester Terminal 3 |
No
|
N/A |
| Newcastle Airport | No | N/a |
| Prestwick |
No
|
N/A |
| Southampton |
No
|
N/A |
| Southend |
No
|
N/A |
| Stansted |
No
|
N/A |
Find out where you can smoke at the airport
After-security smoking rules at all major UK airports
All the in-depth details you need
Aberdeen Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? Once airside, smokers should head to the designated smoking area located near Gate 5. Passengers will be charged £1 for the pleasure of using this facility.
E-cigarettes: Travellers using e-cigarettes will need to comply with the same rules and locations as those using traditional tobacco products.
Birmingham Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? No, Smoking is allowed only in the designated areas outside the front of the terminal. Once you enter the terminal, smoking is prohibited until you reach your destination.
What about e-cigarettes? Strictly prohibited.
Bournemouth Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? Follow signs to the dedicated smoking area.
What about e-cigarettes? According to the airport website, the use of e-cigarettes is banned within the airport terminal.
Bristol Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? Once through security, anyone wishing to light-up can head downstairs to the smoking area located next to Gate 4, to the right of Starbucks.
What about e-cigarettes? Users hoping to inhale on their e-cigarettes will have to follow the same rules as traditional smokers – and use the designated area at Gate 4.
Cardiff Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? Smokers will need to hunt down the outdoor smoking area next to Gate 2. No smoking is allowed anywhere within the terminal buildings.
What about e-cigarettes? The use of e-cigarettes is permitted in the official outdoor smoking area. This can be found next to Gate 2.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? A post-security smoking area is located in the Departures Lounge first floor.
What about e-cigarettes? The use of e-cigarettes attracts the same restrictions as traditional tobacco products. Users must head to the smoking area as above.
Durham (Teesside International) Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? There’s a no-smoking policy within all terminal buildings. Smokers will need to satisfy pre-flight cravings in the smoking area outside the terminal.
What about e-cigarettes? The use of e-cigarettes attracts the same restrictions as traditional tobacco products. Users must head to the smoking area outside the terminal, as above.
East Midlands Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? Smokers will be pleased to hear there is an airside smoking area available to them. Follow signs once through security.
What about e-cigarettes? The use of e-cigarettes is not allowed within any terminal building. Users must use the designated external smoking areas.
Edinburgh Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? A member of the airports customer service team confirmed over the phone that Edinburgh Airport does ‘not’ offer airside smoking areas.
What about e-cigarettes? The use of e-cigarettes is not allowed within any terminal building.
Exeter Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? Smoking is not permitted before or after security at Exeter Airport. Anyone needing a last blast of nicotine should use the designated shelter at the front of the terminal.
What about e-cigarettes? Users of electronic cigarettes will need to comply with the same rules listed above.
Gatwick Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? There are no smoking zones once you’ve passed through security. However, clearly marked zones are located outside both terminal buildings.
What about e-cigarettes? E-cigarettes have the same restrictions and can only be used in the designated areas outside the terminal buildings.
Glasgow Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? There are no smoking areas after security, so if you need a pre-flight puff you’ll need to head to the designated smoking areas outside the terminal building.
What about e-cigarettes? The use of electronic cigarettes is not permitted within the terminal building, you’ll have to use the designated smoking areas outside the main terminal.
Heathrow Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? Once you pass through security you will not be able to smoke anywhere in the departure lounge, so be sure to use the designated areas outside the terminal building.
What about e-cigarettes? You won’t be able to use your e-cigarette in the terminal either and you’ll have to use the sign posted areas before security.
Is smoking allowed after security? Once you pass through security you will not be able to smoke anywhere in the departure lounge, so be sure to use the designated areas outside the terminal building.
What about e-cigarettes? You won’t be able to use your e-cigarette in the terminal either and you’ll have to use the sign posted areas before security.
Is smoking allowed after security? Once you pass through security you will not be able to smoke anywhere in the departure lounge, so be sure to use the designated areas outside the terminal building.
What about e-cigarettes? You won’t be able to use your e-cigarette in the terminal either and you’ll have to use the sign posted areas before security.
Is smoking allowed after security? Once you pass through security you will not be able to smoke anywhere in the departure lounge, so be sure to use the designated areas outside the terminal building.
What about e-cigarettes? You won’t be able to use your e-cigarette in the terminal either and you’ll have to use the sign posted areas before security.
Is smoking allowed after security? Once you pass through security you will not be able to smoke anywhere in the departure lounge, so be sure to use the designated areas outside the terminal building.
What about e-cigarettes? You won’t be able to use your e-cigarette in the terminal either and you’ll have to use the sign posted areas before security.
Leeds Bradford Airport:
Is smoking allowed after security? For those after a pre-flight smoke, a dedicated smoking area is located on the ground floor, behind the sports bar – don’t forget the £1 access charge though!
What about e-cigarettes? Same rules apply for electronic cigarettes; if you want to smoke head to the designated areas.
Liverpool Airport:
Is smoking allowed after security? There’s a dedicated area after security at Liverpool Airport, you’ll find it on the lower level just past the Kissing Gate Bar.
What about e-cigarettes? For electronic cigarette users, you’ll have to head to the dedicated smoking areas as well.
London City Airport:
Is smoking allowed after security? Smoking is prohibited in the terminal building, both before and after security. Smoking is permitted in designated areas outside the terminal building.
What about e-cigarettes? Same rules apply for electronic cigarettes – see above.
Luton Airport:
Is smoking allowed after security? There’s no smoking areas after security at Luton Airport, so smokers will need to have a last nicotine blast before heading into the terminal building – make sure you use the designated area.
What about e-cigarettes? Same rules apply for electronic cigarettes as well, use the dedicated areas before security.
Manchester Terminal 1:
Is smoking allowed after security? There is an outdoor smoking area near the food court in Terminal 1 for any smokers looking for a pre-flight smoke.
What about e-cigarettes? Electronic cigarettes cannot be used anywhere in inside the terminal building.
Manchester Terminal 2:
Is smoking allowed after security? If you want to smoke after security in Terminal 2, there’s an outdoor smoking area located near Gate 300.
What about e-cigarettes? Electronic cigarettes cannot be used anywhere in inside the terminal building.
Manchester Terminal 3:
Is smoking allowed after security? There is no airside smoking area at Terminal 3, so smokers will have to use the designated area outside the terminal landside.
What about e-cigarettes? Electronic cigarettes cannot be used anywhere in inside the terminal building.
Newcastle Airport
Is smoking allowed after security? Smoking is not allowed within the terminal building.
What about e-cigarettes? The use of e-cigarettes is not allowed apart from in the designated smoking area.
Prestwick Airport:
Is smoking allowed after security? Smoking is not permitted inside the terminal building before or after passing through security. There are designated areas outside the terminals.
What about e-cigarettes? The use of e-cigarettes is not permitted within the airport’s terminal buildings.
Southampton Airport:
Is smoking allowed after security? There is a smoking area outside the terminal building – on the central forecourt – however, passengers won’t be able to smoke once they’ve passed through security.
E-cigarettes: The use of e-cigarettes is not permitted within the airport’s terminal buildings or on the way to the aircraft.
Southend Airport:
Is smoking allowed after security? Smoking is not permitted anywhere within the airport’s terminal building – either before or after security. There is a designated smoking area outside the front of the terminal.
What about e-cigarettes? Once again, the same rules apply to those using e-cigarettes – no use permitted within the airport buildings.
Stansted Airport:
Is smoking allowed after security? Smoking is only permitted in designated areas outside the terminal building. There are no designated smoking areas available after passengers have passed through security.
What about e-cigarettes? These devices cannot be used within the airport building.
Frequently Asked Questions about smoking in UK airports
No, smoking is not allowed inside UK airports, including electronic cigarettes.
Designated smoking areas are available outside the airport terminal building. See above for more information about each airport.
No, smoking is not allowed on any commercial flight in the UK.
Yes, it is legal to bring a pack of cigarettes in carry-on luggage in the UK. However, there may be restrictions on the amount you can bring, depending on the country you are traveling to.
Yes, you can bring an e-cigarette in your carry-on or checked luggage. However, the use of e-cigarettes is not allowed on flights.
Yes, you can buy cigarettes at the airport duty-free shop if you are traveling outside the EU.
It depends on the specific airport. Some airports have designated smoking areas in the car park, while others do not allow smoking in any part of the airport grounds.
Yes, you may face fines or other penalties if caught smoking in a UK airport where it is not permitted.
No, smoking is not allowed in airport lounges in the UK.
Yes, some UK airports have designated smoking areas for arrivals. It is best to check with the specific airport or check their website for information.
Yep. Definitely a smoking area in Heathrow T2 near Gate A5. Used it a few times this year. The signage to it is s bit vague. There’s an escalator down to it and a lift back up.
terminal 2 have smoking area near door A1 still working and with signs from central plaza
10/08/2023
This information is out of date. There is definitely a smoking area next to gate A5 at Heathow Terminal 2. I used it last week
I think it is very unfair not to have smoking areas after security, especially when on a long haul flight.
Many of us who suffer from mental health issues rely greatly on our cigarettes to minimise stress and anxiety. I also suffer with borderline personality disorder, which is very difficult, if not impossible, to control, especially without our smokes.
It is hard enough on a long flight, but not being able to smoke for some time, maybe an hour or more, prior to flying is extremely difficult.
Why are smokers so discriminated against?