Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What is airport parking?
Airport parking is the business of selling space to leave a car at or near an airport, typically as a short-stay deck within walking distance of the terminal, a cheaper long-stay compound reached by shuttle bus, or a valet or meet-and-greet service in which staff take the vehicle and store it while the traveller flies. The choice matters because the products differ in price, in how far the car sits from the terminal and in how long the transfer takes before a flight. At London Heathrow the airport sells six official products — Terminal Parking, Park & Ride, Priority Park & Ride, Meet & Greet, Valet Parking and Pod Parking — across 11 car parks that Heathrow operates and manages, with a third-party supplier assisting with day-to-day management. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Heathrow sells six official parking products across 11 car parks, all operated and managed by Heathrow, and not every product is available at every terminal. [1]
- Booking online in advance is cheaper than drive-up and on-the-day prices, and Heathrow parking can be booked up to a year ahead. [1]
- Official Heathrow bookings can be cancelled or amended free of charge up to two hours before the booked arrival time. [1]
- Heathrow does not licence or endorse third-party or off-airport parking operators, even though those operators may be cheaper. [1]
What types of airport parking does Heathrow sell?
Heathrow groups its products by how far the car sits from the terminal and how the passenger covers that distance. Terminal Parking is the closest car park to the chosen terminal, a short distance from the arrivals or departures lounge, and is sold at Terminals 2, 3 and 5. [1] Park & Ride, formerly Long Stay parking, is described as the cheapest pre-bookable official product, with free shuttle buses that take as little as 15 minutes to reach the terminal doors and availability at all terminals. [1]
| Product | How it works | Transfer to terminal | Terminals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal Parking (formerly Short Stay) | Closest car park to the terminal; keep your keys | Short walk to arrivals or departures | 2, 3, 5 |
| Park & Ride (formerly Long Stay) | Cheapest pre-bookable product; keep your keys | Free shuttle bus, as little as 15 minutes | All terminals |
| Priority Park & Ride (formerly Business) | High-frequency business-class shuttles; keep your keys | Shuttle, as little as 10 minutes | 5 (2 and 3 currently closed) |
| Meet & Greet Parking | Hand the car over near the terminal; stored on airport with security patrols | No transfer | 2, 3, 5 |
| Valet Parking | Drop-off on the terminal forecourt; 100% discount on the Terminal Drop-Off Charge | No transfer | 2, 3, 5 |
| Pod Parking | Driverless on-demand pods; keep your keys | Pod, as little as 6 minutes | 5 only |
Heathrow's own comparison of the two shuttle products lists an on-the-day price for one day of £46.80 for Park & Ride and £47.90 for Priority Park & Ride, with business-class shuttles on the latter against a bus transfer on the former. [1] Meet & Greet and Valet Parking are both listed as products of the BPA Approved Meet and Greet Parking Operator Scheme, with 360-degree damage limitation cameras at the Meet & Greet drop-off points and pick-up from a dedicated area on return for Valet customers. [1]
How do you book Heathrow airport parking?
All official products can be booked online, and Heathrow also sells some products at the gate on the day without a booking, though the online-only prices are cheaper than turning up. [1] Bookings can be made at any point up to a year before the stay, and existing bookings can be amended or cancelled up to two hours before the arrival time. [1] Because the products sit in different areas of the airport, the booking confirmation carries the drop-off and pick-up instructions. [1]
Members of My Heathrow get 5% off an official parking booking and Heathrow Rewards Premium members get 10%, in both cases on bookings made online until 1 February 2027 and subject to terms. [1] Heathrow Rewards points can also be earned on official parking purchases and put towards a discount at the airport or against another parking booking. [1] Separately, hotel-and-parking packages combine an overnight hotel stay with Heathrow Park & Ride or Heathrow Meet & Greet parking and are offered at all terminals. [2]
What do you need to know on the day?
All official Heathrow car parks are lit, patrolled regularly and wheelchair accessible, with Blue Badge bays available. [1] Heathrow does not currently provide electric vehicle charging in any of its car parks and recommends that electric vehicles are charged adequately before arrival. [1] Motorcyclists park free of charge in dedicated motorcycle parks close to the Terminal Parking car parks, but motorcycles are not permitted in any multi-storey car park. [1]
Since 29 August 2023 Heathrow has sat inside the Transport for London expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone, so non-compliant vehicles pay £12.50 to drive in the zone; the daily charge applies only when a vehicle is driven within the zone, not when it remains stationary. [1] A traveller may book official parking at a terminal other than the one they fly from, but is then responsible for reaching the departure terminal, with free inter-terminal trains connecting all terminals. [1] The same applies to the airport itself: see airport terminal for how the terminals are organised.
Exceptions and limits
- Terminal 4. From 23 June 2026 Terminal Parking will no longer be available at Terminal 4 because of redevelopment work, and all passenger parking there moves to Zone A of the Terminal 4 Park & Ride car park. [1] Terminal 4 is listed with Park & Ride and a Terminal Drop-Off Area only. [1]
- Priority Park & Ride at Terminals 2 and 3. That car park is currently closed to passengers for operational reasons, so new bookings and drive-up stays are not possible, while Priority Park & Ride at Terminal 5 remains open as normal. [1]
- Product coverage. Not all products are sold at every terminal: all terminals have a Park & Ride car park, Terminals 2 and 3 add Terminal Parking, Priority Park & Ride, Meet & Greet and Valet Parking, and Terminal 5 has the widest choice, adding Pod Parking. [1]
- Third-party operators. Off-airport or third-party parking can be cheaper than Official Heathrow Parking, but Heathrow does not licence or endorse any third-party operator and recommends researching any provider before booking, citing cases where vehicles were returned in disrepair or late, not returned at all, left in unsecure locations or used for criminal activity. [1]
- Scope. The products, prices and rules above are London Heathrow's own; other airports sell their own parking products on their own terms.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance can I book Heathrow parking?
Official Heathrow Parking can be booked up to a year in advance, and booking ahead is cheaper than the drive-up or on-the-day price. [1]
Can I cancel a Heathrow parking booking?
Yes. Official Heathrow Parking allows cancellation free of charge up to two hours before the booked arrival time, and the same window applies to amendments. [1]
Can I park at a different terminal from the one I am flying from?
It is possible to book official parking for a different terminal, but the traveller is then responsible for getting to the departure terminal, using walking routes, bus or Pod transfers, or free inter-terminal trains. [1]
Is there electric vehicle charging at Heathrow car parks?
Heathrow does not currently provide EV charging in any of its car parks and advises drivers of electric vehicles to charge adequately before arrival, using local charging stations instead. [1]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Parking at airports other than London Heathrow, third-party off-airport operators and airline or hotel loyalty programmes are not covered here.
- Official Heathrow Airport Parking, checked 18 October 2026
- Lounges and hotels, Heathrow Airport, checked 18 October 2026