Parking at Heathrow Airport

While there are free drop-off points, there are no dedicated pick-up areas at Heathrow Airport, however, the airport recommends that visitors book a space in the on-site short-stay parking which is situated directly in front of each terminal’s entrance. If you want to avoid the charges of the short-stay carpark, you can pick-up your passengers in the long-stay carpark which offers 2 hours of free parking.

Although it can be costly, short-stay parking at Heathrow is ideal for picking-up or dropping-off family and friends. Each short-start carpark is near a terminal entrance and they all feature regular security. If you’re planning to leave your car at the airport for longer than 24 hours, it’s recommended that you consider long-term parking which will be much more cost effective.

Heathrow offers secure, affordable long-stay parking with frequent patrols and 24-hour CCTV coverage. There are several different carparks but each plays host to regular shuttle services which will take you to and from each terminal in minutes. If you’re flying from Terminal 5 then you can also use the award-winning pod parking service, which will take you from your vehicle to the terminal in around 4 minutes.

Heathrow offer both Meet & Greet and valet parking services. Both require pre-booking beforehand and that you meet a trained valet to hand over your keys on the day. The valet service can include a full car care package, with a wash, wax and more for your vehicle. No matter which service you choose pick-up is simple as all you have to do is notify the valet when you’re leaving the airport and they’ll have it ready for you in an agreed location near the terminal doors.

If you are struggling to find the correct terminal for your flight you can find it by locating your airline on the lists below (note that Terminal 1 is now inactive at Heathrow):

Terminal 2:

• Aegean Airlines

• Aer Lingus

• Air Canada

• Air China

• Air New Zealand

• Asiana Airlines

• Austrian Airlines

• Avianca

• Brussels Airlines

• Croatia Airlines

• Egyptair

• Ethiopian Airways

• EVA Air

• Germanwings

• LOT Polish Airlines

• Lufthansa

• SAS – Scandinavian Airlines

• Singapore Airlines

• South African Airways

• Swiss International Airlines

• TAP Portugal

• Thai Airways

• Turkish Airlines

• United Airlines

• Virgin Atlantic Little Red

Terminal 3:

• American Airlines

• British Airways

• Cathay Pacific

• Delta Airlines

• Emirates

• Finnair

• Iran Air

• Japan Airlines

• MEA Middle East Airlines

• Oman Air

• Pakistan International Airlines

• Qantas

• Royal Jordanian

• Sri Lankan Airlines

• Turkmenistan Airlines

• US Airways

• Virgin Atlantic

• Vueling

Terminal 4:

• Aeroflot

• Aeromexico

• Air Algerie

• Air Astana

• Air France

• Air India

• Air Malta

• Air Mauritius

• Air Serbia

• Alitalia

• ANA

• Arik Air

• Azerbaijan Airlines

• Biman Bangladesh Airlines

• Bulgaria Air

• China Eastern Airlines

• China Southern

• Delta Airlines

• Etihad Airways

• Gulf Air

• Jet Airways

• Kenya Airways

• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

• Korean Air

• Kuwait Airways

• Libyan Arab Airlines

• Malaysia Airlines System

• Philippine Airlines

• Qatar Airways

• Royal Air Maroc

• Royal Brunei Airlines

• Saudia

• Tarom

• Transaero

• Tunisair

• Uzbekistan Airways

Terminal 5:

• British Airways

• Iberia

• Iberia Express

With the vast numbers of passengers passing through Heathrow, it’s nearly impossible to get the space you want on your day of travel. Prices can be steep for those who pay on the day and so it’s strongly recommended that you pre-book your parking to guarantee the space you want at a reasonable price.

• Arrive early: The four terminals see up to 207,000 daily visitors, which can make it very difficult to get through security quickly. Heathrow Airport recommends that you arrive at least 2 hours 30 minutes before your departure, to avoid getting caught in the congestion.

• Special Events: Heathrow often hosts special festivals and events so it’s a good idea to check to see if there is anything happening on your day of travel, this can be a great way to keep the kids entertained and start your holiday a little earlier.

• Check your vehicle: Many of the carparks have low ceilings, especially Terminal 4’s multi-storey carpark which has a maximum height of 2m, so make sure to check where you’re parking and be sure that your car will easily fit.