The London Heathrow drop-off charge in detail
Per entry to terminal forecourt; no free period, no waiting.
Where to drop off at London Heathrow
The drop-off zones are on the forecourt outside Departures at every terminal, reached by a ramp from the airport road system. There are no barriers and nothing to pay on site — cameras read your number plate on entry.
| Terminal | Where the drop-off zone is |
|---|---|
| Terminal 2 | Zone signed off Constellation Way |
| Terminal 3 | Zone signed off Cosmopolitan Way / Camborne Road |
| Terminal 4 | Zone signed off Stratford Road |
| Terminal 5 | Zone signed off Wayfarer Road |
The same £7 charge applies at every terminal.
What the London Heathrow drop-off is actually like
Heathrow's drop-off forecourts sit on a raised deck reached by a ramp at each terminal, so you drive up to the lanes outside Departures rather than dropping at street level.
Source: the airport's own directions page.
How and when to pay the London Heathrow drop-off charge
How: Online at heathrowdropoff.apcoa.com, by automated phone on 0330 008 5600, or automatically with a prepaid personal or business account (autopay).
When: pay by midnight the day after you use the zone. Non-payment brings an £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
There are no barriers or pay machines at the zones — ANPR cameras log your visit and you pay afterwards, or in advance with an account.
Exemptions: Blue Badge holders can register for a 100% discount — it applies in any vehicle carrying the badge holder, including taxis, but you must apply at least 7 days ahead. Motorbikes, buses and roadside-recovery vehicles are also exempt; electric vehicles are not.
Official payment site: heathrowdropoff.apcoa.com
Free drop-off alternative at London Heathrow
Park & Ride car parks (former Long Stay) — Free drop-off with free bus transfer to terminal. Allow 15–25 extra minutes versus the barrier.
Every airport's free alternative is in the free drop-off guide — or scan the full comparison table.
Pick-up charges at London Heathrow Airport: where to collect and what it costs
Pick-ups and waiting are not permitted in Heathrow's drop-off zones, and unattended vehicles can be towed. Collect arriving passengers from the Terminal car parks, or use the Park & Ride car parks and meet them off the free transfer bus.
How pick-up charging works across the UK: pick-up charges at every airport · the quick comparison.
Getting to the London Heathrow drop-off
London Heathrow Airport terminal. Follow the drop-off signs on site — the zone can sit a short walk from the doors.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · Get directions →
By rail — the Underground and rail stations sit directly beneath the terminals — the Piccadilly line serves all terminals, with the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express (about 15 minutes to Paddington) from Terminals 2 and 3.source
Being dropped off isn't the cheap option.
Being dropped at Heathrow costs £7 — and being collected can't use the zone at all.
Pick-ups are banned from the drop-off zones, so the return leg means car-park rates — plus two airport runs for whoever's driving. Flying yourself? Pre-book parking instead and the car's waiting when you land — even off the 1am arrival.
Pre-book Heathrow parking →Compare: Airparks · YourParkingSpace
Just dropping someone off? Park & Ride car parks (former Long Stay) is the free option here — details above.
Still weighing it up? Is it cheaper to park or get dropped off at Heathrow?
Some parking links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It never affects our charges data.
London Heathrow drop-off & pick-up FAQs
How much is the drop-off charge at London Heathrow Airport?
London Heathrow Airport charges £7 for each entry, with no free period at the drop-off area closest to the terminal.
Is there a free drop-off at London Heathrow Airport?
Yes. London Heathrow keeps a free or cheaper option — Park & Ride car parks (former Long Stay): Free drop-off with free bus transfer to terminal. Allow 15–25 extra minutes.
How do I pay the London Heathrow Airport drop-off charge?
Online at heathrowdropoff.apcoa.com, by automated phone on 0330 008 5600, or automatically with a prepaid personal or business account (autopay). Pay by midnight the day after you use the zone. Non-payment brings an £80 Parking Charge, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
Can you pay the London Heathrow drop-off charge at a machine or by card at the airport?
No. There are no barriers or pay machines at the zones — ANPR cameras log your visit and you pay afterwards, or in advance with an account. Pay by midnight the day after you use the zone.
Is the London Heathrow drop-off charge free for Blue Badge holders?
Blue Badge holders can register for a 100% discount — it applies in any vehicle carrying the badge holder, including taxis, but you must apply at least 7 days ahead. Motorbikes, buses and roadside-recovery vehicles are also exempt; electric vehicles are not.
Is there a pick-up charge at London Heathrow Airport, and where do you collect?
Pick-ups and waiting are not permitted in Heathrow's drop-off zones, and unattended vehicles can be towed. Collect arriving passengers from the Terminal car parks, or use the Park & Ride car parks and meet them off the free transfer bus.
Has the London Heathrow Airport drop-off charge gone up?
Yes. It rose from £5 in 2023 to £7, an increase of about 40%.
Did you know?
When Heathrow opened as London's new civil airport on 1 January 1946, its “terminals” were ex-military marquees along the Bath Road, furnished with floral armchairs and vases of fresh flowers. The first departure was a converted Lancaster bomber named Starlight, bound for Buenos Aires.
Source: www.heathrow.com
Drop-off charges at airports near London Heathrow
Method & corrections
Every figure on this page is checked against the airport's own published charges and stamped with the date we checked it. We re-verify the full dataset quarterly, and after any reported change — see how we work and who maintains it.
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).