Park and fly

Where you leave your vehicle comes down to the amount of time you have and how much you are willing to pay for convenience and service. Here are some options

VALET PARKING

If you’re in a rush there are valet parking services at all terminals. Reception is open from 5am to 9.30pm, or until your plane has landed. You can drive up and drop off your car on the day, or pre-book. One day costs from £42 to £49, and one week from £118 to £147. Drop-off to check-in is a two- to five-minute walk. Tel +44 (0)844 335 1000 (+44 121 410 5228 from outside the UK).

SHORT-STAY PARKING

All short-stay car parks are within a few minutes’ walk of the terminal buildings. Pre-booking is the cheapest option and costs from about £2.50 for 30 minutes, up to £50 for one day, so for anything over a few hours it’s worth looking further afield.

BUSINESS PARKING

Closer than the long-stay car parks, business parking is a good option for anyone staying a few days and prepared to pay a little more for a shorter transfer time to check-in (ten to 20 minutes). For business parking at all terminals there are pre-book prices as well as drive-up rates (for T1 “business parking Plus”, with an on-demand three-minute transfer time, it’s compulsory to book ahead). Expect to pay about £22 to £30 per day or £80 for a week.

Minimum-stay times can vary between terminals and whether the stay is drive-up or pre-booked. Visit heathrowairport.com or call +44 (0)844 335 1000 (+44 121 410 5228 from outside the UK).

LONG-STAY PARKING

Note that long-stay parking also offers options for shorter periods (one to four days). Because the long-stay car parks are usually further out, they are often the cheapest – it makes more sense to leave your vehicle here for a day (about £16) than in short-stay parking for the same period (up to £50).

ON-AIRPORT LONG-STAY PARKING

There are three BAA-operated long-stay car parks on airport land, which serve all terminals and have transfer buses running from 4.45am until 11.45pm and on request outside these hours (factor in an extra 30 minutes). Prices can vary online but for one to four days it’s about £16 per day to stay on-airport. Transfers to T1 and T3 are every ten minutes and the journey takes about seven to 15 minutes. Transfers to T4 are every 12 minutes and take about three to seven minutes. T5 has five-minute transfers every ten minutes.

T5 has a “long-stay Plus” service – drop your car at the entrance to the long-stay park and staff will deal with it while you jump on the transfer bus – on your return, your vehicle will be parked in T5’s short-stay car park. It costs £35 for one day, £84 to £98 for a week, and £119 for two weeks.  

Minimum-stay times can vary between terminals and whether the stay is drive-up or pre-booked. Visit heathrowairport.com or call +44 (0)844 335 1000 (+44 121 410 5228 from outside the UK).

OFF-AIRPORT LONG-STAY PARKING

Off-airport car parks are a little further away than BAA’s three official long-stay parks, but still within a 5km radius and with similar transfer times.

NCP FLIGHTPATH
(SERVES T1 and T3)

This is less than 2km from Heathrow airport (satnav postcode UB7 0DU) and costs from £14 for one day to £77 for two weeks (offers available online). Transfers operate every 15 minutes (from 7am to 9.45pm – at other times buses run on request) and take four to eight minutes. Visit ncp.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8759 9878.

HAPPY DAYS PARKING
(SERVES ALL TERMINALS)

Happy Days is 5km off-airport (satnav postcode?UB8 3LN). Prices range from £29 for one day to £76 for two weeks. Transfers operate every 15 minutes between 5am and 10.30pm and take ten minutes. There are no drive-up arrivals between 10.30pm and 5am – if you book for arrival before 5am you will have to pay a £10 surcharge at the car park. There is no minimum stay. Visit happydaysparking.co.uk or call +44 (0)1895 434 822.

QUALITY AIRPORT PARKING
(SERVES ALL TERMINALS)

About 2km off-airport (satnav postcode TW6 2AL). Eight days cost £60 and two weeks are £82. Transfers operate on demand, 24 hours, and take five to ten minutes. There is no minimum stay, but the minimum charge is for eight days. Call +44 (0)871 360 2866 or visit parkbcp.co.uk

PURPLE PARKING
(SERVES ALL TERMINALS)

Purple Parking is 9km off-airport (satnav postcode UB2 5LE). One day’s parking costs £16, one week is £50 and two weeks is £79. Transfers are on-demand and take 15 to 20 minutes (3.30am to 12am). Visit purpleparking.com or call +44 (0)845 6051 831.

ECONOMY PARKING
(SERVES T4 and T5)

About 6km off-airport (satnav postcode TW19 6BW). Eight days cost from £49, with 15 days from £88. Transfer is on-demand and takes about 12 minutes. Call +44 (0)871 3602 866 or visit parkbcp.co.uk

REEDS SERVICE PARK
(SERVES T4 and T5)

About 14km off-airport (satnav postcode TW19 5EP). One day costs £24, one week £44 and two weeks £71. Transfers operate on demand 24 hours a day and take ten to 15 minutes. No minimum stay but book 24 hours in advance. Visit reedsservicepark.com or call +44 (0)1784 483 235.

Many hotels offer Park and Fly deals – for details see our online guide at business traveller.com/heathrow

POSTCODES FOR CAR PARKS

(Valet-parking postcodes are the same as short stay)