Skipton calls itself the gateway to the Dales, and Leeds Bradford Airport is the nearest place to catch a plane, about 39 min away along the A65. A taxi from Skipton to Leeds Bradford Airport with Onward Travel Solutions costs £76 in a saloon. For long-haul, or flights Leeds Bradford does not offer, we also run to Manchester Airport for £131.
| Route | Drive | Saloon | Estate | People carrier | 8-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skipton to Leeds Bradford | 39 min | £76 | £86 | £101 | £135 |
| Skipton to Manchester Airport | 1 hr 29 min | £131 | £148 | £174 | £232 |
Fixed prices from our booking system, 5 November 2026. They include the drop-off charge at either airport.
Skipton to Leeds Bradford Airport taxi: up the hill to Yeadon
The usual route is the A65 through Addingham, Ilkley and Otley, or the A629 and A658 via the Aire valley. Either way the last few miles climb up to the airport, which sits high on the ridge above Yeadon. That height is why Leeds Bradford gets fog and low cloud when Skipton is clear, and why roads round the airport can be icy on winter mornings when the valley is fine. Our drivers know the climb and leave extra time on cold days. Check your flight status before you set off, as low cloud does sometimes delay flights.
Leeds Bradford is a compact airport, but its security queues on summer weekend mornings can be long. Allow two hours before a short-haul flight.
When Manchester makes more sense
If you are flying to the Middle East, Asia or North America, or simply want more flight times to choose from, Manchester is the better bet. From Skipton the driver crosses the Pennines either via the A59 and M6 or the M65 and M66, depending on traffic, then the M60. Allow 1 hr 29 min plus a margin for the M60 in the morning.
Craven, Wharfedale and the Aire valley
We pick up in Skipton and across Craven: Gargrave, Embsay, Carleton, Cononley, Earby, Kelbrook and Barnoldswick, and up into the Dales at Grassington, Malham and Settle. Down the valleys we cover Ilkley, Addingham, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Otley, and Keighley, Silsden and Steeton, all of which are a little closer to the airport and a little cheaper. Farmhouses and holiday cottages are often on lanes with no signs. A landmark or a what3words reference in the notes saves a phone call.
Walkers, cyclists and families
Plenty of visitors fly in to walk the Dales Way or the Three Peaks, or to ride the Dales roads. The estate and people carrier take boots, rucksacks and bike boxes as long as you tell us in advance. Walking groups usually book the 8-seater or a minibus. Families flying off on holiday get the same choice: ask for child seats when you book.
Car park, train or taxi?
There is no railway to Leeds Bradford Airport. From Skipton you would go to Leeds by train and take a bus back out to the airport, a long way round with luggage. Parking at the airport for a week or two can cost more than a return taxi, and a car means someone driving home over the tops after a late-night landing. Four people sharing a saloon to Leeds Bradford pay about £19 each.
Booking, and getting home
Pay the driver on the day. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup, and you can change plans by call or WhatsApp on 07575 470883. Students heading home for the holidays can book from their digs. On the way back, the driver tracks your flight, waits in arrivals and gives you an hour of free waiting after landing.
Nearby: Settle airport transfers and Harrogate to Leeds Bradford.
Skipton to Leeds Bradford: taxi, train and bus, or parking
| OTS Taxi | Train to Leeds + bus | Drive and park | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | £76 per saloon | Per person | Fuel plus daily parking |
| Changes | None | Two | None |
| Time | About 39 min | Well over an hour with connections | About 39 min plus the car park bus |
| After a late landing | Driver waiting in arrivals | Last services may have gone | You drive home over the hills |
The rail route is the reason most Skipton travellers do not use public transport to the airport. The train to Leeds is easy, but the airport is back out to the north-west of the city, so you end up doubling back by bus.
Cyclists flying in to ride the Dales
Skipton is a popular start for cycling holidays, and some riders fly into Leeds Bradford with bikes boxed or bagged. A bike box is long and needs a vehicle with the rear seats folded or a people carrier. Tell us the number of boxes and their size when you book, and we will send a vehicle that takes them with the luggage. The same goes for walkers with poles and large rucksacks heading for the Dales Way, which starts at Ilkley, on the route to the airport.
Fares and sources
Fares on this page come from the Onward Travel Solutions booking system and were checked on 5 November 2026. OTS Taxi is run from our office at 124 City Road, London, with drivers serving Yorkshire. Terminal information and flight times are on the Leeds Bradford Airport website. For other towns we cover, see our Leeds Bradford Airport taxi page, and for Manchester, the Manchester Airport taxi page.
Skipton to Leeds Bradford: FAQs
How early should I leave Skipton?
For a European flight, about two and three-quarter hours before departure: the drive, a margin for weather, and two hours at the airport.
Can you carry two bikes?
Yes, in the estate or people carrier, with bike boxes. Tell us when you book.
Do you collect from Grassington?
Yes, and Malham, Kettlewell and the rest of upper Wharfedale. The fare depends on the address; the booking form shows it.
Is there a night surcharge?
No. The price is the same at 3am as at 3pm.
Why not just take the train from Skipton?
There is no rail link to Leeds Bradford Airport. You would need the train to Leeds and then a bus back out to the airport, which doubles the journey.