Market Data
Airport food in the UK has changed. Travellers no longer expect bland sandwiches or poor breakfasts before flying. Many people now arrive early to “make a day of it” before departure, which has increased focus on both the quality and cost of airport dining.
New research from Private Tours England reviewed food options at the UK’s 15 busiest airports to assess where passengers get the best pre-flight meals and where expectations may fall short.
The study places London City Airport at the top of the rankings. It leads overall despite higher prices and limited information on vegetarian options. Edinburgh Airport follows in second place, while Liverpool John Lennon Airport takes third.
To identify which airports perform best for dining, the research team analysed data from each location using a weighted scoring system based on factors most relevant to travellers today.
The analysis combined Google airport ratings, Google dining reviews, menu prices from on-site outlets, and publicly available details on vegetarian and plant-based choices. Each factor was weighted according to its importance.
Dining quality made up 40 percent of the final score. This used average Google dining ratings to reflect passenger views on taste, quality, freshness, and satisfaction. Average meal cost accounted for 30 percent, measuring the typical price of a standard meal across restaurants, cafés, and fast-food outlets. Overall airport rating formed 15 percent, covering cleanliness, layout, service, and comfort. Veggie-friendly availability made up the final 15 percent, based on how clear and accessible meat-free options are, from “Very good” to “Few or unknown options”.
Each airport received a final score out of 100. This created a ranking that reflects both food quality and the wider pre-flight experience.
The results show clear differences between airports. Glasgow Airport offers the best value, with the lowest average meal price at £14.43, while still recording strong dining ratings.
At the other end of the scale, Belfast International Airport is the most expensive, with an average meal cost of £21.50 and limited information on vegetarian options. London City and Leeds Bradford Airport also rank among the pricier airports, with meal costs close to £19–£20.
For dining quality alone, Bristol Airport leads with the highest average dining rating of 4.49. London Luton Airport and Newcastle Airport follow closely behind, showing that smaller airports can outperform larger hubs on food experience.
London Heathrow Airport ranks lower overall despite being the UK’s busiest airport. Weaker dining scores suggest that size does not guarantee a better pre-flight meal. London City Airport secures the top position by performing well across all measures, even though its vegetarian offering remains limited.
| Rank | Airport Name | Overall Airport Score | Dining Score | Avg Meal Cost (£) | Veggie-Friendly Options | Total Score |
| 1 | London City | 4.2 | 4.33 | 19.74 | Unknown / Few | 75.52 |
| 2 | Edinburgh | 3.5 | 4.38 | 19.11 | Good | 74.27 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 4 | 4.32 | 17.22 | Unknown / Limited data | 62.31 |
| 4 | Manchester | 3.1 | 4.29 | 18.35 | Limited / Moderate | 61.36 |
| 5 | London Luton | 3.4 | 4.48 | 16.97 | Unclear / Few | 54.60 |
| 6 | London Gatwick | 3.8 | 4.11 | 16.38 | Good | 53.94 |
| 7 | Bristol | 3.4 | 4.49 | 17.43 | Unknown / Limited data | 53.43 |
| 8 | Birmingham | 3.4 | 4.29 | 18 | Very good | 46.92 |
| 9 | Glasgow | 4 | 4.31 | 14.43 | Good | 46.47 |
| 10 | Leeds Bradford | 3.2 | 4.47 | 19.72 | Limited / Few | 45.28 |
| 11 | Belfast International | 3.5 | 4.42 | 21.5 | Unknown / Limited data | 43.27 |
| 12 | London Heathrow | 4 | 4.09 | 18.81 | Good | 38.45 |
| 13 | East Midlands | 3.4 | 4.31 | 20.14 | Unknown / Limited data | 38.37 |
| 14 | Newcastle | 4 | 4.46 | 17.67 | Good | 33.69 |
| 15 | London Stansted | 3.3 | 4.23 | 15.95 | Moderate | 31.86 |
