Finding an easily accessible yet reasonably priced parking space near the UK’s busiest airport was never going to be easy, but you already knew that or you wouldn’t be reading this sentence. If it’s close to the airport, let alone the terminals, it’ll be expensive, and if it’s not, you’ll be miles away. That is, unless you have UKFreeParking.com‘s handy Heathrow Airport parking guide…
Heathrow, like most airports around the world, does not promote itself as a “parker’s paradise.” It’s massive in size and surrounded by constantly congested roads with limited parking. Sure, there are plenty of on-site parking options, but they are so expensive that you must scour the internet for better alternatives.
This guide will assist you in locating parking options that work for you. For your convenience, we’ll include a section on parking directly at Heathrow Airport for when you absolutely must park in the closest available spots, but we’ll also look at other options like park-and-ride, parking away from the airport and taking public transportation -often the best option-, and even private driveway rental.
Important Note:
While UKFreeParking.com takes every step to ensure that the parking information provided is accurate at the time of writing, local ordinances, parking availability, parking prices, and parking regulations change with time.
UKFreeParking.com accepts no responsibility for any fines or tickets received as a result of using our website.
Please ensure that you park your vehicle safely and responsibly every time, making sure to adhere to local parking rules, signs, and regulations.
Heathrow Airport Parking
Parking at Heathrow Airport
When looking for Heathrow Airport parking, it’s critical to understand how on-site passenger transportation works from terminal to terminal. Heathrow, like other airports, has excellent people-moving infrastructure to ensure passengers can easily get to the correct terminal, reducing the need to park directly outside your departure terminal. Heathrow has four terminals, numbered 2 through 5. Terminal 1 was permanently closed in 2015, with no plans to reopen it anytime soon.
While traveling between terminals 2 and 3 is as simple as a 10-minute walk (assistance is available for the mobility impaired), getting to and from terminals 4 and 5 to any other terminal requires taking either the London Underground or Heathrow Express trains. While a London Oyster card or other contactless payment method is required to board, you will not be charged if you are only traveling between terminals. To learn more, consult the linked map in the Heathrow Airport links section, which includes schedules and specific information on where to board and change lines. On their official website, you can pre-book parking at any of the airport’s on-site parking bays.
Heathrow Airport short-stay parking
Heathrow Airport’s short-stay and long-stay options have variable cost structures, which means that prices fluctuate based on demand. Parking for a short period of time can cost an arm and a leg.
1-hour parking at the terminal 2 short-stay lot pre-booked on the official website, costing up to £70! It’s worth noting that there appears to be a discrepancy between their pre-booked quotes and their official pricing charts on their website, further complicating matters.
If you’re traveling with a swarm of young children, the world’s heaviest luggage, or dropping off someone with mobility impairment, their short-stay parking garages are only a minute or two’s walk from the terminal entrances. Short-term parking is available at each of the four operating terminals.
Heathrow Airport long-stay parking
Long-term parking lots are typically located further from the terminals but offer significant cost savings. There is a free shuttle service that runs between the long-stay parking lots and the terminals, so you don’t have to worry about walking. These shuttle rides typically last between 10-15 minutes. Even if you’re just dropping someone off or don’t expect to stay long, UKFreeParking.com recommends using the long-stay parking terminals. The airport’s website quoted a 1-hour stay at their long-stay car park for less than half the price of the short-stay car park, but there is still a gap between their stated hourly rates and the provided quote. Terminals 2 and 3 share a long-term parking garage, while terminals 4 and 5 have their own.
Heathrow Airport useful links
If you’re flying into Heathrow Airport, you might find some of these links useful, whether or not you intend to park there.
- Terminal transfer map and scheduling information
- Short-stay parking booking and pricing information
- Long-stay parking booking and pricing information
- Heathrow Airport terminal maps
Other parking options away from the airport
Now that we’ve gotten the direct airport parking out of the way, let’s look at some of the alternatives. Parking away from the airport and taking public transportation is almost always the less expensive (and sometimes faster) option. Of course, you must still pay for your transportation, but even with that factored in, there are significant savings to be had.
Parking at or near an underground or bus station and taking public transportation is one of the most popular ways to save money on parking when traveling to Heathrow. While parking at a station is not free, if you know where to look, you can usually find very cheap or even free parking nearby. Consider parking near these railway or bus stations depending on which direction you’re coming from. The Piccadilly line serves all Heathrow terminals.
Hounslow West Underground Station
Hounslow West isn’t the closest station to Heathrow Airport, but it does have several free and unrestricted streetside parking spots within a few minutes’ walk. The nearest free parking to Hatton Cross Station, as well as the nearest underground, is more than a 20-minute walk away.
A day’s parking at the station itself costs £6.50 from Monday to Friday, with weekends free. The station car park has a seven-day stay limit, a discounted 7-day stay rate of £31.20, and EV charging facilities. The drive to the airport will take between 8 and 12 minutes, depending on which terminal you are going to. Peak-time tickets will cost £2.10 when purchased with an Oyster card.
Free parking near Hounslow West Underground Station
If you don’t mind a short walk to the station, you’re welcome to look for free, unrestricted street parking on these streets. These options are great if you’re only going to the station for a few hours, but you should be cautious about leaving your car unattended or unguarded overnight.
- Ambassador Close TW3 3DW – 0.2 miles
- Francis Road TW4 7JX – 0.3 miles
- Ferndale Avenue TW4 7ES – 0.3 miles
- Manor Avenue TW4 7JG – 0.3 miles
- Ravensdale Road TW4 7EY – 0.3 miles
Hayes & Harlington Station
If you’re coming from the north, you might want to consider parking near Hayes & Harlington Station. During peak hours, tickets to the airport cost around £7, but even this ‘expensive’ public transportation ticket will almost certainly save you money on the overall journey. Parking at the station costs £5 per day Monday through Friday and £2.50 on weekends. A 7-day parking pass costs £24 and makes it a good long-term option.
If you don’t want to take the train, consider taking bus X140 from bus stop E, which is located just north of the station. This 12-minute bus ride will get you to Heathrow Central Station, which is just a short walk from Terminals 2 and 3.
Free parking near Hayes & Harlington Station
Consider parking on these streets if you’re willing to walk to the station and your luggage isn’t too heavy. Please keep in mind that UKFreeParking.com is not responsible for your vehicle while you are away. If you intend to leave your vehicle overnight, make sure that there are no valuables visible.
- Glebe Road UB3 2EA – 0.6 miles
- Sandow Crescent (after 5pm/weekends only) UB3 4QA – 0.2 miles
- Silverdale Road UB3 3BW – 0.4 miles
- Northfield Park UB3 4NU – 0.3 miles
- Hyde Way UB3 4PA – 0.4 miles
Driveway rentals
Renting a private driveway for a few hours is a less-considered option. A number of residents who live near the airport are willing to rent out their driveways in order to earn some extra money. You’ll still need to take a taxi to the airport because there are no dedicated pedestrian footpaths along major highways, but even with the cost of a taxi and driveway rental, you’ll save a few pounds. This is a good option for short-term visits because not all private driveways offer long-term stays, and finding one that does may take some time.
Within a 2-mile radius of the airport, Justpark.com has more than 60 driveways for rent. The majority of driveways cost between £2.50 and £4.50 for a 4-hour stay.
Airport Park and Ride
If you’re looking for long-term parking options where you can leave your car with peace of mind, consider park-and-ride services. There are several private companies that provide park-and-ride services with free airport transfers. They vary greatly in terms of services and pricing, so we’ve compiled all of the information you need to make an informed decision with good options right here. It’s worth noting that, like the airport, most park-and-ride services use variable pricing as parking demand rises or falls with the seasons. We will provide pricing information on a weekly basis for both the busy and quiet seasons, where possible.
Park Heathrow at Poyle Two
Park Heathrow has provided logistics parking for over 30 years. They’re a well-established option worth considering if you’re approaching Heathrow from the west. They provide park and ride services, as well as a meet and greet service for an additional £40, so you can either drive to their facilities and park, or head straight to the airport and have a representative park and return your vehicle when you return to Heathrow. They are on the M25, and the airport is only a few minutes away. 7 days of parking will cost you £91.98 during the off-season, and a test of their online booking system revealed no peak season premiums. You can reach Park Heathrow at reservations@parkheathrow.co.uk.
Heathrow Park & Ride
Heathrow Park & Ride is another good option for saving money on parking because it has a shuttle service that runs between the airport and their parking facilities in Slough, which is only 10 minutes away. During both the peak and low seasons, a week’s stay costs £76.96. Their parking facilities are located on the second floor of the Observatory Shopping Centre Car Park. For more information, please email info@heathrowparkandride.co.uk.
That brings us to the end of our guide to more affordable parking near Heathrow Airport. We hope this article saves you some time and money the next time you fly.