What to Know When Parking at Heathrow Airport

Airport parking can be hit or miss, in that you can drive around for hours trying to find a parking space and have no luck. You may also be deterred from parking at an airport due to high prices– but there are ways to keep parking prices low and reasonable, giving you peace of mind that your vehicle will be safe and secure on your holiday. 

Airport parking can be incredibly beneficial, but it can be expensive if you don’t book in advance. On-airport parking is the safest method of parking and a great way to ensure your vehicle is well taken care of, as many airports have covered parking options to protect your vehicle from any damages. This can’t always be guaranteed for off-airport parking, however.

How to get Cheap Parking at Heathrow Airport 

There are certain things you can do to maximise your chances of getting cheap parking benefits. One of the most important and effective ways of doing so is to ensure you book your parking a week in advance. This may not be high on travellers’ lists, as they may be too focused on their holiday, and many people think they can park on the day. However, doing this is a sure-fire way to start driving around for hours trying to secure parking, and then having to fork out a lot of money that could be spent on more important things. 

What is the Best Parking at Heathrow Airport? 

This depends on how long your trip is. Heathrow Airport has several car parking options, including Short-Stay, Long-Stay, Valet and Business. The cheapest option is the long-stay parking if you will be parking for under 30 minutes. 

Long-Stay Parking offers the first 30 minutes free, after which you will need to pay according to how long you intend to stay. Passengers will then need to board the regular shuttle bus to the terminals from long-stay car parks.

Short-stay parking is cheap from the get-go, which is the best option if you are merely picking up passengers or will be away on a trip of under 2 days–ideal for those on business trips or domestic travellers. Short Stay Parking is also mere steps away from the terminals, making it an easy and convenient option.

Business Parking is found in Terminals 2,3 & 5 and is perfect for people who are flying domestically or will be on a short business trip. 

Valet Parking is helpful if you don’t want to concern yourself with trying to find a parking spot– with valet parking, a professional parks your car for you in a secure and safe location ready for your return. Valet parking tends to be on the more expensive side, however, so if you have money to spare this may be a great option for you.

What is the Average Cost of Parking at Heathrow Airport? 

Pre-book your parking to ensure the cheapest prices, as drive-up rates may increase. Long-Stay and Short-Stay parking have an average starting price of around £5-£10, which increases the longer you intend to stay. Valet Parking has a starting price of £127, and Business Parking (based on one day of parking) starts at around £42. Bear in mind that these prices are all starting prices, meaning that if you are staying for longer than an hour or a day, the prices will increase. 

How Much Does it Cost to Park at Heathrow Airport for a Week? 

The best car park that allows you to park for longer than a few days is Long Stay Parking, with the best values on parking. For the first day,  Long-Stay Parking is around £35-£43– the price can increase or decrease depending on whether you are parking during peak times or not. You can find parking quotes and packages for all terminals at Heathrow, which are the best value for money on parking longer than 3 days. 

For one day, Valet Parking starts at approximately £125 and increases to around £260 for parking periods of 4 days. This is the same with Meet & Greet parking. These prices are likely to increase further the longer you stay– to find the best deals on valet parking and potentially cheaper prices, book your parking in advance.

Can I Just Turn Up at Heathrow Airport and Park on the Day? 

Drive-up parking is available for Meet & Greet, Short-Stay Parking and Long-Stay Parking. For Business Parking, you may need to register beforehand and show any booking details. Drive-ups are currently unavailable for Valet Parking. However, to get the absolute best price on parking, it’s recommended that you book your parking in advance for the cheapest prices. 

What Hotels Have Parking at Heathrow Airport? 

Both paid and free parking are available at numerous Heathrow Airport hotels. Many of the more expensive big-name hotels will include parking packages in their prices or will include parking for a fee. The hotels near the airport that offer free or cheaper parking include: 

• Travelodge Heathrow Airport (M4 Westbound)
• Heston Hyde Hotel (Off-Airport)
• Sofitel London Heathrow (On-Airport)

If you don’t mind paying for parking or want to find a parking and staying package, some of the hotels to choose from include:

• DoubleTree by Hilton (also offers EV charging)
• Hilton Garden Inn (also offers EV charging)
• Mercure Hotel 

Tips for Parking at Heathrow Airport 

Overall, parking at Heathrow is straightforward and hassle-free, however, there are several things you need to consider or bear in mind when choosing on-airport parking. For starters, while it is available, it’s inadvisable to simply drive up and park, especially when travelling at peak times of day or year– booking online and in advance is the best way to not only avoid driving around for hours searching for a spot but also save money on parking. 

Another thing to consider is which car park to choose from. If you are travelling domestically–that is, within the UK– and will only be gone for a maximum of two days, consider the short-stay car park. Short-stay parking also offers flexible cancellation, so if you change your mind and want to use a different parking method, you can cancel or amend your booking without having to pay extra.

For trips longer than two days, the long-stay car park is your best option– the first 30 minutes are free! The Long-Stay car park also offers regular shuttle services to the terminals.

Keep your booking information handy and readily available. If you’re on a tight schedule, opt for meet & greet or valet parking instead, as it can save you time in finding a parking spot, and you can simply just drop off your car and head to the terminal.

Are There Any Restrictions on the Duration of Parking in Short-Term or Long-Term at Heathrow Airport? 

If you have booked a specific time slot for your parking, you will need to stick to that timeframe (if you can), as staying longer than your allotted time may incur fees. Short-Stay Parking has a maximum of 99 days of parking stay for any pre-bookings. If you intend to drive up, you can generally stay for however long you want and pay a daily fee. 

For Long-Term Parking, enter the date of your arrival into and out of the airport and pay– bear in mind long-term parking is the best option for people staying longer than a few days! 

How to Park Your Electric Vehicle at Heathrow Airport 

Currently, there are no EV charging stations available at Heathrow Airport. If you do operate an electric vehicle, it’s advised that you charge it fully before you arrive. If, however, you are away for a long period and are concerned about your car not being able to charge, you can find local EV charging stations nearby to the airport. 

Additionally, certain on-airport hotels offer EV charging in their onsite car parks– please double check this, however, as it may not be the case for all Heathrow Airport hotels.