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Free tool · UK drone flight-restriction map
Every other map hands you coloured shapes and leaves you to work out the law. This one asks which drone you're flying, then gives you a straight answer for any spot in the UK — with the airport, prison, MoD and Royal Park restrictions and the CAA rules that apply. Free, no sign-up.
Base map © OpenStreetMap contributors © CARTO. Restriction zones are derived from public data by Robot AutoTrader and are approximate — see the disclaimer below.
No airport, prison, MoD or Royal Park restriction is plotted here. Standard rules still apply.
There are conditions or nearby zones to check — often a distance-from-people rule for your drone.
You're inside controlled airspace around an aerodrome. You need permission from ATC or the operator.
A hard no-fly zone — a prison or designated MoD site. Do not fly.
Pick your drone's weight class, then drop a pin on the map (or search a postcode / use your location). The map checks that spot against airport Flight Restriction Zones, prison and Ministry of Defence no-fly zones and Royal Parks, and gives you a plain-English verdict along with the rules that still apply — height, distance from people and registration.
Yes. A sub-250g drone may be flown in built-up areas and closer to people (never over crowds), while a 4kg+ drone must stay 150m from any residential, recreational, commercial or industrial area and 50m from people. The same pin can be fine for a DJI Mini and off-limits for a heavier machine, so we ask which drone you're flying first.
An FRZ surrounds every protected UK aerodrome. It is built from a 2 or 2.5 nautical mile cylinder over the airfield plus corridors off each runway, up to 2,000ft. You cannot fly inside an FRZ without permission from the airport's Air Traffic Control or operator — and that applies to every drone, including sub-250g.
No. A sub-250g drone has the most freedom — you can fly it in built-up areas and near people — but you still cannot fly inside a Flight Restriction Zone, over a prison, over a crowd, or above 120m (400ft), and you must keep it in direct sight. Take-off and landing may also be banned by local byelaws, such as in the Royal Parks.
From 1 January 2026 you need a Flyer ID to fly any drone weighing 100g or more, and an Operator ID if it weighs 250g or more (or 100g or more with a camera). Heavier and C1/C2 drones also need Remote ID switched on, and A2 flying needs an A2 Certificate of Competency.
No. It is a free guidance and education tool. The zones are derived from public data and are approximate, and the list is not exhaustive. It does not replace the official CAA Drone Code, the NATS airspace map or live NOTAMs, which you must check before every flight. A clear result is not permission to fly.
This map is a planning aid for guidance and education only. It is not an official source and must not be relied upon as the sole authority for flight planning. Airspace, Flight Restriction Zones, temporary restrictions (NOTAMs) and local byelaws change frequently and may not be reflected here. Zones shown are approximate, derived from public data, and the lists are not exhaustive — the absence of a zone does not mean flying is permitted.
A "clear" result is not permission to fly. You may still need permission from Air Traffic Control, an aerodrome operator or the landowner, and you must hold any required Operator ID, Flyer ID or A2 Certificate of Competency. You must always keep your drone in direct sight, stay at or below 120m (400ft), never fly over crowds, and comply with all airspace restrictions and privacy law.
Before every flight, check the official CAA Drone Code, the NATS UK airspace map and current NOTAMs. Robot AutoTrader accepts no liability for reliance on this map — you remain responsible for every flight.
Robot AutoTrader is the UK marketplace and review hub for drones and every other kind of robot — with honest bench tests and measured condition on every listing.