Opposite security in T1, Accessorize is the fashion stop before you hit the gates at East Midlands Airport. It sits airside in the main departures hall, so you pass it after security and before the food outlets. Think quick last-minute style fixes rather than a full shopping trip.
Accessorize in T1 usually opens from the first departures wave around early morning and trades into the evening until most flights have gone. Stock leans on accessories rather than clothing: bags, costume jewellery, hair clips, scarves and small gifts. Prices land in the mid-high high-street bracket, so expect to pay more than Primark, less than designer, with many items in the £8–£30 range.
This branch often carries travel-friendly pieces like compact crossbody bags, zip pouches for 100 ml liquids, and sunglasses alongside smaller kids’ bits that keep under-10s occupied on a 2–3 hour flight. If you need a quick outfit tweak, the jewellery wall and hair accessories are the fastest win; if you’re price-sensitive, skip the larger handbags and look at multipacks and sale rails instead.
Lines here rarely take more than 2–3 minutes, but the shop floor is tight and can feel crowded when two flights to Spain board from nearby gates in T1. Staff can usually swap tags or remove security stickers quickly, which matters if you’re ten minutes from boarding.
Tip: do a fast scan as you walk past after security; if nothing jumps out in 30 seconds, keep moving toward your gate and don’t double back.