The good and the bad of Britain's busiest airports

Crikey, what a summer it has been at the UK's seven biggest airports. Many of them have set records for passenger numbers. As none has expanded, that spells bigger crowds than ever.

- SIMON CALDER

You might be thinking everyone is home by now - but Stansted has left it to the last day of August for its busiest day of the year. Given an all-other-things-being-equal between Stansted and its Essex rival, Southend airport, I would pick the latter for fast and friendly service - plus a 90-second journey from international arrivals to rail station platform.

Passengers prefer small airports, but Britain's busiest hubs have their advantages too - from surface links to shopping. The largest seven in terms of passenger numbers comprise the key London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton), Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh, with a total of 13 terminals between them.

After a high-pressure summer for the excellent frontline and backroom staff who keep them running, time to hand out some awards.

Parking

Money no object? At Gatwick North you can park within a single trolley shove of check-in.

Rail access

Birmingham and Gatwick North would be in with a shout, except both require an extra journey on a shuttle (or a long and confusing hike) from the rail station.