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How to get cheap airport parking

Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester & more

Kelvin Goodson
Kelvin Goodson | Edited by Matt Finn
Updated 1 October 2024

Leave it until the very last minute to book airport parking and it can cost a fortune to leave your car there while you're on holiday – you could pay as much as £350 for a week if you just turn up on the day. But by following our tips and booking the right way, you can slash your holiday parking costs in minutes.

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How much does on-site airport parking cost?

Although leaving your car somewhere off-site can help you to land a bigger saving (see our private parking section to learn more), you may want to park as close to the airport as possible. If that's you, there's typically a range of on-site parking options to choose from – plus drop-off and pick-up zones.

How much on-site airport parking will actually cost you depends on factors such as the length of stay, where you're flying from and how you book. For instance, booking airport parking in advance is much cheaper, as is doing so indirectly via a comparison site. Do note that blue badge holders typically get discounts, too.

Before we give some of our top airport parking tips, we've outlined some of the on-site parking options at five of the UK's busiest airports and what paying on the day will cost you (although some parking MUST be booked in advance – we've flagged where this is the case). You can then use this as a quick reference point to help you compare with the other parking options out there.

Keep in mind that booking direct with an airport is unlikely to be the cheapest option, so read our full guide to help find the best price for you.

All prices listed below are accurate as of September 2024.

  • Heathrow Airport parking costs

    Heathrow has 11 car parks in total and offers a variety of parking options at a range of prices, plus a drop-off area. Although you'll be charged £5 each time you drive into its drop-off zone, you can use Heathrow's long-stay parking area for free for up to 30 minutes.

    • The cheapest option. The airport's long-stay car park will set you back between £39.50 and £45.30 on day one and after that, between £31.80 and £36.20 a day. How much you'll pay depends on whether it's a peak or an off-peak date. 
    • The most expensive option. Heathrow's meet and greet and valet parking options are its two most expensive. Both cost £133.90 for the first day and £277.70 for a four-day stay. You'll then pay north of £36 a day to keep parking there.

  • Gatwick Airport parking costs

    Gatwick offers various parking options at a range of prices. In addition, its drop-off area costs £6 for 10 minutes, then £1 for each minute up to 20 minutes with a max daily cost of £25.

    • The cheapest option. You'll pay £32 a day to park at Gatwick's long-stay car park, after a £38 charge on day one.
    • The most expensive option. Gatwick's premium short-stay car park is its most expensive listed option. It costs up to £75 for the first 24 hours there, and then £75 a day after that. 

  • Manchester Airport parking costs

    The airport has a wide variety of car parks. Do note that most of these must be booked up to two hours in advance (or six hours in advance for meet and greet parking). Manchester Airport also has paid and free drop-off areas, with the latter a little further out. 

    • The cheapest option. You'll pay £55.99 for an eight-day stay at the airport's long-stay car park.
    • The most expensive option. An eight-day stay at one of Manchester Airport's multi-storey car parks will cost you £92.

  • Edinburgh Airport parking costs

    Edinburgh Airport offers various parking options, which you can find out more about below. Its drop-off and pick-up area costs £5 for up to 10 minutes, and then £1 a minute. Locals can apply for a 50% discount on these prices.

    • The cheapest option. Edinburgh Airport's 'plane parking' car park costs £45 on day one, and then between £20 and £30 a day. 
    • The most expensive option. The airport's costliest car park is its multi-storey one. It will set you back £70 on the first day, and £20 to £50 a day afterwards. 

  • Bristol Airport parking costs

    Bristol Airport has car parks for different types of trip and traveller, though renovations are currently affecting these options. For drop-offs, consider using the airport's waiting zone instead of the 'drop and go' car park, seeing as it's free for up to an hour.

    • The cheapest option. Bristol Airport's short-stay and pick-up car park will set you back £55 for one day, and then £30 to £40 a day from then on.
    • The most expensive option. Expect to pay anywhere between £150 and £350 to use the airport's meet and greet parking service for eight days. How much you pay largely depends on when you're travelling and when you book.

Airport parking need-to-knows

Before you start looking for airport parking deals, here are the key must-knows:

Book airport parking well in advance and you could cut the cost by up to a third, though the exact saving depends on when and where you're booking. But even if you've forgotten to do this:

  • 1. Parking's often pricier than a train, taxi or coach, so weigh up alternatives

    Even when done right, low-cost airport parking options can be hard to find. The longer you're away the more it costs, so quickly weigh up alternatives. Aside from bribing a relative to drop you off with promises of duty-free goodies, it's often cheaper to:

    • Use non-specialist train services. Dedicated 'airport express' trains are costly, but the same lines are often used by normal rail services, so you can travel the same route more cheaply (it's likely there'll be extra stops) – to keep costs down, see Cheap train tickets. In London, the tube may be cheapest – see our London MoneySaving guide.
    • Consider a pre-booked taxi. Local taxis can be cheaper if you've heavy luggage. Don't rely on getting a return taxi at the airport though. Airports can give a monopoly to one firm, bumping up prices as there's no competition. Book ahead with your local firm, giving your flight number so it can vary pick-up time, and it's often cheaper.
    • Get a coach. Dedicated airport coaches are often cheapest, but there's a trade-off, since they usually take the longest. Book in advance and the savings can be huge. Check for National Express deals and Megabus deals before booking to see if you can save extra.

  • 2. Book early for max savings – but make sure it's flexible

    For some, airport parking works out as the best option, yet without a little prior thought you can end up paying substantially over the odds. There's a simple golden rule:

    The earlier you book airport parking, the more you're likely to save (though check it's flexible). DO NOT just turn up at the airport – booking first, even on the day you fly, can save you money

    The most expensive prices are almost always for those people who just drive in, park and pay, so book first, even if it's just before you head out. Here's some inspiration from the MSE Forum:

    Just got a brilliant deal using one of Martin's links for a four-day break. By parking in the short term parking, it's only costing just over £40 instead of £115! Granted we booked for the August bank holiday in March, but it goes to show there are bargains to be had by booking ahead.

    - Bigdaddy1210

    Checked airport parking charges after the show tonight. Turn up and pay on the day would have been £315, pre-book was only £100. Thanks for the tip, Martin.

    - P

  • 3. Not all car parks are the same so don't just consider price

    There are lots of different types of car park. Once you've found the cheapest price it doesn't necessarily mean it'll be the best for your needs, so use this quick guide to unravel the terms.

    • On-site parking. The airport operators' own car parks. It can be something of a marketing trick, as occasionally 'off-site' car parks could be closer to the terminal building. More on on-site parking above. 
    • Off-site parking. Any car park not in the airport complex. In other words, this is the name given to the often cheaper car parks operated by third-party companies which lay on regular transport to the terminal building. The best of these are just as quick and convenient as on-site parking.
    • Meet and greet parking. Valet parking by another name. You drive to the terminal, and are met by a driver who you give your keys to; they then park it for you. When you land, the car's waiting at the terminal again. It's a great service, but usually more expensive (not always though, especially if you'd have to pay for separate travel to the terminal after parking – do check).

      Warning: After you've handed your keys to the valet, there's often only limited coverage for any damage caused to your vehicle while they're in charge. Such damage is a remote possibility, but it's worth checking the parking firm's T&Cs and only going with this option if you're comfortable. It's also well worth taking any valuables out of your car, just in case.
    • Local car parks. Private, smaller places to park. Often, people and businesses close to the airport which have a bit of spare land will offer their own parking services, grabbing themselves a slice of the pie by undercutting the competition on price. On the downside, they generally don't offer anything like the same level of security, and availability is more limited.

  • 4. Beware hidden pitfalls – check transfer times, security and cancellation

    Granted, there are more fun ways to spend time than comparing airport car parks. But to be forewarned is to be forearmed, so here's a quick checklist.

    Transfer times to the terminal

    The time taken by, and frequency of, the shuttle buses from car parks to the terminal is an important factor. If you're travelling at an unsociable hour, check buses stay regular throughout the night.

    Security

    It can be a worry to leave your car parked anywhere while you're away. Thankfully, most airport car parks have 24-hour CCTV and guard patrols.

    Local services may be less secure, so check first, and weigh this up with the price if considering one. Usually though, if there's a problem it's your responsibility, not theirs. To be on the safe side, don't leave valuables in your car while you're away.

    Can you cancel?

    If your trip isn't set in stone, it may be worth adding a 'cancellation waiver' to your parking booking. Some sites offer this as an add-on, where for an extra quid or so, you can be guaranteed a refund on parking costs if you need to cancel at short notice. Otherwise, you'll generally have to pay more to cancel a booking.

    Avoid late charges by maxing your time slot

    Parking companies can charge through the nose if you drop off too early or collect too late – see ex-MSE Guy's Airport parking warning blog for more on this. Yet often rates are charged per 24-hour period – from midnight or the time you arrive – in which case it costs no more to book your airport parking until later than you expect to return.

    For example, if you drop your car off at 10am and are due to fly back and land at 6pm a few days later, you can often book to pick your car up until midnight or sometimes 10am the day after without paying any more.

    Always check with the company you've booked with as different airport have different policies and this won't always work – it mainly applies to traditional long-stay car parks. 'Meet and greet' services will usually give you until midnight on the day you return, regardless of when you book until.

  • 5. Check out the parking firm – and know your rights if something goes wrong

    As with all airport car parking services, unexpected problems can arise. So it's about finding the best balance between lowest price and established reputation for your needs.

    Some are small names so search for some online reviews first if you’re unsure. If there's only a few pence difference, it may be better for your peace of mind to go with the established company with a reputation than a totally unknown name.

    If you're going with meet and greet parking, after you've handed your keys over there's usually little cover for any damage to your vehicle while they're in charge. Damage is unlikely, but it's worth checking the parking company's terms before you buy. 

    If the company goes bust, and the total comes to under £100 and you paid on a Visa or Mastercard debit, credit or prepaid card, or an Amex credit or charge card, you may be able to get a refund under chargeback.

    Pay on a credit card and the Consumer Credit Act may also offer protection, but only for purchases over £100 – unlikely for the cheapest parking. See the Section 75 guide for full info. Other than this it's unlikely you'd be protected, so paying less for parking means you've less to lose.

  • 6. If you DON'T park at the airport, watch where you leave your car

    Watch out if you usually park on the street using a residents' parking permit or equivalent. Sadly, if the parking bay your car is in is suspended, councils don't usually accept the excuse that you were on holiday and didn't check. Here are tips to help:

    • Check your council's website. Many council websites list forthcoming roadworks and suspensions so it's always worth doing a quick check, and moving the car to somewhere unaffected if necessary.

    • Allow a trusted neighbour who has their own car insurance to move it for you. If they have fully comprehensive insurance then often, though not always, it includes what's called driving other cars cover. This provides them with third party cover in case there's an accident. Always double-check your own insurer's terms though.

    • Park in a council's special car park. Some councils operate special car parks where for £5-£10 a day you can leave your car when you're on holiday to guarantee no fine. This is an ill-disguised money-making scheme that boosts council funds through the fear of parking penalties, but may be a necessary evil for some – check with the local council.

Book flexibly where you can

If you're looking to book airport parking for a trip, flexibility is a key consideration, especially as we've seen in recent years how coronavirus, staff shortages, strike action and technical faults can result in delayed/cancelled flights or unexpected travel restrictions.

Flexibility remains the safest option as things can still change quickly, and many travel insurance policies don't cover 'extras' such as airport parking. For more info, see our airport car parking need-to-knows.

What should I do if I've booked airport parking and I need to cancel?

If you've made a reservation and can no longer travel, for example, if your flight has been cancelled by the airline, it's worth checking if you can move or change your booking at no extra cost. Some airports and parking firms waived admin fees when travel was severely restricted due to coronavirus, though that's less likely to be the case now.

Yet even if the airport or firm you've booked with doesn't say it's offering free cancellation, it's worth getting in touch to ask if it will let you cancel or rebook as a goodwill gesture.

Will my travel insurance cover airport car parking?

If you're unable to cancel your reservation you can try contacting your travel insurer, but many policies don't cover 'extras' such as airport parking in this scenario.

Also be aware that you may not be covered by your travel insurance at all if the UK Government or the government of the country you want to go to has put travel restrictions in place, or the Foreign Office is advising against travel to that country. So if you have to cancel, you may stand little chance of getting your money back.


For more on what policies do and don't cover, see our guide to Cheap travel insurance.

Check comparison sites with discounts

The easiest way to find low-cost airport car parking is via a specialist site that compares parking deals to find you the best price – and remember to check your booking is flexible in case you can't use it because of cancellation or future restrictions.

They'll often give you a cheaper price than you'll get booking direct considering many offer airport parking discount codes – but we've also blagged a few extra per cent off the following comparison sites' prices.

We've ranked them by the size of the discount they offer, factoring in fees and range of airports covered too, but it's not an exact science and of course a bigger discount doesn't necessarily guarantee you'll get the best overall price. Prices change daily, therefore check a few to find the best deal.

Once you've compared airport parking deals, it's also worth looking at renting a private parking space near the airport and airport hotel and parking packages to see if you can further reduce the cost with either.

Note: The discount ranges in the table below are based on info given to us by the comparison sites listed, plus our own spot checks. But the rates can and do change fairly regularly, so you may find that those you're offered are a bit higher or lower than the maximum and minimum stated here.

Top comparison sites with discounts – MSE Blagged

Provider Discount via our link (no booking fee unless stated)
FHR* 8%-45% off
SkyParkSecure* 5%-45% off (i)
Looking4Parking* 5%-45% off (ii)
Holiday Extras* 10%-40% off
Other sites worth checking for a comprehensive search
Airparks* 10%-40% off
Airport Parking & Hotels* 16%-20% off
Park BCP* 10%-20% off

Important. Some airports charge an access fee for meet and greet services which isn't always included in the price, so check before booking.

(i) Use the code MSE001 if it's not already in the promo code box.

(ii) Use the code AWMSEPLUS if it's not already in the promo code box.

Check directly with parking operators too

It's sometimes possible to beat comparison sites by going direct. Compare direct parking prices with those you were quoted from the comparison sites above, then go with whatever's cheaper.

Rent a private space near the airport – or find another cheap alternative

1736377772

Armed with the cheapest airport parking deals, it's worth trying smaller, private parking spaces to see if you can cut the cost further. eBay-style parking marketplaces allow those living close to airport car parks to offer their drives or spare land to drivers.

Overheads are low, which means prices are too, but there's a trade-off – they usually lack anything like the level of security offered by dedicated car parks.

There are numerous sites that list parking spaces, and you should be able to find a competitive price in a couple of minutes. Check out Just Park*, Park Let* and Your Parking Space, but for full help first read our How to rent out a private parking space guide.

Look locally for other options, such as train station car parks

It's also worth checking other local car parks in the vicinity of the airport as they may work out cheaper. For example, some forumites have reporting that parking at nearby train stations has saved them some cash.

Always carefully check the terms of any car park you leave your car at and consider whether the level of security it provides is satisfactory for you.

Plus to help you find the best local car parking we've set up a range of special discussions focused on each airport; please read them and add your suggestions.

Find hidden local airport car parking in the MSE Forum

Birmingham/East Midlands Edinburgh
Gatwick Glasgow
Heathrow Luton
Manchester & Liverpool Stansted
North-east England West/south-west England

Add your suggestions and read those from others by clicking on the links above.

Check if airport hotel and parking packages do better

Many airport hotels offer room packages that include parking for the length of your trip. This is great if you live a long way from the airport, or have a super-early flight. Better still, these airport hotel and parking packages often only cost a little more than the parking alone and sometimes even cost less – so you could view this as parking with a hotel room thrown in for 'free'.

Check how transfers to the terminal are arranged – while some hotels offer a 24-hour complimentary service, others may charge separately for the journey. To see if you can beat the price, it's also worth looking at our more general UK hotels guide.

Typical weekly prices and savings

Airport

On-the-day drive-up (1)

Pre-booked (3)

Pre-booked with hotel (4)

Max saving by pre-booking
Birmingham
 £127 £76 £87 £51
Gatwick £180 £83 £144 £97
Heathrow Off-peak dates: £220

Peak dates: £250 (2)		 £54 £138 Off-peak dates: £166

Peak dates: £196
Manchester £350 £67 £94 £283
Stansted £210 £98 £72 £128

1. Cheapest listed official airport parking prices. 2. Peak dates listed on the Heathrow Airport website. 3. Prices from listed comparison sites. 4. Prices from listed comparison sites, including one night in double room pre-flight. Prices for July 2023.

Once you've found the cheapest airport parking deal, it's worth checking if you can get cashback on top. Never used a cashback site before? Get started by reading our Top cashback sites guide.

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Airport parking FAQs

  • Why is airport parking so expensive?

    Airport parking keeps getting more expensive – so much so that a week's stay can potentially set holidaymakers back hundreds of pounds. Why is this?

    Perhaps the main reason comes down to basic economics: the high demand for airport parking and the lack of supply. Airports know that drivers want to park as close as possible to the airport, and you can't get any closer than on the site itself. With such high demand but only a finite amount of land for parking spaces, airports can get away with charging extortionate prices.  

    This isn't the only reason for the high cost of airport parking, however. Other factors include the rising cost of land and the expenditures involved in running and maintaining such large car parks. Fortunately, however, you can easily cut airport parking costs by following the tips in this guide.

  • Does airport parking get cheaper closer to the time?

    Although it's possible to save on flights the closer you get to the departure date, the same isn't true for airport parking. 

    Booking your parking space in advance is highly recommended considering how much more expensive on-the-day pricing is. Many airports say that travellers can make savings in the region of 60% to 70% by booking ahead of time, and these advertised savings are often conservative in reality. Even reserving a parking space beforehand on the day instead of paying at the airport itself will almost certainly save you money.

    Put simply: you really don't want to wait until closer to the time to book airport parking.

  • How far in advance should I book airport parking?

    There's no magic formula for how far in advance to book airport parking. Generally speaking, it's best to do so as soon as possible. 

    Failing that, you should aim to book your airport parking space at least one month before your departure as prices typically start to surge in the weeks leading up to this. 

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If a link has an * by it, that means it is an affiliated link and therefore it helps MoneySavingExpert stay free to use, as it is tracked to us. If you go through it, it can sometimes result in a payment or benefit to the site. It's worth noting this means the third party used may be named on any credit agreements.

You shouldn’t notice any difference and the link will never negatively impact the product. Plus the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by these links. We aim to look at all available products. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the top deal, it is still included in exactly the same way, just with a non-paying link. For more details, read How this site is financed.

Duplicate links of the * links above for the sake of transparency, but this version doesn't help MoneySavingExpert.com: 

Airparks, Airport Parking & Hotels, FHR Airport Services, Holiday Extras, Just Park, Looking4Parking.com, Park BCP, Park Let, SkyParkSecure

MoneySavingExpert.com Limited is an appointed representative of MONY Group Financial Limited. MONY Group Financial Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 303190). The registered office address of both MONY Group PLC and MONY Group Financial Limited (registered in England No. 3157344) is MONY Group House, St. David's Park, Ewloe, Chester, CH5 3UZ.