The short answer
On turn-up prices, the cheapest official car park for a week is Long Stay, at £230. Long Stay costs the same at North and South Terminal, and its first 2 hours are free. Gatwick says pre-booking can save up to 60%, but none of the pages we checked say what that is measured against, for which car park or for which dates. Its roll-up price list says it is cheaper to book Short Stay, Premium Short Stay and Long Stay in advance, and advises booking more than 24 hours before you arrive to secure the best rates and guarantee a space. For short visits, Short Stay is a 4 minute covered walk from the terminal, at £70 for the first 24 hours. Only collecting someone? Long Stay is free for up to 2 hours, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal every 10 to 12 minutes, 24 hours a day.
Every turn-up price on this page is the airport's own published price, checked on its website on 17 Oct 2026. Weekly totals are our sums from those prices. Pre-booked and partner prices change often, so we link to them live rather than quote them. How we check.
The official car parks and drop-off zones
These are the parking options on London Gatwick's own parking pages, with the drop-off zones; each name links to the airport's page. Short Stay, Premium Short Stay and Long Stay have the same roll-up prices at North and South Terminal.
| Car park | Distance | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Long Stay | Free shuttle bus every 10 to 12 minutes, 24 hours a day; the airport's FAQs give the ride as about 5 to 10 minutes to South Terminal and 10 to 12 minutes to North Terminal | The lowest turn-up price for a week, and 2 hours free for drop-offs and pick-ups |
| Short Stay | 4 minute covered walk to the terminal | Short visits and pick-ups, with your keys in your pocket |
| Premium Short Stay | 2 minute covered walk to the terminal | The shortest walk, on the same level as the terminal entrance |
| Mid Stay | 6 minute walk to the terminal | Walking to the terminal on a longer trip, booked ahead |
| Premium Mid Stay | 2 minute walk to North Terminal | Same-level access to North Terminal, booked ahead |
| Valet Parking | 2 minute covered walk to the terminal | Handing over your keys at the terminal |
| Robotic Parking | 6 minute walk or a 7 to 15 minute transfer to South Terminal | Letting robots park the car, at South Terminal, booked ahead |
| Drop-off zones | On the forecourt outside each terminal, a short walk from check-in | Dropping off only, for up to 30 minutes |
- Long Stay: North Terminal and South Terminal each have their own Long Stay car park, at the same roll-up prices. The first 2 hours are free for anyone dropping off or picking up; after that it is £38 for the first day and £32 for each day after. The free shuttle buses run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, every 10 to 12 minutes, and the airport's FAQs say the ride takes around 5 to 10 minutes to South Terminal and about 10 to 12 minutes to North Terminal (its Long Stay page says 10 to 12 for both), with busier buses at peak holiday times. You keep your keys. The car parks are well lit, security fenced, regularly patrolled and ParkMark Safer Parking approved. No height restriction, but trailers are not permitted. No electric-vehicle charging points. Card-only payment machines at the exit barrier. South Terminal postcode RH6 0NY; the airport says there is no accurate postcode for North Terminal Long Stay.
- Short Stay: The multi-storeys next to each terminal: Car Parks 5 and 6 at North Terminal (postcode RH6 0PJ) and Car Parks 1, 2 and 3 at South Terminal (RH6 0LL), at the same roll-up prices. You keep your keys. Without a booking you press the button at the entry barrier for a ticket; the exit payment machines take cards only. Height limits: 1.8m in Car Park 5, 2.1m in Car Park 6 and 2m at South Terminal. 18 Blue Badge bays across Car Parks 5 and 6 and 55 across South Terminal Short Stay. Four 22kW electric-vehicle chargers in each terminal's Short Stay. The express pick-up bays are here too: Level 4 of Car Park 6 at North Terminal and the ground floor of Car Park 3 at South Terminal. The airport's pages disagree on the first 30 minutes: its price list, Short Stay page and FAQs say £8, its North and South Terminal parking pages say £7.
- Premium Short Stay: Extra-wide bays on the same level as the terminal entrance, inside the Short Stay car parks: Car Park 5, Level 3 at North Terminal and Car Park 3, Level 2 at South Terminal, at the same roll-up prices at both. You keep your keys. Height limits: 1.8m at North Terminal (Car Park 5) and 2m at South Terminal. Blue Badge holders can use it at the standard Short Stay rate for up to four hours (see Blue Badge, below).
- Mid Stay: Pre-book only: the airport says you should not arrive without having already booked a space for the dates and length of your stay. There is a Mid Stay North and a Mid Stay South, each a 6 minute walk from its terminal, with a covered walk at North Terminal. Free-flow entry and exit by number-plate recognition, and you keep your keys. Height limits: 2.4m at Mid Stay North; Mid Stay South takes vehicles of any height. Blue Badge bays available. No electric-vehicle charging points. Coming back later than booked costs £60 a day at Mid Stay North and £15 a day at Mid Stay South.
- Premium Mid Stay: North Terminal only: same-level access to the terminal, and you keep your keys. The airport publishes no roll-up price for it, so treat it as booked ahead. Coming back later than booked costs £80 a day.
- Valet Parking: Pre-book only: the airport says customers without a booking made at least 24 hours in advance are not permitted to use it. At North Terminal you drop the car in Car Park 6 and collect it from the office on its ground floor; at South Terminal you drop it on Level 2 of Car Park 1 and collect it from the office on the 2nd floor of the Red Car Park. Height limits: 2.1m at North Terminal and 2m at South Terminal. EV charging can be added when you book, for a fee the page doesn't give: a two-hour charge on Type 2 22kW chargers, up to 44kWh, and the car needs at least 20% charge left. Don't leave the car in valet mode, and hand any PINs to the team. The airport calls it the only on-airport valet parking option and recommends it for passengers with reduced mobility. Coming back later than booked costs £30 a day.
- Robotic Parking: South Terminal only, in the Long Stay car park, and pre-book only. You drive into an extra-wide garage, check in at the screen outside, and robots lift the car by its wheels and park it in a restricted area; when you return you scan your QR code at the screen and the car is brought back. You keep your keys. The airport calls it the first robotic airport parking service in the UK and says it works with around 95% of vehicle models. Coming back later than booked costs £15 a day.
- Drop-off zones: Designated bays on the lower level outside each terminal; at North Terminal, between the Sofitel and the multi-storey car park. There are no barriers or tickets: cameras read your number plate and you pay by midnight the day after, online, by phone on 0330 174 4503 or automatically with an AutoPay account, or a Parking Charge Notice follows. The charge is the same at both terminals: £10 for 10 minutes, then £1 for each extra minute for up to 20 more minutes, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes and a maximum daily charge of £30. Blue Badge holders are exempt, but must register their vehicle with Times24 first.
Turn-up prices
If you arrive without booking, these are the airport's published prices. Mid Stay, Premium Mid Stay, Valet Parking and Robotic Parking are priced when you book. Tap a car park to see its full price list.
Long Stay £38 for 2 to 24 hours
| Long Stay | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | Free |
| 2 to 24 hours | £38 |
| Each extra day | £32 |
Short Stay £70 for 12 to 24 hours
| Short Stay | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 minutes | £8 |
| 31 to 60 minutes | £14 |
| 1 to 2 hours | £18 |
| 2 to 3 hours | £21.50 |
| 3 to 4 hours | £26 |
| 4 to 5 hours | £31.50 |
| 5 to 6 hours | £40.50 |
| 6 to 12 hours | £60 |
| 12 to 24 hours | £70 |
| Each extra day | £70 |
Premium Short Stay £87.50 for 12 to 24 hours
| Premium Short Stay | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 minutes | £12 |
| 31 to 60 minutes | £19 |
| 1 to 2 hours | £22 |
| 2 to 3 hours | £26 |
| 3 to 4 hours | £33 |
| 4 to 5 hours | £41 |
| 5 to 6 hours | £56 |
| 6 to 12 hours | £74.50 |
| 12 to 24 hours | £87.50 |
| Each extra day | £87.50 |
Drop-off zones £10 for up to 10 minutes
| Drop-off zones | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 10 minutes | £10 |
| Each extra minute, for up to 20 more minutes (30 minutes' maximum stay) | £1 |
Booking ahead: Gatwick says pre-booking can save up to 60%, but none of the pages we checked say what that is measured against, for which car park or for which dates. Its roll-up price list says it is cheaper to book Short Stay, Premium Short Stay and Long Stay in advance, and advises booking more than 24 hours before you arrive to secure the best rates and guarantee a space. Book on the airport's own site, or compare the independent car parks below. The airport says you can change or cancel a booking made on its website up to 24 hours before your arrival time; doing it through the call centre costs a £5 administration fee, and changes within 24 hours of arrival are made with the team on the barrier intercom when you arrive. It doesn't refund bookings left unused because of a breakdown. Roll-up prices apply to 24-hour periods, and if you turn up without booking, the airport warns, you may be diverted to another car park that may cost more. Coming back later than booked costs a fixed fee for each extra day: £50 in Short Stay, £60 in Premium Parking, £15 in Long Stay and £30 for Valet Parking. The South Terminal Short Stay Evening Special, £25 between 5pm and 2am, is only for bookings made in advance.
Park or get dropped off? A week away
| Option | Cost for 7 days |
|---|---|
| Dropped off at the drop-off zones (£10, up to 10 minutes) and collected from the Short Stay express pick-up bays within 30 minutes (£8), because the airport says pick-ups should take place in Short Stay | £18 |
| Dropped off and collected using Long Stay's free 2 hours, taking the free shuttle bus each time | Free |
| Long Stay, turned up | £230 |
| Short Stay, turned up | £490 |
| Premium Short Stay, turned up | £612.50 |
A lift costs least in charges, but it means two return trips to the airport for whoever drives you. If you're driving yourself, don't just turn up at the barrier: even the cheapest official car park costs £230 a week that way. The London Gatwick drop-off guide has the full rules for the drop-off zones, and park or drop off at Gatwick compares the two by trip length. The airport says all pick-ups should take place in the Short Stay car parks, so if your driver collects you there within 30 minutes instead of at the drop-off zone, a lift both ways comes to £18 by our sum. Using Long Stay's free 2 hours both ways costs nothing in charges, but adds the shuttle bus each time.
Turn-up cost for 3, 7 and 14 days
| Car park | 3 days | 7 days | 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Stay | £102 | £230 | £454 |
| Short Stay | £210 | £490 | £980 |
| Premium Short Stay | £262.50 | £612.50 | £1225 |
These are our sums from the day rates in the airport's published turn-up prices above; the lowest in each column is in bold. Check the pre-booked price for your dates on the airport's own site before you settle for any of these.
Compare before you book
Independent car parks near London Gatwick Airport
Holiday Extras and Airparks mainly sell independent park & ride and meet & greet at Gatwick, not the airport's own car parks: Holiday Extras says the Gatwick official parking options are currently unavailable and that it doesn't sell Long Stay, and Airparks describes the official car parks without saying they can be booked there. Both also list Gatwick Holiday Parking, which Holiday Extras calls official and on-site, on Larkins Road, and Gatwick's parking FAQs give an overstay fee for it, though the airport's own parking pages we checked don't list it. Holiday Extras, for example, lists Cophall Parking as a 10 to 15 minute bus journey from South Terminal and Purple Parking with a 10 minute transfer to North Terminal, and Airparks lists Bubble Park and Deliver, North and South, at 5 minutes. YourParkingSpace is different: it lists private spaces and car parks near the airport, and invites owners to rent out a driveway, parking space or garage. Their prices change often, so compare them live.
Compare London Gatwick parking →Also: Airparks · YourParkingSpace
Offer: £5 off your first YourParkingSpace booking
Code PARKING5. New customers only, until 23:59 on 31 October 2026 (UK time). YourParkingSpace's offer terms apply. Find a space on YourParkingSpace →
These are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It never affects the prices and facts on this page.
Picking someone up
| Where to wait | Cost |
|---|---|
| Short Stay, 4 minute walk (where the airport says pick-ups should take place) | £8 for up to 30 minutes, £14 for up to an hour |
| Express pick-up bays: Car Park 6, Level 4 (North) or Car Park 3, ground floor (South) | Short Stay rates: £8 for up to 30 minutes |
| Premium Short Stay, 2 minute walk | £12 for up to 30 minutes, £19 for up to an hour |
| Long Stay, free shuttle bus to the terminal | Free for up to 2 hours, then £38 for up to 24 hours |
The airport says all pick-ups should take place in the Short Stay car parks, because collecting passengers often takes longer. Its express pick-up bays are inside Short Stay at Short Stay prices: ask your passenger to meet you there, and stay with the car, because unattended cars may get a parking charge notice. The bays are not for dropping off. The free option is Long Stay: wait there for up to 2 hours and your passenger takes the free shuttle bus out to you. Short Stay and Long Stay have card-only payment machines at the exit barrier. The drop-off zones have no barriers, tickets or machines: you pay by midnight the day after, online, by phone or with AutoPay.
Early flight?
Hotel and parking the night before
Holiday Extras and Airparks both sell hotel-and-parking packages at Gatwick. Holiday Extras describes three kinds: parking at the hotel, where you leave the car there and travel to the terminal; park and ride, where you stay at the hotel, drive to a nearby car park and take a shuttle; and meet and greet, where you drive to the airport and hand your keys to a driver. Check which kind yours is before you book.
Hotels with parking →Also: Airparks hotels
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Hand over the keys
Meet & greet and valet
The airport's own Valet Parking is booked ahead, at least 24 hours before you arrive: you leave the car in Car Park 6 at North Terminal or on Level 2 of Car Park 1 at South Terminal, a 2 minute covered walk from the terminal, staff park it on site, and you collect it from the valet office when you return. You can add EV charging when you book. Holiday Extras and Airparks sell independent meet and greet at Gatwick, among them Maple Parking, Purple Parking, ACE and I Love Meet and Greet: Airparks lists them at 1 to 3 minutes from the terminal, and Holiday Extras as within walking distance. Compare them with the airport's own Valet Parking before you book.
Compare meet & greet →Also: Airparks
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Blue Badge and accessible parking
Blue Badge holders are exempt from the drop-off charge, but must register their vehicle with Times24 before using the drop-off zones. In the car parks there is one discount: Blue Badge holders can use Premium Short Stay at the standard Short Stay rate for up to four hours, by pressing the Assistance button at the entry barrier and the intercom again on the way out; stay longer than four hours and the full Premium rate applies to the whole stay. The airport's Blue Badge page says this applies at South Terminal, because North Terminal's Blue Badge spaces are already on the terminal level; its FAQs don't name a terminal. If you park in Long Stay and need to collect a passenger with reduced mobility, the customer service office by the Long Stay exit can give you up to an hour free in Short Stay. The Blue Badge page lists 32 Blue Badge bays in Long Stay North and 25 in Long Stay South, 10 in North Terminal's Premium area and 8 in South Terminal's, and 28 and 55 more across the other Short Stay car parks at North and South; other Gatwick pages give different counts. Bays are first come, first served. To use your badge while you are abroad, park as normal and call 0800 678 3353 or use the payment machine intercom, and Times24 will validate it. Gatwick recommends Valet Parking for passengers with reduced mobility, and offers free assistance to and from the terminals. See how London Gatwick compares with other airports in the Blue Badge guide.
Before you fly
Lounges and fast track
London Gatwick has seven lounges on its lounges page, one of them a private room for arriving passengers: Plaza Express (from £28 per adult, North Terminal), My Lounge (from £34 per adult, both terminals), Club Aspire (from £36 per adult, South Terminal), No1 Lounges (from £38 per adult, both terminals), the Plaza Premium Lounge (from £40 per adult, North Terminal), Clubrooms (from £44 per adult, both terminals) and Arrive & Refresh (from £109 per stay, a private room with en-suite shower for arriving passengers, North Terminal). A banner elsewhere on the airport's site says lounges from £25, but the lowest price on its lounges page is £28. Fast Track Security, the airport's own security lane at North and South Terminal, costs from £6 per person when booked online, which the airport says saves £2 per person on the on-the-day price, and children under 2 go free with a paying adult.
Compare Gatwick lounges →Also: Holiday Extras fast track
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Nearby airports
London Gatwick Airport parking: your questions
How much is parking at Gatwick Airport?
If you turn up without booking, Long Stay costs £38 for the first day and £32 for each day after, so a week costs £230. Short Stay costs £70 for each 24 hours and Premium Short Stay £87.50, the same at both terminals. Mid Stay, Premium Mid Stay, Valet Parking and Robotic Parking can only be booked ahead. Gatwick says pre-booking can save up to 60%, without saying against what.
What is the cheapest parking at Gatwick Airport?
On turn-up prices, Long Stay: £230 for a week, against £490 in Short Stay. The airport says it is cheaper to book Long Stay in advance. Holiday Extras and Airparks also sell independent park & ride near the airport.
How much is 3 days of parking at London Gatwick Airport?
If you turn up without booking, 3 days costs £102 in Long Stay, £210 in Short Stay and £262.50 in Premium Short Stay. Those are our sums from the airport's published day rates, checked on 17 Oct 2026. They are gate prices, so check the pre-booked price for your dates before you travel.
How much is 2 weeks of parking at London Gatwick Airport?
If you turn up without booking, 14 days costs £454 in Long Stay, £980 in Short Stay and £1225 in Premium Short Stay. Those are our sums from the airport's published day rates, checked on 17 Oct 2026. They are gate prices, so check the pre-booked price for your dates before you travel.
Is there free parking at Gatwick Airport?
Yes, for up to 2 hours in either terminal's Long Stay car park, for dropping off or picking up, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal every 10 to 12 minutes, 24 hours a day. After 2 hours you pay the roll-up rate, £38 for up to 24 hours. The drop-off zones outside the terminals are not free: they cost £10 for 10 minutes.
How much is the drop-off charge at Gatwick Airport?
£10 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 for each extra minute for up to 20 more minutes, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes and a maximum daily charge of £30. It is the same at both terminals. Pay by midnight the day after, online, by phone on 0330 174 4503 or with AutoPay, or you can get a Parking Charge Notice. Blue Badge holders who register with Times24 are exempt.
How much is Short Stay parking at Gatwick Airport?
The airport's price list gives £8 for up to 30 minutes, £14 for up to an hour, £18 for up to 2 hours, £26 for up to 4 hours, £60 for up to 12 hours and £70 for up to 24 hours, then £70 for each day after, at both terminals. Its North and South Terminal parking pages say Short Stay starts from £7 for 30 minutes, but the price list, Short Stay page and FAQs all say £8.
How do I get from Long Stay to the terminal at Gatwick?
By the free shuttle bus. The airport says it runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, every 10 to 12 minutes, and the ride takes around 5 to 10 minutes to South Terminal and about 10 to 12 minutes to North Terminal. North Terminal and South Terminal each have their own Long Stay car park. The airport warns the buses may be busier at peak holiday times.
Can I just turn up at Mid Stay or Valet Parking at Gatwick?
No. The airport says Mid Stay and Robotic Parking are pre-book only, and that customers without a booking made at least 24 hours in advance are not permitted to use Valet Parking. You can turn up at Short Stay, Premium Short Stay and Long Stay, but the airport warns you may be diverted to another car park that may cost more.
Does Gatwick Airport have meet and greet parking?
Yes: the airport's own Valet Parking, booked at least 24 hours ahead. You leave the car in Car Park 6 at North Terminal or on Level 2 of Car Park 1 at South Terminal, a 2 minute covered walk from the terminal, and collect it from the valet office when you return. Independent meet and greet is sold through Holiday Extras and Airparks.
Where can I pick someone up at Gatwick Airport?
The airport says pick-ups should take place in the Short Stay car parks, where up to 30 minutes costs £8. Its express pick-up bays are on Level 4 of Car Park 6 at North Terminal and the ground floor of Car Park 3 at South Terminal, and you must stay with the car. Or wait free for up to 2 hours in Long Stay while your passenger takes the free shuttle bus.
Is it cheaper to park or get dropped off at Gatwick Airport?
Being dropped off and collected in the drop-off zones costs £18 if each stop takes 10 minutes or less, but the airport says pick-ups should take place in Short Stay, where 30 minutes costs £8, and using Long Stay's free 2 hours costs nothing. A week in Long Stay costs £230 if you turn up without booking.
What are the height limits at Gatwick car parks?
Short Stay takes vehicles up to 1.8m in Car Park 5 and 2.1m in Car Park 6 at North Terminal, and 2m at South Terminal; Premium Short Stay is 1.8m at North Terminal and 2m at South. Mid Stay North takes vehicles up to 2.4m and Mid Stay South any height. Long Stay has no height restriction, but trailers are not permitted. Valet Parking takes up to 2.1m at North Terminal and 2m at South.
Do Blue Badge holders get a discount at Gatwick Airport?
Blue Badge holders are exempt from the drop-off charge if they register with Times24 first. In the car parks, they can use Premium Short Stay at the standard Short Stay rate for up to four hours, pressing the Assistance button at the entry barrier; the airport's Blue Badge page says this applies at South Terminal. The airport says it offers no other parking discounts for Blue Badge holders.
Can I cancel Gatwick Airport parking?
The airport says you can change or cancel a booking made on its website up to 24 hours before your arrival time. Doing it through the call centre costs a £5 administration fee, and within 24 hours of arrival you speak to the team on the barrier intercom when you arrive. It doesn't refund bookings left unused because of a breakdown. Check the terms of your own booking.
Method & corrections
Every turn-up price on this page is checked against the airport's own published charges and stamped with the date we checked it. Details credited to a booking site come from that site's own pages, and weekly totals are our sums. We re-verify the full dataset quarterly, and after any reported change — see how we check every figure and who maintains the site.
Spotted an error? Email hello@airportdropoffcharges.co.uk — corrections are made visibly and dated. The dataset behind this page is free to reuse with attribution: JSON · CSV (CC BY 4.0) — about the data.