UK Airports With Smoking Areas (2026): Before and After Security
16 airports · last updated · click a column heading to sort. Every value links to a sourced airport page.
| Aberdeen | Shelters directly outside the main terminal and in the Granite City Beer Garden | Yes – paid shelter (£2) next to the main departure lounge near Gate 5 | £50 fixed penalty for smoking outside the designated areas; airside shelter costs £2 | 3 Sept 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast International | Outside the main terminal building before you enter | None – no smoking in the terminal building or on the apron | Smoking is not permitted in the terminal building and especially outdoors while approaching or leaving an aircraft | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Birmingham | Designated smoking areas outside the front of the terminal | None – no smoking or vaping anywhere inside the terminal or after security | — | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Cardiff | outside the terminal | airside in the departure lounge | no smoking policy inside any building | 3 Sept 2026 |
| East Midlands | — | Yes – outdoor airside smoking area near Castle Rock in the departure lounge | Smoking only in the designated outdoor areas; the airside one is reached after security via Castle Rock | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Exeter | None | None | Smoking and vaping (or the use of e-cigarettes), is not permitted in any part of the airport | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Gatwick | Clearly marked designated zones outside both terminal buildings | None, except the outdoor terrace of My Lounge at South Terminal (paid lounge) | No smoking after security; no facilities for international-to-international connections | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Glasgow | Signposted areas on the central island between the terminal and Car Park 2 | None – no smoking past security or in the terminal | £50 fixed penalty for smoking outside the designated areas | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Heathrow | Marked outdoor areas outside every terminal | None – no smoking or vaping anywhere after security | Connecting passengers cannot smoke during a transfer without passing passport control and leaving the terminal | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Leeds Bradford | outside the terminal before security | None | zero-tolerance policy for smoking indoors in terminal | 3 Sept 2026 |
| London City | One designated area outside, next to the terminal entrance | None – no smoking areas after security | Smoke before security; there is nothing in the Departures lounge | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Luton | Sheltered smoking area outside the front of the terminal, before departures | None – the shelters outside the terminal are the only permitted smoking areas | — | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Manchester | Signposted areas outside every terminal, before check-in and after arrivals | Terminal 2 only: a signposted outdoor smoking area in the departure lounge. Terminal 3 has none airside | — | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Newcastle | Designated smoking shelters at the front of the terminal | Yes – Bar 11 has an outside smoking area at the back of the venue | No smoking inside the terminal; ask staff for directions to the Bar 11 area after security | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Southampton | designated smoking area outside the terminal, on the central forecourt | None | In line with UK law, smoking is not permitted inside the airport buildings. | 3 Sept 2026 |
| Stansted | Several designated areas outside the terminal, landside | None – no smoking once airside | — | 3 Sept 2026 |